Dimensions of Islamic Spirituality in South Asia and Beyond

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Sufism is one of the essential parts of Islam. Its key is an inner light and awakening, an outer courtesy and service to humanity. The Sufis worked for the spread of Islam. It is increasingly acknowledged as a spiritual answer to modern materialism. This book describes the origin, nature and impact of Sufism and its relationship with Islam across the world particularly in the Muslim societies.

Kazi Sufier Rahaman is currently the Professor and Head of the Department of Islamic History and Culture of the University of Calcutta He has several publications in a number of reputed national and international historical journals and books to his credit. He authored four books on his subject and edited three volumes of journal entitled Journal of Islamic History and Culture of India (ISSN 2347- 8187) He visited USA participating in the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP)in 2007 sponsored by United States Department of State, also paid visit in Russia, UK Germany, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Romania, Indonesia, Taiwan, Bangladesh etc. countries for chair the session, contributing papers and posters in international academic conferences seminars workshops and endowment lectures. The central research interest of Dr Kazi Sufior Rahaman is Sufism, Islamic Thought, Literature Culture and Politics of the Mughal and British Colonial Bengal.

The epistemology Sufi or Sufism had never been used during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. However, onwards the Eighth century following the advent of Islam outside the Arab lands; some followers of Islam began to call themselves Sufis or other similar terms; which meant that they were following the path of self- purification, the purification of heart, character and behavior in order to get the blessings of the Almighty Allah. Sufism spread across the land without being a centrally organized movement. The Sufi brotherhood was a reality without much of an outer coordination or organization. Its reality was the awakening of the original ascetic and joyful qualities within people's hearts and the acceptance of the outer prophetic law. Sufism bore similarities to ascetic mysticism, yet it also allowed for spiritual militancy in many instances. However, Sufism won recognition in Islam and became popular in Islamic lexicon.

Onwards the Thirteenth century, the presence of the Sufis gave a new impetus to Indian society and polity. It is an undeniable fact that the Sufi mystics spread Islam in some parts of India at a popular level, but never inspired the Hindus for conversions to Islam. The importance of the Sufis was not only noticed in the niches of the Indian societies, but in royal court too. The legendary Arab traveller, Ibn Batuta was stunned by the power of the Sufi holy men in the court of Sultan Muhammad Bin-Tughlaq in Delhi. The Sufis increased their political power as well as social prestige in Mughal court politics. The ulama and some Sufis opposed Emperor Akbar when he tried to unite the Indians as a nation to consolidate the power of the empire. However, the later Mughal rulers extended their patronage to the Naqshbandis. In fact, the great Mughals dared to challenge the power of the contemporary Sufi brotherhood. Anyway, Sufism left an indelible imprint on Indian Islam and Muslim empire.

**Contents and Sample Pages**