Sufism on Bluesky

@sufism.bsky.social

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Curator of conversations about Sufism, amplifying progressive Islamic voices on Bluesky.

Included in the Sufism on Bluesky Feed: Aakash Odedra Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani Abdullah Ansari Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Abu Madyan Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili Ahmad al-Tijani Ahmad Sirhindi Ahmad Yasawi Ahmad al-Rifa'i Ahmet T. Karamustafa Al-Ghazali Al-Hallaj Al-Qushayri Alan Godlas Alchemy of Happiness Alexander Knysh Ali Hujwiri Amir Khusrau Amira Mittermaier Attar of Nishapur Baha al-Din Naqshband Bahauddin Zakariya Bayazid Bastami Bezels of Wisdom Bulleh Shah Carl Ernst Conference of the Birds Dhu al-Nun al-Misri Divan-e Kabir Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi Doctrine of the Sufis Fariduddin Ganjshakar Fihi Ma Fihi Fusus al-Hikam Futuhat al-Makkiyya Hamid Dabashi Hasan al-Basri Ibn Arabi Ibn Ata Allah Ibrahim ibn Adham Idries Shah Junayd of Baghdad Kitab al-Mawt Kitab al-Ta'arruf Kitab al-Tawhid Kristin Zahra Sands Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Laury Silvers Majalis-i Sab'a Mantiq al-Tayr Meccan Revelations Mishkat al-Anwar Mohammed Rustom Moinuddin Chishti Najmuddin Kubra Niche of Lights Nizamuddin Auliya Omid Safi Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki Rabi'a al-Basri Reshad Feild Rkia Elaroui Cornell Sa'diyya Shaikh Saadi Shirazi Sachiko Murata Scott Kugle Seyyed Hossein Nasr Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi Shahzad Bashir Shams-e Tabrizi Sufi Chivalry Suhaib Webb Sultan Bahu Vilayat Inayat Khan Vincent Cornell William Chittick Yahia Lababidi Yunus Emre Zia Inayat Khan Alawiyya Ba'Alawi Bektashiyya Chishtiyya Futuwwa Gnawa Halveti Inayatiyya Jerrahi Kubrawiyya Mevlevi Mevleviyya Naqshbandiyya Ni'matullahi Qadiriyya Qawwali Rifa'iyya Sama' Senegalese Sufism Shadhiliyya Sohbet Sufi Poetry Sufism Suhrawardiyya Tasawwuf Tekke Tijaniyya Tariqa West African Sufism Whirling Dervishes Zawiya
A three-dimensional cube defined by three common axes along which versions or expressions of Sufism are often distinguished: 1. Shari'a-compliance — the degree to which a practitioner or order emphasizes strict adherence to Islamic law versus a more antinomian, law-transcending spirituality (the tension between "exoteric" and "esoteric" Islam). 2. Sobriety vs. Intoxication (sahw vs. sukr) — whether the tradition favors the sober, disciplined mysticism of figures like al-Junayd, or the ecstatic, self-annihilating expression associated with al-Hallaj or Rumi's more rapturous poetry. 3. Philosophical orientation — the extent to which a practitioner engages with speculative metaphysics (especially wahdat al-wujud, the "unity of being" associated with Ibn Arabi) versus a more devotional, love-based (ishq), or praktical (suluk, the path of spiritual stations and states) approach. These three axes — legal, psychological/experiential, and metaphysical — can map out a fairly rich space of Sufi orientations across history and geography.
Christian Nationalism vs. Sufism Two very different visions of faith and spirituality Christian Nationalism: 1. Believes America is chosen by God and should be a “Christian nation” 2. Views America as morally superior and defines who counts as a “real” American 3. Equates loyalty to their own culture and beliefs with Christianity 4. Reinterprets Christianity and the Bible to align with political and cultural interests 5. Seeks political power to control government over religion, belief, and behavior 6. Abuses faith and law to consolidate power and wealth 7. Relies on false accusation, fear, division, and warfare to gain and hold power Sufism: 1. Sees all nations and peoples as equal before God, without any one nation chosen above others 2. Rejects claims of moral superiority and emphasizes humility and the equal worth of all people 3. Places loyalty to God and truth above culture, identity, or nationality 4. Seeks deeper spiritual meaning through reflection, not reinterpretation for political or material gain 5. Avoids political domination, focusing instead on inner transformation and ethical living 6. Renounces accumulation of power and wealth, emphasizing simplicity, generosity, and detachment 7. Responds to conflict with compassion, truth, and nonviolence, seeking unity over division
Intersections of Faith, Feminism & Activism: Progressive Islam & Social Justice Where We Stand: Conversations on Identity, Place, & Lived Experience THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET David Parker: Mission-driven publisher at Lived Places Publishing Ani Zonneveld: Founder & President of Muslims for Progressive Values, author, and songwriter In this session, Ani Zonneveld, author of An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior, reflects on intersections between faith, feminism, and activism and the various initiatives she's created to counter patriarchy and sexism, and in opposing the misuse of religion to justify prejudice.
