Silsila

Silsila (Arabic سلسلة "chain" ) in Sufism is the spiritual chain of sheikhs, which connects it over earlier generations of religious teachers and mystics with the Prophet Mohammed.

Silsila is a spiritual ( "golden" ) chain of transmission, which in all Sufi orders ( tariqa ) plays a central role. Through them win the Founder - formed by a backward reconstruction - their authority and thus the ability to rally supporters. Very few Founder declared, waiving a Silsila, to have received their blessing power Baraka directly by a vision of the prophet. Decisive for the prestige and veneration which is a Sufi Sheikh met with, the number and importance of the former master in its chain. In general, the reputation of the Sheikhs rises after her death by legends that have grown up around certain supernatural abilities.

In the handwriting of a Sufi ascetics of the 10th century in Baghdad names are mentioned by Islamic scholars in a series that have received their training from the respective predecessor. This master-disciple relationship can be understood as an early example of a Silsila.

The first Sufi master who not only developed his own philosophical and theological doctrine and gave it to students, but tied his classes at an initiation, the Andalusian scholar Ibn Masarra applies (around 883-931 ). He demanded of his followers a certain ascetic way of life, it was the principle of the tariqa, the "way". His initiation ritual was top secret and is therefore not known. Usually, the recording of the novice ( murid ) is based on an examination by laying on of hands, or according to the model of Muhammad with a handshake, whereby the Baraka of the master is transferred. To this day comes, especially in Morocco, and the spitting by the Master before.

To form in the often secluded dwelling place ( Zawiya ) of Shaykhs among personal services to the master; in a settlement fortified for the defense and propagation of Islam ( Ribat ), as they were typical of the Marabout, included work assignments in the surrounding fields to the rules of conduct. The rules of a larger Dervish monastery ( Khanqah, Turkish: Tekke ) required as the Mevlevi initially working in the kitchen. In any case, and had the student must learn the Silsila his teacher's heart. For proper understanding of the faith tradition and the knowledge of all branches Silsila is required. Only then can the Baraka of the order's founder can be effective in small sub- orders even after many times splitting and can the specificity exactly this doctrine are highlighted. The recitation of the Silsila done toward Mecca and focused on God.

In most cases, the Silsila of the Sunni and Shiite Sufi orders via the Persian mystic Junayd (around 825-910 ) and the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Muhammad and son Abi Talib. An exception is the Central Asian Naqshbandi Order, which derives its Silsila on the first Rightly Guided Caliphs Abu Bakr.

The authority to pass on the teachings to others, so act as Sheikh of the respective Order, only one or a few students were awarded. The lesson ended with a final initiation, the chain of transmission could be continued by the successor and ensures the survival of the teaching of the Master. This initiation is usually done by the ritual of the jacket Umhängens, a protective and possessive gesture, as it is narrated from the Prophet, Ka'b ibn Zuhayr was a contemporary of Muhammad, whose praise he wrote a poem. It pleased Mohammed so well that he reward umhängte the lecturer his precious coat.

A formal training facility for Sufi disciples did not exist, therefore traveled some willing to learn as already trained dervishes to the center of another fraternity, and served for a time the new champion. Famous Sheikh could initiate into several Sufi orders, before moving to the construction of its own Zawiya to the founder of a new Order were in later years, which has since borne her name. Of the many revered saints who have left no writings, is the actual person nothing is known except the chain of their descendants. These progeny maintain the grave of their master.

The term Silsila is used in the same meaning, but in a different context in the Indian region: In the influenced by Sufism, qawwali music, the musicians a group perform their play tradition back to a common spiritual founder. They are often connected to the 13th century with the founder of Chishtiyya Order. General referred Silsila in Indian music the uninterrupted sequence of a teaching tradition, Ustad - Shagird - Silsila (" teacher-student teaching line "), which in a narrow Übertragunsverhältnis between two ( guru- shishya parampara ) for the oral transmission of compositions and playing techniques a particular style of music provides. Silsila as a teaching tradition a distinction is made here of the broad -understood concept of Gharana, including the relationships and social networks.

See also: List of Islamic terms in Arabic

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