Sufism

A "Sufi" is one who practices Islamic mysticism
"attempting to draw close to God through directly realised spiritual experience". Both Sunni and Shia Islam have Sufi orders and there are numerous schools (or Tariqah) often named after their founder and each with their own rituals. Learning under a "Teacher" is a significant apsect of the "Sufi way". A "Dervish" is a member of a Sufi school who adopts extreme poverty and ascetic practices in much the same way as a Sadu (Hinduism) or Monk (Budhism/Christianity). Islamic mysticism has its roots in the earliest days of Islam (and even in pre-Isl

World Heritage Sites connected to 'Sufism':

  • Aleppo Khanqah AL-Farafira, a 13th century sufi monastery built in 1237. (wiki)
  • Ardabil
  • Bagerhat Founded by the Sufi Satin Khan Jahan. His mausoleum is within the inscribed area.
  • Kunya-Urgench "Najmeddin Kubra Mausoleum The holiest place in Kunya Urgench - Najmeddin Kubra was a famous teacher and poet who founded the Sufi Kubra order". There are 2 tombs inside - one for his body and one for his head, which were separated when he was killed by the Mongols in 1221.
  • Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi Khodja Ahmed Yasawi is the most prominent religious figure in the history of Sufism
  • Medina of Fez The tomb of Moulay Idris II is an important sufic pilgimage site. Fez is also the site of the annual Festival of World Sacred Music heavily dominated by Sufi dancing
  • Meknes Mausoleum of Sidi ben A?ssa, who was founder of a Sufi brotherhood notorious for their glass-eating and snake bites while in trance
  • Thatta "Makli Hill. One of the largest necropolises in the world, with a diameter of approximately 8 kilometers, Makli Hill is supposed to be the burial place of some 125,000 Sufi saints"
  • Walled City of Baku The Shrivanshah dynasty were patrons of the Halwati Sufi order and Baku became their cultural and ultimately, with the building of the Shirvanshah Palace in the 15th century, their physical capital. That palace "is believed to be a memorial complex built around the sacred place of worship (pir) and a tomb of Seyyid Yahya Bakuvi who was a Helwati Sufi saint.. After the Safavid conquest of Baku in 1501, the Sufi order was expelled"