This one is intense-- magnificent crashing cymbals, etc. These fellows are hardcore.
This one is a Halveti music video:
As with the Rifa'i and Qadiri tariqas, there is a significant range within the tradition. Some branches are rather conservative and tend to emphasize the external aspects of Islamic tradition more than others. I've put the emphasis here on those branches of the Halveti that are a bit more ecstatic and reflect more of the Qalendar tradition (which I am personally much more drawn to). Here is a good example:
This next one is from the Saadiyya tariqa (who I believe trace their lineage to both the Rifa'i and the Halveti). It is a dhikr for Sultani Nevruz-- the Persian and Kurdish new year. The day is also believed to be the birthday of Hz. Imam Ali, and is also celebrated by the Alevi (though not like this). Nevertheless, through the gradual influence of the Alevi on various Ottoman Sufi orders, the holiday came to be a widely celebrated holiday in the tariqas of the Balkans. That's especially true for the orders that have a particularly strong Ahl-ul Bayt orientation, such as the Saadi branch.
Hu, Dost! This is my way of saying thank you for all of the gifts that my teacher, Sherif Baba, has given all of us.
I love the Ahl-ul Beyt, but I am not Shi'a, at least not in the usual sense. I love the Alevi way, but I am a mainstream practicing Muslim (or, at least, trying to be one). I love Mevlana, but I'm not a Mevlevi. I love some teachers who may or may not be very shari'ah adherent, but can open hearts. Several that I love most are practicing Muslims, but not all of their students are. I've even seen one or two Salafis who are dripping with the Nur of Allah. As a Bektashi Baba once said, if we find something useful, we embrace it. I'm a liberal, but practicing Muslim, and I believe that anyone who is showing us Compassion and Mercy is showing us the way of Islam.
May we all become beautiful human beings, insha'Allah! ;)
This is really putting up some things I put together for myself about my shaykh and our path-- a friend suggested that it might be helpful for some other people as well. I thought while I was at it, I might as well add some music links along the way. Because this began for my own personal use, I have no idea where some of these pictures and quotes came from, so I apologize for putting them up without citation. I make no claim that all of this is my own. I'm simply trying to share a beautiful vision of God and humanity that I have learned about from Sherif Baba and also some inspirations from the Alevi/Bektashi tradition of Turkey, with whom Rifa'i Marufi shares many principles. Let me make it clear that I am not myself a Bektashi, though I love their path. My connection is to the Rifa'i. I hope you enjoy this offering and that these things will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.
No comments:
Post a Comment