Sufi and Bhakti tradition

akhlaq ahan

In its inception, various religions and spiritual movements have had fostered the elements and idea of Universal Humanism i.e. a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human being, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking over established doctrines. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam specially to be mentioned here as on the rudiments of these religions sufi and bhakti trends developed in Asia and for centuries nurtured the values. Thus, in the messages of sufis and saints of bhakti movement, idea of humanism is traced; and they declare ‘eshq’ or love as the core of all these humanist traits. The famous sufi poet and the predecessor of Amir Khusraw, Maulana Rumi while eulogizing omniscience of love declares it as ‘tabib e jumla ellat’ha’ or ‘physician of all diseases’; and at the same time has also warned those rulers and administrators who have elapsed the pains and problems of the masses, saying:

Asp e himmat suye akhtar sakhti

Aadam e masjood ra na-shanakhti

(You have set your horses to conquer the sky, but you could not spot those people who look at you in need.)

Obviously, in such state, only the sense of love could only make all learn warmth and affection towards fellow beings; as he says:

Shad bash aye eshq e khush sauday e ma

Aye tabeeb e jumle ellat'hay e ma

(Hooray O the love! Who brings blessings always; the one who is the medic of all the ailments.)

Khusraw too, is the follower of the same school and believes in the worth of love and its distinction over ‘aql’ i.e. reason; moreover in his view ‘love’ is the only measure to distinguish between human being and ‘non-living’:

Dil e bi eshq ra man del naguyam

Tan e bisooz ra juz gil naguyam

Mago ba man ke aaqil nist aasiq

Ke man be eshq ra aaqil naguyam

(I do not call it a heart which is without love, and I call a body only mud, if it is devoid of burning. Do not tell me that a lover is not wise; as I do not call wise the one who lacks love.)

As a matter of fact, Indian civilization is the beautiful synthesis of diverse ideas, believes and philosophies. Here, the difference between modern western culture which is based on materialism and at many instances demonstrates insensitiveness while dealing with different traits may not be none to them. Some of the scholars believe that the Sufi trend, which progressed and matured in the sub-continent, is also imbedded on the Buddhism.

The fact should not be ignored that these two traditions of great philosophical and social movements provided the enormous opportunity of interfaith understanding, debate, dialogue and communication which is also evident in the writings of Amir Khusraw and Kabir; and has been a leading light for centuries for the people of this land. Therefore, both the traditions i.e. Sufi and bhakti have evidently inculcated elements of Islam, Zoroastrianism and Indian philosophy including Buddhism.

(This is taken from a paper by the author)