Supporting a Democratic & Human Rights-Centered Israel Promotes • Fair treatment of all religious groups • Equal rights for Jews & Palestinians • Peaceful coexistence Opposes • Civilian harm • Discriminatory laws in the West Bank • Excessive force against protesters Supports • Human rights organizations • International law • Criticism of military occupation Supporting a democratic Israel includes defending equal rights and human rights for all people... and opposing abuses of power. This is not antisemitic.
Join the Rumi Center for a community gathering of poetry, remembrance & reflection with Baraka Blue. All are welcome! Sunday, March 8, 2026 3 pm PDT | 6 pm EDT | 10 pm UK | 2 am UAE https://www.rumicenter.love/events
"The De-Spiritualization of Women: Patriarchy and the Erasure of Female Sacred Agency in Islamic Tradition" A Ramadan learning circle with Dr. Hasib Nasiri Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026 Time: 11:30 AM PT | 2:30 PM ET | 8:30 PM CET Register: bit.ly/march7circle Join MPV as we reimagine an Islamic tradition where women's sacred agency is fully restored. www.mpvusa.org
[Pictures of Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafiz al-Misri and Sidi Uwais Orzech] Fasting of the body, nourishment of the soul Ramadan lessons from Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafiz al-Misri with Sidi Uwais Orzech 5 March (Thur), 10.30pm SGT Online Via Zoom Register at: soutilaahi.eventbrite.sg
Personally, I mourn the death of international law more than the death of Ali Khamenei. That the murder of him and his children and little grandchildren was extra judicial and barbaric, there is no doubt about that. As a Shi'a, I never supported welayat-e faqih and consider it a perversion of the teachings of the Imams a.s. and the Husayni a.s. stance. A minority position nowadays, but I hold firmly to it and with conviction. I think that Shi'ism and Shi'a people deserve the end of that heresy and the people of Iran deserve freedom from it. But not like this. Not by those power hungry dictatorial men sitting in Washington and Tel Aviv and their delusions and psychopathological megalomania and their greedy geopolitical schemes. What is clear is that in this very moment a mythos is created. On the one hand there is talk all over the ideological in-line Western media of "the most evil man on earth" having been killed. On the other there is the fact that a man who throughout his life was hailed as the "Husayn of the Age" eventually actually became a martyr himself, completing his own apotheosis. Among the Shi'a, a process of sanctification is on with full speed right now. Someone who at once is remembered as "most evil man" and as a saint will still continue to leave traces for a long time for sure. This is not the end of the ideology of the Islamic Revolution. That is for sure. If anything, Trump has given more fire to the idea of the US as the "Great Satan" and he has cast himself, arrogant perverted debaucherer that he is, in the mythic role of a new Yazeed. That paint won't be washed off too soon. What remains to be said is just this: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon. We all come from God and to Him we shall return. And may God grant mercy and eternal peace and forgiveness to all the martyrs of this war, the big ones as much as the small. And may all wars find an end soon. -- Leyla Jagiella on Facebook
Profile picture of Pir Zia Inayat Khan
Portrait of Coleman Barks (1937-2026)
The Story of Ramadan Today, Ramadan is a month of returning to God, to community, and to ourselves. It is a time for reflection, intention, and care, not perfection. Beyond fasting, Ramadan invites us to practise love (mawaddah), generosity (sadaqah), and compassion in our daily lives. For many queer Muslims, Ramadan can become a space of gentleness, healing, and reconnection - choosing love over fear, and mercy over shame. ،القلب كالمرآة، والشهواتُ كالصَّدَإ .فإذا صُقِلَ القلبُ بالذِّكرِ انجلثْ عنهُ الصُّور "The heart is like a mirror: when it is polished, it reflects the light of God." -Imăm al-Ghazali
MADRASA An introduction to Queer Theology in Islam WEEK ONE: Ramadan
THIS RAMADAN WE'RE THINKING OF: The 13 million people displaced in Sudan as a result of the civil war. The 5.4 million Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in their homeland The 15,000+ Iranian political prisoners detained in Evin's Prison. The 1.8 million Uyghurs detained by China in concentration camps The 21,000 migrant workers detained by the Saudi government. The 12.5 million Kashmiris living under the Indian occupation of their homeland. CoMPVUSA I #ISLAMISJUSTICE
(Global Interfaith Network logo / gin-ssogie.org) Responding to the lack of arrests in the murder and the absence of public updates from the SAPS, the board of the Al-Ghurbaah Foundation said the silence had deepened feelings of despair and anger in the community. "We feel lost. Angry. Sad. Fearful. Unheard. Devalued. Everyone's life matters, regardless of who they are or how they identify. Yet in a country that claims to uphold safety and equality for all, there is a vast gap between what is written in law and what is practised in reality, the board said. Anyone with information on Imam Muhsin Hendricks' murder is urged to contact the investigating officer, Detective Colonel Dawie Schotz, on 082 319 8673, or SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or to report the information at their nearest police station.
