Intoxication and Sobriety

Intoxication and sobriety are themes which flow through the Sufi school of Islam. Sufism has traditionally been accused by Western Orientalist scholars to be contrary to what they term to be traditional or original Islam. Yet I would argue that Sufism is very much steeped in practically living out Quranic concepts such as ‘khalwa’ and ‘dhikr’.

This concept of divine love which we have discussed in previous posts also runs through Sufism in the form of ‘wajd’ or divine ecstacy. It is this ecstacy which can be seen in the qawallis of the eminent Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or in the spinning of whirling dervishes inspired by Rumi.

Sufism is by no means a single entity with many different sufis documenting and describing their experiences in different ways, there are those sufis who would argue that the exclamations of so called intoxicated sufis are a result of them not finding a spiritual master who could aptly guide their practice. Sufis in this state of divine bliss have often been at loggerheads with Islamic governments and society and some have even been punished with the death pentalty.

Mansur al Hallaj was one of these Sufis, he lived in Baghdad in the 9^th century but his story has become a shining example of divine love throughout the world even up to this day. Hallaj is said to have stayed at Mecca for a very long period of time continually fasting and praying and is also said to have spent time with many sufi masters.

It was his exclamation of ‘An-al Haqq- meaning ‘I am the Truth’ which incurred the wrath of the government of his time. Whereas sufis would argue that this proclamation came from a sense of divine communion with the divine it was interpreted as blasphemy and Hallaj was brutally murdered. However it is his last few words which always stir my emotions it is said that as his legs were being cut off he exclaimed, “I used to walk the earth with these legs, now there's only one step to heaven, cut that if you can.”

I think I've found the ulitmate drug!