Q. With reference to the core philosophy and practices of Sufism in India, consider the following statements:
1.Sufis emphasize Ishq (divine love) as the primary bond between God and the individual soul, a concept mirroring the Viraha (longing for God) tradition in Bhakti.
2.The Sufi practice of Sama, or devotional musical assembly, was uniformly accepted across all major Silsilahs (orders) that flourished in India.
3.Unlike orthodox Islamic scholars who focused on external rituals, Sufis prioritized the purification of the inner self (tazkiyat al-nafs) for divine knowledge.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. Sufism is fundamentally based on love (Ishq) for God, which spiritually aligns with the Bhakti concept of separation and longing for the Divine, often termed Viraha.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. Sama was a cornerstone practice of the Chishti Silsilah, but it was vehemently opposed and denounced by the orthodox Naqshbandi Silsilah.
- Statement 3: Correct. Sufism stressed inner spiritual purity and self-discipline (tazkiyat al-nafs) as the means to achieve knowledge of God, contrasting with the emphasis on external conduct by orthodox Ulema.
