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
A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession
A profession is a field of work that has ...
committed to spiritual enlightenment by ''sulūk'' (traversing a path) under a spiritual guide, who may take the title
murshid
''Murshid'' ( ar, مرشد) is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher", derived from the root ''r-sh-d'', with the basic meaning of having integrity, being sensible, mature. Particularly in Sufism it refers to a spiritual guide. The term is frequently use ...
, ''
pir'' 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'' or Sufi follower only becomes a ''murīd'' when he makes a pledge (''
bayʿah'') to a ''murshid''. The equivalent
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
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
A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other figure. It can refer to:
Religion
* Disciple (Christianity), a student of Jesus Christ
* Twelve Apostles of Jesus, sometimes called the Twelve Disciples
* Seventy disciples in t ...
. 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
''Murshid'' ( ar, مرشد) is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher", derived from the root ''r-sh-d'', with the basic meaning of having integrity, being sensible, mature. Particularly in Sufism it refers to a spiritual guide. The term is frequently use ...
''. A common practice among the early Sufi orders was to grant a ''
khirqa
The khirqa is the initiatory cloak of the Sufi chain of spirituality, with which esoteric knowledge and barakah is passed from the Murshid or the Shaikh to the aspirant murid. The khirqa initiates an aspirant into the silsilah, the chain or lineage ...
'' 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
In Sufism, 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'' or ''shaykh''. A '' sālik'' or Su ...
, war between Russia and a Caucasian Naqshbandi movement in the 19th century
*
Mouride brotherhood
The Mouride brotherhood ( wo, yoonu murit, ar, الطريقة المريدية ''aṭ-Ṭarīqat al-Murīdiyyah'' or simply , ''al-Murīdiyyah'') is a large ''tariqa'' (Sufi order) most prominent in Senegal and The Gambia with headquarters in t ...
, a prominent Sufi ''tariqa'' in West Africa, founded in 1883
*
Talibe
A talibé (also spelled ''talibe'', plural ''talibés''; ar, طالب, ṭālib, seeker, 'student'; pl. ) is a boy, usually from Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Chad, Mali or Mauritania, who studies the Quran at a daara (West Afr ...
*
Salik
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 ...
*
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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