In
Sufism
Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...
, a ''murīd'' (Arabic مُرِيد 'one who seeks') is a
novice committed to spiritual enlightenment by ''sulūk'' (traversing a path) under a spiritual guide, who may take the title
murshid, ''
pir
Pir or PIR may refer to:
Places
* Pir, Kerman, a village in Kerman Province, Iran
* Pir, Satu Mare, commune in Satu Mare County, Romania
Religion
* Pir (Alevism), one of the 12 ranks of Imam in Alevism
* Pir (Sufism), a Sufi teacher or spiritu ...
'' or ''
shaykh
Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliteration of Arabic, transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonl ...
''. A ''
sālik
A sālik is a follower of Sufism, from the verb ''salaka'' which means to travel or follow, related to ''sulūk'' "pathway". ''Sulūk'' here specifically refers to a spiritual path, i.e. the combination of the two "paths" that can be followed ...
'' or Sufi follower only becomes a ''murīd'' when he makes a pledge (''
bayʿah
''Bayʿah'' ( ar, بَيْعَة, "Pledge of allegiance"), in Islamic terminology, is an oath of allegiance to a leader. It is known to have been practiced by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. ''Bayʿah'' is sometimes taken under a written pact gi ...
'') to a ''murshid''. The equivalent
Persian term is ''shāgird''.
The
initiation
Initiation is a rite of passage marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components. In an extended sense, it can also signify a transformation ...
process of a ''murīd'' is known as ''ʿahd'' ( ar, عَهْد) or ''bai'ath''. Before initiation, a ''murid'' is instructed by his guide, who must first accept the initiate as his
disciple. Throughout the instruction period, the ''murīd'' typically experiences
waridates like visions and dreams during personal spiritual
awrads and exercises. These visions are interpreted by the ''
murshid''. A common practice among the early Sufi orders was to grant a ''
khirqa'' or a robe to the ''murīd'' upon the initiation or after he had progressed through a series of increasingly difficult and significant tasks on the path of mystical development until attaining
wassil stage. This practice is not very common now. ''Murīds'' often receive books of instruction from ''murshids'' and often accompany itinerant ''murshids'' on their wanderings.
John Esposito
John Louis Esposito (born May 19, 1940) is an Italian-American academic, professor of Middle Eastern and religious studies, and scholar of Islamic studies, who serves as Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Geor ...
, ''The Oxford Dictionary of Islam'', Oxford University Press, 2003
See also
*
Murīdūn The Murīdūn ("disciples") were a Sufi order in al-Andalus that rebelled against the authority of the Almoravid dynasty in 1141 and ruled a ''taifa'' based on Mértola in the al-Gharb from 1144 until 1151.
The founder and leader of the Murīdū ...
, Andalusian movement that revolted against Almoravid authority in 1144
*
Murid War, war between Russia and a Caucasian Naqshbandi movement in the 19th century
*
Mouride brotherhood, a prominent Sufi ''tariqa'' in West Africa, founded in 1883
*
Talibe
*
Salik
*
Wassil
*
Majzoob
*
Muqarrab
*
References
External links
Qualities of a Successful MuridSufi LiveThe Online Murid Library (DaarayKamil.com)
Arabic words and phrases
Sufism
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