Literature

Sufi is derived from Arabic Safa, which means “one who wears woollen clothing” and “purity or holiness.” Sufi Mysticism is related to Tarikat, a liberal reading of the Quran. The orthodox interpretation of such a Quran is known as Shariat. Haq (God) or Khalaq (Soul) were believed to have the same. Sufism had a significant impact on mediaeval Literature, particularly poetry written in Arabic, Persian, Turkic, or Urdu. Sufi teachings and organisations allowed for literature freedom than court poetry. In their Literature, the Sufis included aspects of folklore. Let’s discuss Sufi doctrine and freedom of literature in detail. 

Sufi Doctrine

The Sufi doctrine was built on achieving unity with God via the love of God, prayers, fasts, or rituals, with no reference to Hindus and Muslims. It emphasised that religious experience must be developed by direct perception of God. Sufism is a mystical movement in Islam that opposes conventional practice to adhere to humanity’s direct perception of god without the need for a middleman. Sufism was first brought into European languages by Orientalist intellectuals in the 18th century, who considered it primarily as a philosophical theory or literary legacy in contrast to Islam’s arid monotheism. The phrase characterises a wide range of Sufi-related social, cultural, political, and religious events in modern scholarly usage.

Sufi Movement in India

• Synthesises Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Zoroastrianism’s many ideas and practices.
• Its goal was to serve humanity via spiritual self-development.
• Desirous of Hindu-Muslim cooperation or cultural harmony
• Opposes materialism yet does not promote ultimate surrender.
• Sufi orders were separated into two categories: Ba-shara, which obeyed Islamic law, and Beshara, which can’t follow Islamic law.

Freedom of Literature

Sufism had a significant impact on mediaeval Literature, particularly poetry written in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Urdu. Sufi teachings and organisations allowed for more academic freedom than court poetry at the time. In their writings, the mystics used elements of folklore. Regimental, hypocrite, keeper, or jammy work is somehow tied to mysticism. Sanai’s poetry is an example of Sufi poetry (died around 1140). Attar (born 1119) and Rumi (died 1273) resisted injustice by focusing on divine justice and criticising bad rulers with religious intolerance. These poets used forms that were reminiscent of folk melodies and fairy tales.

Elements of Folklore

Folklore is made up of two words: folk, which refers to people from a particular place, and lore, which refers to stories. Folklore, then, is a collection of stories people tell in a specific location. Folklore may determine a population’s values, beliefs, and even desired way of life with its literary themes. Folklore was passed down verbally through previous generations who recited the stories. The stories were then passed down, becoming part of a culture’s tradition. The printing press enabled these stories also to be published — thus discussed with the rest of the planet. Folk tales are a broad phrase that encompasses a wide range of traditional narratives. Storytelling appears to be a cultural universal, occurring in simple and complex communities. Even the forms of folktales vary by culture, and comparative studies of themes and storytelling styles have successfully demonstrated these connections. It is also believed to be an oral tale that should be taught to everyone.

On the other hand, Folklore could be used to appropriately characterise a symbolic story that is not sacred or religious. This could refer to unconscious psychological patterns, instincts, and archetypes of a mind; according to the Jungian perspective, that’s just one form of study. It may or not be elements of the fantastic in this lore (such as magic, ethereal beings, or the personification of inanimate objects). These folktales may or may not be based on religious beliefs, but they always address serious psychological difficulties.

Conclusion

Sufism seems to be a mystical Islamic religion and practice wherein Muslims seek a direct personal experience of God to discover the truth of divine love with knowledge. It comprises several mystical paths to determine the essence of God and Human beings and facilitate the experience of divine love and joy in the universe. Sufism’s doctrine was built on achieving unity with God via the love of God, prayers, fasts, and rituals, with no reference to Hindus and Muslims. Now you’ve all the necessary information about Sufi doctrine, freedom to literature and elements of folklore in detail.