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Sufism In Bengal
Sufism in Bangladesh is more or less similar to that in the whole Indian subcontinent. India, it is claimed, is one of the five great centers of Sufism, the other four being Persia (including central Asia), Baghdad, Syria, and North Africa. Sufi saints flourished in Hindustan (India) preaching the mystic teachings of Sufism that easily reached the common people, especially the spiritual truth seekers in India. Sufism in Bangladesh is also called pirism, after the Pir (Sufism), pirs or teachers in the Sufi tradition (also called Fakir). The Sufism tremendously influenced local population and thus these Sufi masters were the single most important factor in South Asian conversions to Islam, particularly in what is now Bangladesh. Most Bangladeshi Muslims are influenced to some degree by Sufism. The conversion to Islam of the population of what was to become Bangladesh began in the thirteenth century and continued for hundreds of years. Muslim pirs who wandered about in villages and t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pir (Sufism)
Peer or Pir ( fa, پیر, lit=elder) is a title for a Sufi spiritual guide. They are also referred to as a ''Hazrat'' (from ar, حضرة, Haḍra) and ''Sheikh (Sufism), Sheikh'' or Shaykh, which is literally the Arabic equivalent. The title is often translated into English as "saint." In Sufism a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his disciples on the Sufi path. This is often done by general lessons (called ''Suhbas'') and individual guidance. Other words that refer to a Pir include ''Murshid'' ( ar, مرشد, lit=guide, mentor) and ''Sarkar'' ( fa, سرکار, lit=master, lord). The title ''Peer Baba'' (from fa, بابا, lit=father) is common in the Indian subcontinent used as a salutation to Sufi masters or similarly honored persons. After their death, people visit their tombs or mausolea, referred to as dargah or maqbara. The path of Sufism starts when a student takes an oath of allegiance with a teacher called ''Bai'at'' or ''Bay'ah'' (Arabic word meaning "transactio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
