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The Basics

Une explication de l'islam
et soufisme

Que veut dire Islam ?

Islam is more than just a single word but a concept.

Islam embodies submission, harmony, and peace. Submission, in the sense of surrendering oneself to the Divine Reality. Harmony, in the sense of living in alignment with the covenant that Allah has set forth for human beings.

So, when we submit to Allah, and develop a meaningful acceptance of what Allah has destined for us, this establishes a spiritual connection and an inner peace — that all creation, knowingly or unknowingly, is searching and yearning for.

What are the core tenants of Islam?

  1. The oneness of God (Allah) —  this succinctly means that there is no power and there is no change except by Allah.
     
  2. Allah has sent his representatives — spiritual masters and teachers of the most highest order — to help enlighten and guide humanity towards him.    This includes Moses, Jesus, and Muhammed (peace be upon them).
     
  3. In the revelation, the Qur’an, revealed to Muhammed (peace be upon him) from Allah; and that it is unchanged and it is the final revelation.  In addition Allah has sent many past revelations, although none of what we have today are directly from Allah’s emissaries but are in actuality second hand accounts such as the Psalms revealed to David, the Torah revealed to Moses, and the Gospel revealed to Jesus.
     
  4. In an unseen / inner reality (al-ghayb); a reality that is bound and intertwined to this physical materialistic life, and which comprises the totality of existence that we live in.  Additionally, this unseen reality includes spiritual forces and energies that act in accordance to the divine will (aka angels) and negative forces (the shayton).
     
  5. In the after life (ahira).  Meaning that there is more to this life than this materialistic world; and that all life is for a purpose, moving, evolving towards the Divine Reality.  And after we die, or more accurately, after we depart this life, we enter the next chapter in our journey of evolution.

 

Qu'est-ce que le soufisme ?

At its onset it is to look deeper and to look beyond the dogma. It is a path, a journey, of spiritual evolution and realizations of the self.

As the emissary of the Divine Reality, Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Whoever obtains real knowledge of the self has real knowledge of his Lord.”

This knowledge of the self is obtained through purifying oneself through connection with the Divine Reality, which is the oneness of God — Allah, and the mastering of one’s ego.

How is the Sufi path related to Islam?

It is the spiritual path within Islam.  

The sufi path, or tasawwuf, is no different than pealing back the layers of culture and tradition to get to the deeper meaning of Islam. What is the meaning behind the verses of the Quran? What is the meaning of prayer? We have to go deeper to not only unlock the spirituality in Islam but within us.

Tasawwuf is not an exclusion of following divine prescriptions, but rather an inclusion — an inclusion of meaning, direction, and a deeper spiritual connection to the Divine Reality.

How does the Sufi path view other paths?

There are as many paths to the Divine Reality as there are stars in the sky.

While there may be twists or turn, sometimes circling,  or even running away; in the end, all paths lead to Allah.   Therefore, we need to respect everyone.   Within all paths and all religions the way of Islam, the submission to the Divine Reality, is imprinted; as it is imprinted in the heart of all human beings.  So — in whatever capacity, on whatever level, regardless of how small, any grain of submission to the Divine Reality is accepted.

Quran 3:16 — “It is, that the covenant with Allah, is that of submission [to the Divine Reality, the oneness of God —  Allah]”

Ideally, we want a path with the least twist and turns. A straight path that leads us to enlightenment and truth.

 

 

 

Comment entre-t-on dans l'islam ?

If one wishes to follow the full covenant of the Divine Reality — Islam, with the recognition that there is a connection between the Divine Reality and its creation, one first needs to set their intention: to learn, follow, and grow spiritually in the path of Islam.

The next step is the Shahāda, the declaration of witnessing and acceptance:

I witness, I accept, that there is no power and no deity except the Divine Reality — Allah.
I witness, I accept, that Muhammed, peace be upon him, is the messenger of Allah.

This step opens the door to the foundational stage of spiritual development — the state of being in submission to Allah and his covenant.

 

How does one follow the Sufi path (tasawwuf) ?

The ideal way to follow Tasawwuf is by finding a Shaykh. A true Shaykh is a spiritual master whose heart is connected to the Divine Reality. One who has been appointed as a “guide” and has taken on the responsibility to not only enlighten but to guide — by permission and authorization of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him — to the Divine Presence.

If one cannot find a true Shaykh, than one should try to find a spiritual master; one who, while having a connection to the Divine Reality. has not been authorized to be a “guide” or a Shaykh but who at the same time is an enlightened one and can enlighten others.

Such persons are few, especially in this day and age.

In reality, such persons may appear like us but they are not like us — their state of being is connected to the Divine Reality. Such persons, spiritual masters and guides, are known as the awliya (or wali for singular) — beings who essences are turned toward the Divine Reality.

In addition, or if the above is not possible, read — specifically from the awliya who have been with us recently — or view video discourses by them.