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Do sufis come under Shia/Sunni or are they their own sect?

You can be a Sunni Sufi as well as a Shia Sufi.

Sufism is not really a sect but is a philosophy.

Sufism is distinct because it preaches love and devotion for Allah and the Holy Prophet (pbuh) through poetry, music, and movements (dance). Sufis also believe that praying next to graves of pious Muslims and asking them for help can help you with your troubles. Sufis have built many shrines in South Asia for those pious Muslims.

Most of Pakistani people's ancestors converted to Islam through Sufism centuries ago and much of Pakistani culture is influenced by Sufism.

Extremists dont like Sufism because they think music and "dancing" is sinful and praying next to graves is wrong.

Sufism is not practiced much in the Middle East. Sufism is mostly practiced in Turkey and Central/South Asia.
 
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its not that difficult. The law has to take its course only. Now we all now the enemy the reason and intension. What are you guys waiting for.
Is its fault within the system or Institutions?
Lack of political will to say huuush!?
Support withing; for these elements?
Lack of resources?
Outlaws more powerful then security forces?
Still confused about the enemy, reason and their intension?
or
we are over reacting cause the problem is very trivial, the salvation is in the time and has to be put on to slow stove burner (Indian way).

If the sympathy or support withing has the religious justification then Govt should address this problem and let everyone now that all have right to live irrespective of their believes.
 
Majority of the Sufis follow Sunni practices even though there is a strong tilt towards Hazrat Ali (RA) who is considered as a Vali Allah. I have personally come across statement that Khawaja Hassan Basri claimed his path (Tariqaa) from Hazrat Ali (RA). There are some Shia Tariqas as well, but percentage wise these are insignificant.

Takfiris, Wahabis and also many Deobandis consider praying at a Sufi Shrine as “Shirk” because the worshippers are assigning powers of Allah to the Pirs.

Admittedly this view point has some justification. I have seen pilgrims asking the deceased Sufis to aid them in getting jobs or begetting children etc. No doubt only Allah can aid in such endeavors.

However does this mean that you kill all those who you think have lost their way?

Tragedy occurs when some influential political leaders such as JI leadership openly declare their support for these forces. Because such a stance can indirectly provide justification for killing the innocents.

here i want to clear one illusion in the mind of most people that sufis and Aolyas are same. Aolyas Allah are the Aarif(have musahida) who get Wilayat from Hazrat ALI(A.S).whereas sufis are in gumaan and have not get connection with WIlayat e ALI(A.S).
Aolya are people who reach the desgination of Haqul -Yaqeen, whereas sufis can't reach above the ilm al yaqeen.
 
KARACHI: The shrine of Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA) – an eighth-century Sufi-saint known as the saviour and defender of Karachi – on a hillock near the coast is believed by many to have protected the metropolis from cyclones.

Despite forecasts and warnings by weather experts several times in the past that a cyclone in the Arabian Sea was moving towards Karachi and could hit the city any moment, Ghazi’s devotees say that it is because of the presence of the saint that cyclones either bypassed the city and moved towards Gujarat in India or its velocity reduced to naught without causing any damage to the city.

The shrine has remained a centre of attraction for people belonging to different religions, sects, ethnicities and sections of society. Not only religious people but also many politicians, including the slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto, have visited the shrine at least once in their lifetime to pay homage to the saint and seek spiritual guidance.

Born in 109 Hijra, Abdullah Shah Ghazi, according to devotees, was a grandson of Hazrat Imam Hassan (AS). He migrated to Karachi in 138 Hijra during the Umayyad dynasty. Considering him a threat to their dynasty, the rulers hunted and martyred him with his many followers in 151 Hijra. His followers chose the hillock for his burial.

At that time, the hillock was surrounded by the sea and potable water was not available. Devotees believe that it was his miracle that a fountain of drinking water emerged from the bottom of the hill that continues to flow to this day.

Karachi — which has turned into a metropolitan city of 18 million people from a tiny village of fishermen — has in its fold resting places of some 200 saints besides that of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.

