There’s a story about the Prophet Muhammad in the Muslim tradition, in which the angel Gabriel comes to him and asks, “What is Islam?” to which The Prophet responds that the essence rests upon the actions that a Muslim takes, most notably, proclaiming that there is no God but God. Then Gabriel asks, “What is belief?”, and The Prophet responds with a list what makes up the various tenets of faith that make someone a Muslim—you have to believe in God, his revelations, his prophets. Then Gabriel asks, “How does one do all of these things and believe all of these notions with beauty and sincerity?” And this, says, Shankar Nair, Ph.D., an assistant professor of religious studies at University of Virginia, is what’s at the heart of Sufism: purifying oneself, becoming virtuous, truly finding one’s most beautiful soul.

In this video, Sonia Jones, Sonima’s founder, sits with Nair to learn more about the structure, rituals, and techniques of Sufism. After watching you’ll have a deeper sense of the traditions and influences that have emerged from and affected Sufi practice over time.

Related: What Is Islamic Meditation?

 

 

By