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Question -

Discuss the major beliefs and practices that characterised Sufism.



Answer -

The major beliefs and practices that characterised Sufism are as given below –

  1. Sufis turned to asceticism and mysticism in protest against the growing materialism of the Caliphate as a religious and political institution.
  2. They were against the dogmatic definitions and scholastic methods of interpreting the Qur’an and sunna adopted by theologians.
  3. They laid emphasis on seeking salvation through intense devotion and love for God.
  4. They regarded Prophet Muhammad as a perfect human being and suggested to follow his example.
  5. Sufis organised communities around the khanqah controlled by a shaikh, pir or murshid.
  6. Special rituals of initiation were developed in which initiates took an oath of allegiance, wore a patched garment and shaved their hair.
  7. After the death of the shaikh, his tomb-shrine or dargah became the centre of devotion for his followers who performed pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave on the occasion of death anniversary or urs.

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