According to an ex-administrator of the Auqaf department, some of the shrines located on vintage points in different parts of the city are:

Syed Misri Shah in Clifton, Syed Ghalib Shah alias Qutbe Alam in Keamari, Syed Alam Shah Bokhari at Jamia Cloth Market, where three more saints (Baba Qatil Shah, Abdul Rehman Shaheed and Baba Ismail Shah Ghazi) had also their shrines, Mustan Shah Baba on MA Jinnah Road,Noorul Hasan alias Noori Baba in Teen Hatti, Syed Chuttan Shah Bokhari in Kharadar, Syed Jumman Shah near zoological gardens, Syed Wilayat Ali Shah on RCD Highway, Syed Qasim Ali Shah near Parco on Hub River Road, Syed Omar Shah Bokhari near Kalapul, Baba Kunda Shah Baloch near Korangi-4, Noorani Baba near Korangi-1, Baba Wilayat Shah in Jamia Millia, Malir, Doolah Shah Sabzwari in Kharadar, Mehmood Shah in F.B Area, Mir Azizullah Haqqani in Landhi, Syed Mehtab Shah in Soldier Bazaar, and Meera Bibi in Lea Market.

DAWN.COM | Local | Saint Ghazi and his shrine
 
Security beefed up in Karachi after shrine attack

Friday, 08 Oct, 2010

KARACHI: Police stepped up patrols in Karachi on Friday to try and prevent renewed violence after angry mobs rampaged through the city in the aftermath of a suicide attack on a Sufi shrine that left eight dead and 65 injured.

The attack by two suicide bombers on the shrine was a stark reminder of the threat posed by militants to Pakistan.

Mobs took to the streets after the Thursday evening attack, firing weapons, setting tires on fire and torching at least two buses.

The city of more than 18 million was quiet early Friday, as most traffic remained off the road to avoid new possible outbursts of violence.

Police Chief Azad Khan said he had increased patrols to keep the peace, while a special team of senior investigators had been sent to the scene of the attack to investigate.

The Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine was attacked at the busiest time of the week when thousands typically visit to pray, distribute food to the poor and toss rose petals on the grave of the saint.

One bomb went off as the suspected attacker was going through the metal detector before a long staircase leading to the main shrine area, said Babar Khattak, the top police official in Sindh province. A second blast followed 10 seconds later, farther ahead of the metal detector, he said.

The explosions left the shrine splattered with blood and flesh, and the dead included two children.

''I heard a huge bang and smoke billowed from there,'' said Mohibullah Khan, a 38-year-old manual labourer who was about to visit the shrine after evening prayers at a nearby mosque when it was attacked.

''I ran back toward the mosque and seconds after heard another big explosion. Then I moved to help the wounded and put six or seven of the crying ones in ambulances and police vehicles.''

Pakistan is 95 per cent Muslim, and the majority practice Sufi-influenced Islam, whose more mystical practices are rejected by the Taliban and allied extremists, making Sufi sites a frequent target of militant groups.

In July, suicide bombers in Lahore attacked the Data Darbar shrine, killing 47 people and wounding 180.

That attack infuriated many Pakistanis, who saw it as an unjustified assault on peaceful civilians. In the aftermath, even amid fury against militants, many also blamed the US presence in Afghanistan for fuelling violence in their country.

After Thursday's attack, condemnations poured in from across Pakistan, including from President Asif Ali Zardari, who was staying in the city at the time.

''We remain committed to fighting these murderers and expelling them from our land,'' Zardari aide Farahnaz Ispahani said in an e-mail.

khi-securityAFP608.jpg



DAWN.COM | Metropolitan | Security beefed up in Karachi after shrine attack
 
very sad incident , May the fallen RIP they are our shaheeds ... No matter one beleives in sufism or not the amount of charities i.e Food and ration are handed over at these mazars is incredible. Thousands of poor get fed every day , why will some one attack such a peaceful place ? those who were kiled were some poor pakistanis and thats all ... what does this sort of act help these wahabi ttp pigs acheive ?
 
The problem that we face currently is that after years of instrumental brainwashing of our society, the principles have been distorted...The advice you have given is only applicable to those who actually know they have the power to dictate things.

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Martin Seligman’s theory of learned helplessness comes to mind, it suggests that individuals learn to feel helpless after observing other people going through uncontrollable events. The notion of feeling unable to do anything to improve their situation is unfortunately rife among people living in Pakistan today. The distress caused by these perceived uncontrollable events leads to disruption of emotion, increased aggression and impaired problem-solving, ultimately a vicious circle.