A Year Later, No Arrests in the Killing of Muhsin Hendricks, the World's First Openly Gay Imam Source: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-01-08-a-year-later-no-arrests-for-the-killing-of-muhsin-hendricks-sas-first-openly-gay
IMAM MUHSIN HENDRICKS 15 February 2026 -- Today marks the one year anniversary of the assassination of our beloved Imam Muhsin Hendricks. May Allah's mercy shine upon him as we honor his legacy, today and always. [Picture of Muhsin Hendricks and MASGD logo]
A man asked the Prophet: "Which kind of struggle is best?" He said: "A word of truth spoken to unjust rulers." Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 4209 In-book reference: Book 39, Hadith 61 English translation: Vol. 5, Book 39, Hadith 4214
From "The Nation" magazine, February 28, 2014 Headline: US Border Agents Intentionally Stepped in Front of Moving Vehicles to Justify Shooting at Them Subheadline: An internal review of the US Border Patrol raises serious questions about the agency's use-of-force policy.
Book cover: "An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Making My Life Count as a Muslim Feminist" by Ani Zonneveld. The image is a colorful abstract depiction of a Muslim woman.
Malcolm X
A wide, surreal mixed-media digital painting. On the left side stand two tall glass-like skyscrapers resembling the Twin Towers, cracked and glowing faintly in cool blue and white tones. The towers rise from a dark water surface, where their reflections ripple downward. To the right, the horizon depicts a fiery war-torn desert landscape under swirling red and black clouds. Angular explosions light up the sky, and in the background a Middle Eastern cityscape is silhouetted, with domes and minarets clearly visible. In the foreground, diverse human figures stand waist-deep in the dark water. Their bodies are shown in shades of orange, brown, and blue, with bowed heads and faces covered by their hands. Large tears and streams of light flow from their eyes and mouths, merging into a luminous river of sorrow that runs across the bottom of the image, connecting the towers on the left with the war scene on the right. The overall tone is mournful and symbolic, with deep blues and silvers contrasting against fiery oranges and blacks, evoking grief, memory, and shared humanity.
Life is its own answer. Accept it and enjoy it, day by day. Live as well as possible. Expect no more. Destroy nothing. Humble nothing. Look for fault in nothing. Leave unsullied and untouched all that is beautiful. Hold that which lives, in all reverence. For life is given by the sovereign of our universe: given to be savored, to be luxuriated in, to be respected. But that is no secret. You're intelligent. You know as well as I what is needed to be done. —Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles
The image is a Pixar-style cartoon illustration with a warm, playful tone. • At the center is a red devil character with small horns, a goatee, and a mischievous grin. He has one hand on his chin as if scheming, and above his head is a thought bubble that reads: “Conservatives admire me.” • To the left, a smiling Muslim man is drawn in a cartoonish way. He wears a white cap and robe, has a dark beard, and holds his hands together in front of him as if in prayer or admiration. • To the right, a cheerful Christian woman in a blue robe with a cross on her chest also clasps her hands together, looking up with wide, admiring eyes. • The background is warm beige, soft and simple, highlighting the three figures. The overall effect is lighthearted and satirical, suggesting that conservatives in both religions unintentionally “lift up” or empower Satan by their excessive focus on him.
