Mohammed Safi Shamsi

The solution to the world's problems, and conflicts, is available in Sufism; without it, it’s difficult to achieve peaceful coexistence,” says Dr Rafique Anwar, a leading scholar on Sufism, who seeks to challenge the existing notions about the Sufi practices in his upcoming book, Sufism: The Way to Perfect Humanity.

“There is no place for ‘show-ism’ in Sufism. Every human being with (human) qualities is a Sufi. Following cultural practices are being into Sufism,” says Anwar. He feels there is a definite dilution of the ways Sufism is practiced these days.

Anwar has exhaustively researched Sufism for years. The preaching collectively aims at highlighting insaniyat (human bonding without distinctions), says Anwar. Unlike what most people tend to believe - that it’s all about spirituality, Anwar says that great Sufis have rather talked about having a balance between the spiritual and the material needs.

Sufism and its followers faced challenges in the latter part of the nineteenth century as materialism slowly shadowed the spiritual quest of man. Yet, in today’s world, it is more-than-ever relevant, feels Anwar.

"Be a good human being, and the world will be at your feet,” he adds.He says there are many myths and misconceptions about Sufism. “Humans discovered the Creator in different forms. As the brain developed, they all reached one conclusion that there is one Creator. Har koi Allah ka banda hai (Everyone is a creation of the Divine). Believe in the Divine power and do good deeds. This is Sufism,” says Anwar. 

A true follower of Sufism prays, does good work, helps people in need - all this without showing off. 

Sufism: The Way to Perfect Humanity, putting forward teachings of Sufism, justifies it as a philosophy capable of tackling problems of the modern world. “Sufism treats individuals equally. Six out of ten people may conclude. This doesn’t mean the rest four individuals can be ignored. You have to treat them as equals. Instead, individual efficiency may make a person relatively important. Sufism encourages respect for all individuals,” says Anwar.

Divine qualities of the Creator are a guiding force for individuals. The third point the book makes is the use of intellect, aqal. Sufism is not a tit-for-tat approach. It’s about self-rectification which is a round-the-clock process, while prayers offered at particular hours are a reminder of the process. 

 Sufism is not avenging for wrongs; it’s about standing for and offering justice. The book offers arguments, tackling one at a time.

Anwar argues that Sufism is a scientific approach for exploring the Divine power that created the universe. “Science is trying to discover the power (cause) behind creation. It is not creating. It is discovering something that’s already there, something that’s not in our view. The search is based on hard facts. Sufism is exploring the same with heart and mind. True Sufism and scientific research - both - aim at understanding the source of creation,” he says.