KOZHIKODE: The Sufi Foundation of India is arranging a retreat in Kozhikode on June 21 for those who want to immerse themselves in the bliss of Sufi meditation and learn how to practice it in daily life.
Titled Rumi Retreat, the programme spanning an entire day will be led by meditation master Siddiq Muhammad and Sufi musician and retreater Sameer Binsi.
“Mystic and poet Jalaluddin Rumi is known to the people of Kerala as an author. However, there is a Sufi path known by his name that is seldom discussed here. Rumi Retreat will perhaps be the first event of its kind in the country. Our order is modelled on the ones in the US,” said Siddiq.
There are many Sufi tariqas in Kerala that follow different paths. “Ours is unique as there are no caste, gender or religious segregations. Anyone can join it and experience bliss,” he said. Siddiq said he was attracted to the verses of Rumi through the works of Guru Nitya Chaitanya Yati, who translated his work ‘Masnavi’ into Malayalam.
“Guru had stated that for 40 years, Rumi’s book was with him everywhere he travelled. I learned the Persian language to understand the book in its original form and translated into Malayalam. For the past five years, I have been engaged in a programme called ‘Masnavi Mananam’ and have completed around 1,000 classes,” Siddiq said.
Samir Binsi has been in the world Sufi music for over 20 years, giving vocal rendering to classical Sufi poems besides the works of Mansoor Hallaj, Ibnu Arabi, Amir Khusru and Icha Mastan. He has been instrumental in popularising Sufi music to the new generation.“Rumi had initiated the seeker to meditation mainly through three techniques. First is Ma’arife Masnavi that opens the eyes to eternal light. The second is Sama, the Sufi music retreat, that equips the ear to listen to cosmic silence. And the third is Raqs, the Sufi whirling dance that takes to the culmination of meditation,” Siddiq said.
Siddiq believes those who oppose the Sufi path are unable to understand the finer aspects of religions and are stuck to literal readings of the scriptures. The language and philosophy of mystics remain incomprehensible to the followers of priestly religions. It is this misunderstanding that led to the killings of Socrates, Jesus, Imam Hussein and Hallaj, he said. After the completion of the Rumi Retreat, the organisers are planning to hold a three-day programme in August.