The Universality of Islamic Mysticism
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
24 June
2022
“The
Whole World Is A Big Shrine. Why Do You Need So Many Shrines Within A
Shrine."
Main
Points:
1. Mysticism is
neither Islamic, nor Hindu or Christian.
2. Mysticism is
not an exclusive philosophy or an exquisite idea.
3. Touching the
Chetna (consciousness) of every being and instantaneously relating to that is
the cosmic purpose of mysticism.
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"Mysticism is beyond mundane and also way beyond the so-called
spiritual realm. It's the elixir of humanity and an essence of all
religions."
----- Sir Hamilton Gibb, British scholar of Arabic and Islamic Studies
(File Photo on Mysticism)
-------
Years ago,
I read the great Persian mystic Khaqani's quote, “The whole world is a big
shrine. Why do you need so many shrines within a shrine." The quote got
seared in my heart and mind because of its beauty, impact and ever-relevance.
In these
turbulent times of shrine politics and polarisation, Khaqani's quote seems like
a whiff of fresh air, nay zephyr in the desert of desolation and depredation.
First of all, mysticism is neither Islamic, nor Hindu or Christian. It's
non-religious and non-denominational. We use the term Islamic mysticism for the
sake of simplification and an easy classification. Mysticism is universal. It's
all pervasive and permeates through every particle in the Kainaat
(Arabic for the Universe). Urdu poet Akbar Ilahabadi put it succinctly, “Har
Zarra Chamakta Hai Anwaar-E-Ilahi Se/ Har Saans Ye Kahti Hai, Hum Hain Toh
Khuda Bhi Hai “(Every particle is effulgent with the light of Almighty/
Every breath says, if I exist, so does god).
This is
spirituality and the essence of mysticism which's not confined to the narrow
precincts of religion and places of worship. ‘It’s personally personal,' to
quote the British scholar of Persian, Reynold A Nicholson. The quintessence of
(Islamic) mysticism can be found in the oeuvre of Jalaluddin Rumi Balkhi who
welcomed all; whether a believer, non-believer, fire-worshipers or a Pagan to
his abode of seamless godliness. Every soul is a carrier of the Universal soul
and has the same attributes: Haqeeqat Ek Hai Har Shai Ki, Khaaki Ho Ya
Noori/Lahoo Khursheed Ka Tapke Agar Zarre Ka Dil Cheerein (The fundamental
Truth of all things is the same/ The blood of the sun will ooze if the heart of
a mere particle is cut open: Allama Iqbal).
Influenced
by Upanishads and Vedantic philosophy, Iranian mystics believed in the
vertical, not horizontal, conversion of humans. When humans vertically evolve,
they reach godhood and become aware of the immanent divinity in them as they
say in the parlance of mysticism, ' When the soul soars high/No differences
well-nigh. ‘Rumi says in Ottoman Turkish -towards the fag-end of his life, he
started writing in Turkish and was entombed in Konya in Turkey-Tee Shaf
Mizbaan Ift'ur Ama'zin Ee Naf But-Parstaan, Nihaaf Musalmaan (A point comes
in one's life when he goes beyond being an idolater or a Muslim, worshipping a
formless god). In other words, achieving the purest essence of humanity is
divinity.
Every
individual is equally blessed and equally realized. And a realized soul merges
with the universal soul to proclaim the famous Upanishadic sutra, Aham
Brahmasmi or An-al-Haq and Tat tvam asi (Thou art that of Chandogya
Upanishad). Remember, a true mystic is not an anchorite. He's a worldly being
who comprehensively understands and is alive to his divinity. Yet, he remains
rooted in this world and attached to worldly affairs without a sense of
involvement.
Mysticism
is not an exclusive philosophy or an exquisite idea. It's the blossoming of
human nature, evolution of one's self and the realization of innate deism. A
mystic celebrates the triumphs of all humanity and empathises with the pain,
passion, plight and predicament of every human. Nar Hi Narayan Hai/ Itar Sab
Akaaran Hai (Human is the god/The rest is insignificant) is the dictum of
every mystic who relates to the entire mankind.
The heart
of a mystic is full of acceptance that welcomes all with a sense of equanimity,
equipoise and equilibrium. Egalitarianism is the crux of mysticism and an
all-encompassing vision is its sine qua non. A heart full of compassion is the
heart of a mystic, is a famous Persian adage. A mystic exists in the world, yet
he's not involved in its quotidian goings-on. He's a proverbial Drashta,
an observer sans prejudices and inferential presuppositions: Duniya Mein
Hoon, Duniya Ka Talabgaar Nahin Hoon/Baazaar Se Guzra Hoon, Khareedaar Nahin
Hoon (Though I'm in the world, I'm not desirous of it/I've gone through the
market called world, but I'm not a buyer).