The image is drawn in a vintage political-cartoon style with muted, earthy tones. • At the top of the picture, two large male figures dominate the scene: • On the left, a man dressed in traditional Islamic clothing (long tunic, cap, and beard) holds a black flag that reads “Conservative Islam” with a crescent and star. • On the right, a man in a dark business suit and tie, with a stern expression, holds another black flag that reads “Conservative Christianity” with a white cross. • Both men are standing on top of a globe of the Earth, pressing down heavily with their feet. • Below them, along the bottom half of the image, several weary, struggling people—men and women of different ethnic backgrounds—are hunched over, straining to hold the world on their backs. Their faces show exhaustion, pain, and despair. The overall effect is symbolic: it suggests that conservative Islam and conservative Christianity act like oppressive forces weighing down ordinary people worldwide, much like colonial powers once did.
Text on scroll-colored background: O tired soul: Allah says وَلَا نتَرَوْا وُ وَلَا حَرْتُوا Do not lose hope, nor be sad. Quran 3:139
Gold text on black satin background: O tired soul: Allah says وَلَا نتَرَوْا وُ وَلَا حَرْتُوا Do not lose hope, nor be sad. Quran 3:139
A digital painting of a rural family celebrating an eid
ISLAMIC LIBERATION THEOLOGY (ILT) Liberation Theology * is a critical reflection on the historical praxis of liberation in a concrete situation of oppression and decrimination * was coined by Jesuit Fr. General Pedro Arrupe in 1968, at the advent of a movement in Latin America that tied faith to social justice * claims that unjust socioeconomic structures are sinful and that it is the duty of people of faith to advocate for the poor and politically oppressed through systemic reform rather than simple charity. Islamic Liberation Theology * is a term that was coined in the aftermath of the original movement in Latin America to describe concepts that have been an aspect of Islamic teachings since the religion was first introduced centuries ago. * argues that in order to truly honor the word of God. Musims must translate their religious beliefs into actual proctice rather than simple scholarship or rituals * calls on progressive thedogians and activists to learn from perspectives of the neglected and oppressed rather than attempting to speak on behalf of them or providing basic charity.
Join us as we learn about: % The Basics of Progressive Islam Scholarly Definitions Themes of Progressive Islam History of Progressive Islam Islamic Modernism
Yoda replies: "And that is why you fail."
"The greatest wealth is Yageen (certainty). The treasure of Emaan (faith) is given to those who have firm belief.” Shaykh-ul-Islam Prof. Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri
"The best charity a Muslim practices is acquiring some knowledge and teaching it to someone." ~ Prophet Muhammad (Ibn Mãjah) via Paul Salahuddin Armstrong
"Wisdom is a tree, that grows in the heart and produces fruit on the tongue." ~ Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib via Paul Salahuddin Armstrong
Any state, any entity, any ideology that fails to recognize the worth, the dignity, the rights of man, that state is obsolete. -- Source: Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone Episode: "The Obsolete Man"
Students will be introduced to the Urdu poetry of the past 2 centuries, beginning with modern poets, and moving backwards in time, covering Faiz, Rashed, Iqbal, Ghalib, and Mir, among others. We will read, analyze, and listen primarily to poems in the ghazal genre. Students with Urdu-Hindi language abilities at the intermediate or advanced level are welcome. Students may read poetry in either the Urdu or Hindi (Devanagari) script. Advanced grammar topics will be covered, such that this course can be considered a continuation of the Advanced Urdu-Hindi course. Non-McGill students are welcome to take this class through the BCI consortium For more information, please email the professor. Prof. Pasha M. Khan pasha.m.khan@mcgill.ca Institute of Islamic Studies @ McGill University
A depiction of Maimonides with this quotation: Truth does not become more true because the whole world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.
Can you hear me recite the Mourners Kaddish for every soul killed in Gaza? It may take me a moment, I have to say thousands of prayers, and each person has a name. I will sit Shiva for a million lifetimes. I leave a stone on each martyred grave to root the dead back into the earth, but I can still hear the screaming and I'm trying to pray. Amanda Gelender Kaddish for the Soul of Judaism
Jewish activists with If Not Now are sitting shiva in Sen Brian Schatz's office demanding a cease fire NOW.
Text of linked statement
HAMZA EL FASIKI SPEAKING AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: Nov. 3-4, Vitrocentre Romont, Switzerland
Cover image for The Rumi Retreat with Omid Safi, April 2024
Cover image for article. A line of camels crosses the deserts of eastern Morocco. The author's picture is inset.
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picture of The Prophet, book by Khalil Gibran
One evening Nasrudin was stopped by a policeman. ‘This is a summons for driving through a “Stop” light.’ The Mulla said: ‘When I go into court, I shall ask for it to be balanced against all the times I have stopped at the “Go” light and never been credited for it.’