A Brief Account of Ṣūfism and its Socio-Moral Impact on Sindhi Society and Culture

Abstract

A brief account of Ṣūfism and its Social Relevance discussions based on practical exposition of Ṣūfism could play an effective and healthy role. Leaving aside the debate whether Ṣūfism is different only in degree or form in comparison to the non-Ṣūfism, this study is going to address the brief account of Ṣūfism and its moral exposition. In order to explore the moral vision of Ṣūfism, it is necessary to examine the aims and practices of Ṣūfīs, their specific conception of religious knowledge and the popularization of their moral vision. By expounding the vision of Ṣūfīs, the study will be concluded by analyzing the social-moral relevance of Ṣūfism in the current scheme. Among many speculations about the origin and starting of Ṣūfism, one is that Sindh/Indus Valley is the birthplace of this highly developed school of thought and life. Pre-Vedic society of Sindh was completely Ṣūfī in its outlook. From the Muslim conquest of Sindh to the later Mughal rule, we come across a number of Ṣūfīs, but their social contribution seems to be highly individualized and purely spiritual in context. Sindh, which had been contributing towards the evolution of Ṣūfism in the whole world for the last 3000 years, was ripe enough to get back that message in fully developed form, back from the world in its own environs and appeared a unique Ṣūfī in the history of Ṣūfism in Sindh.

Objectives of this study are to examine the socio-moral impact of Ṣūfism in Sindh society and its impact on traditions and customs in Sindh, the role of Ṣūfism in promoting religious harmony and peace, and finally, the relevancy of Ṣūfism in the modern scientific and global society. This study is qualitative in nature. Literature on Ṣūfism with special reference to Sindh culture and society is systematically studied by doing both historical research methods and secondary data analysis of books relevant to the topic.