Now when
compassion has collectively vanished from human hearts, it's prudent to
remember the Universal love propounded by the mystics who saw embers of AGAPE
(pronounced, A-G-A-P-A-Y, divine love in Christianity) in all and sundry,
living or non-living objects. Touching the Chetna (consciousness) of
every being and instantaneously relating to that is the cosmic purpose of
mysticism. By making an individual see his worth, mysticism elevates man to the
level of god and leaves no room for pettiness that we see every other day.
Remember, a mystic is beyond all ostentation and manifestation of a man-made
religion. Tagore was a quintessential modern mystic who could go beyond the set
template of a temple or a mosque. His ' Gitanjali ' is a non-sectarian eucharistic offering to a
non-religio-denominational god. Quoting Shakeel Badayuni, ' Pahuncha hoon wahan
nahin door jahan, bhagwan bhi meri nigaahon se ' (I've reached that height,
when even god is not far from my sight). That's the spirit of mysticism!
How Can
This Mysticism Make The World A Better Place To Live In:
Readers might be aware that Albert Einstein
rejected mysticism as the Mist of Mind (Zehani Dhund) because he indeed
found the subject to be misty and vague. By the way, popular etymology believes
that mysticism and mist (Kohra) have a common origin as both being hazy
and vague. But being agnostic and a religiously-insouciant person, the great
scientist didn't understand one thing that mysticism had nothing to do with any
god or religion.
Kabir was a
mystic, though quite unpolished, who remained a crusader and social reformer
till the end and didn't align himself either with Hinduism or Islam. Mysticism
is all about love and having a loving heart because a loving heart is the
beginning of all knowledge.
Contrary to
the general belief that mysticism, esp. Islamic mysticism, is quite nebulous
and talks of transcendental love which's abstruse and utopian, mysticism is an
assertion that 'everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself
' (Rumi). Mind you, this is Rumi, exhorting you to introspect and look deeper
into the crevices of your heart and not egging you on to believe in an
imaginary god or Allah. Until you know yourself, you'll not know how to live.
Remember, charity begins at home. Mystics tell us to live meaningfully with a
sense of self-awareness and this self-awareness blossoms into community
consciousness and finally sublimates into universal love.
That's why,
when 9/11 happened at the beginning of this century, Princeton University's
world-renowned Islamic scholar Professor Bernard Lewis famously said, "
Much more than Samuel P Huntington's thesis ' The Clash of Civilizations,'
mankind needs to dive into the ocean of Rumi, Hafiz, Jami, Aldous Huxley and
Tagore's profound mystical exhortations, because, not religions, wars, scriptures,
gods or sects, but the understanding of mystics' love for all is the only
antidote to saving the world from plunging into an abyss of destruction and
despair." So very true. Humanity is badly and madly in need of
non-sectarian and non-denominational love of the mystics that transcends all
man-made boundaries. We need love, not naked power play because where love
rules, there's no will to power; and where power predominates, there love is
lacking. One is the shadow of the other.
If you
think minutely, you realize that it's all about power; power of one's
respective religion, god, sect, nation and all that jazz. But, where's love?
Power over others, by any means, is weakness disguised as strength. Love makes
no such distinctions and accepts all because love itself is so omnipotent.
Kahlil Gibran, arguably the greatest modern mystic, encapsulated it, “The
energy of love extends out to others- to our children, neighbours, community,
even to the connections we've with people we don't know around the world."
Mystics are
not monastic people. Nor are they impractical idlers wasting time on scriptural
conundrums and praying all the time. Anwari says, ' Go beyond your scriptures,
their otiose interpretations and dry rituals. Dip your quill in love and write
your own scriptures.' No wonder, Sufis/Mystics are an anathema to hard-core
Muslims, who've been creating bad-blood in the name of religion and their
pathologically jealous Allah. A mystic is a global citizen. He doesn't restrict
himself to the precincts of any man-made religion and its fabricated god.
Aldous Huxley predicted that the brave new world would be inhabited by people
with a sublime spirit and unadulterated essence. A true mystic has that in him,
that too, in abundance.
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Note: A
Shorter Version Of This Essay Appeared First In The Times Of India On 18 June 2022.
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A
regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative
religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to
world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/universality-islamic-mysticism/d/127313
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