Furthermore, American sociologist Harrison White suggests that the concept of learned helplessness applies not only to individual psychology but also social function. He proposes that when a culture or its political identity fails to accomplish necessary goals, insight into that society’s collective ability also suffers....


It has been exposed on various levels but for some reason it is never given the promotion it needs and the support it requires.
No support from the masses, no keeping close tabs on wrongdoers by ordinary folks.

...many of our own who sit in the west are part of the elite who would not want their power or wealth to be damaged in any manner or form.
Right now many see Pakistan as their milk cow. But if Pakistan starts looking desirable once more, they will see the country as their bride.

The ones who have actually tried to help so far are either killed or excommunicated.
Or they seceded entirely. Still, there are enough in the expat community to band together and make their voice heard. That isn't happening.

In our environment, you are either part of the mass corruption or you get shut out by the big wigs. Happened to many including my father and grandfather. The latter died trying to make this country a better place.
All the more reason to make all the noise about local injustices that you can. Why worry about Americans occasionally violating the border or distorted notions of an Israel far away when the immediate problem is at home?

We did not pay heed to his advice and today we are stuck in a rut which can only be sorted by ourself.
Start now!


You have to realize the scale of problem we face where simple words can induce conspiracies and angry fits within a substantial section of Pakistan.
Sure. One way around this is to take an extremist position openly. That way no one can accuse you of a secret conspiracy in its cause. That could mean you end up in jail, however. Western reformers like Locke and Martin Luther had powerful protectors; John Wilkes did go to jail, but the power of the middle-class mob of Middlesex eventually carried his cause. Wilkes eventually became mayor of London.

While it might be okay to sing the song of democracy, remember that democracy doesn't always mean good. A leader is a leader. Good or bad. No matter how he came to power, I would prefer a good leader.
Democracy's unquestioned advantage is its ability to throw the bums out. It's disadvantage is that it demands citizen participation. (Otherwise, the country belongs to whoever bankrolls the politicians.) It can be time-consuming, and not nearly as pleasant as wooing a powerful notable to be your best friend. Sorry, those are the breaks.

You should visit Pakistan some time, you will learn more about the country itself.
Some day, I hope.
 
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RIP to the dead. Idk how 14 year olds can blow themselves up. When will all the madrassas in Pakistan especially the north be banned? We need reforms badly or else were another Iraq or Afghanistan. Clifton is one of the most posh areas of Karachi and its disgusting to see it being bombed by maniacs. A school is right behind the mazar and an under construction 60 story skyscraper is right next to the mazar, not to mention park towers (Karachi's top mall) is in walking distance from the mazar.
 
You should see how a hijacked functioning democracy has made America to fall from the pinnacle of power of the 50s to what it is now--in a mere few decades-- despite all geo-strategic advantages (an island nation with thousands of miles of protection on both sides), high literacy level, great natural resources.... Whether you believe it or not, short of a revolution America is becoming a 'has been' in the world.

WTF? After WWII America represented over 50% of the world's GNP. That was because the developed world had been decimated by war, not at all a natural state of affairs. It was only to be expected that America's proportion of world GNP decline over time, as Europe and Japan rebuilt and the Third World developed. That did not mean America itself stopped growing; quite the contrary.

Some kind of circumspection is needed more than smugness on your part.
It isn't "smugness". I have the advantage of growing up and living in perhaps the greatest nation the world has ever known. Yet because I'm not just a history buff but a proponent of freedom, that is also my weakness. For in the West, most of the great battles of freedom have been won already. Pakistan, however, is still afflicted, yet can benefit from the West's experience. Therefore the opportunities you Pakistanis have to gain honor and renown by winning freedom for your people far exceeds mine. For that, I envy you.
 
once US leaves afghanistan and these taliban are left with no one to fight, we will probably see more such attacks. after all then their focus will be bringing true islam in pakistan through killing of every other person following any thinking different to them.

we are still busy fighting different groups only and have left the actual ideology to prosper...
 
once US leaves afghanistan and these taliban are left with no one to fight, we will probably see more such attacks. after all then their focus will be bringing true islam in pakistan through killing of every other person following any thinking different to them.

we are still busy fighting different groups only and have left the actual ideology to prosper...

It is a possible outcome but not the only outcome. There is another possibility. You cannot deny the existence of fictions among Taliban as well. Once there is no USA to fight with, the Taliban might start fighting each other.
 
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