Islamic Sufism and Jewish Kabbalah: Shining a Light on Their Hidden History

[Ahimsa]

Muslims and Jews further possess mystical customs – Islamic Sufism and Jewish Kabbalah – that are so close to one another that the presumption of mutual influence is inescapable. Yet the transmission of these spiritual doctrines and practices between them is still historically mysterious. At certain points, there is evidence for direct influence of Sufism on Jewish spirituality. Elsewhere, the path between the two is challenging to discern.

Sufism and Kabbalah alike fall into two general streams: the “theosophical,” concerned with explaining the mystical content of the universe and humanity’s relationship to God’s creation, and the “ecstatic.” Both Sufis and Kabbalists ascribe an external and a hidden meaning to their scriptures. But for the “theosophical” mystic, Muslim or Jewish, the mind is concentrated on performance of religious commandments according to their supernatural understanding. By contrast, the “ecstatic” seeks more than a refinement of the soul, and intimacy with God.

 

[MorningSong51]

Ahimsa:
thank you for listing this post - I had asked a member of this board - Elwil, about that same subject:

Question - regarding the direction that one would walk around the Ka’ba? - and isn’t this the same (walk) direction that one walks - as if it were the “Ani L’Dodi V’dodi Li” (“I to my beloved and my beloved to me”). …symbolizing the relationship between God and the people and/or person - even at wedding, this is the direction the bride walks around the groom. The direction has a special significance - During the annual pilgrimage (“Hajj”), Muslims walk around around the Ka’aba in a counter-clockwise direction (a ritual known as “tawaf”).

Doesn’t this have something to do with the orbiting motions of heavenly bodies. - direction? I can’t remember all information on this - so if you could help?

 

[Ahimsa]

thank you for listing this post - I had asked a member of this board - Elwil, about that same subject:

Question - regarding the direction that one would walk around the Ka’ba? - and isn’t this the same (walk) direction that one walks - as if it were the “Ani L’Dodi V’dodi Li” (“I to my beloved and my beloved to me”). …symbolizing the relationship between God and the people and/or person - even at wedding, this is the direction the bride walks around the groom. The direction has a special significance - During the annual pilgrimage (“Hajj”), Muslims walk around around the Ka’aba in a counter-clockwise direction (a ritual known as “tawaf”).

Doesn’t this have something to do with the orbiting motions of heavenly bodies. - direction? I can’t remember all information on this - so if you could help?

Yes, when viewed from above the sun’s north pole, all the planets (except Uranus and Venus) rotate counterclockwise. And all the planets (without exception) also orbit the sun in a counterclockwise (when viwed from above their north poles) direction.

The Tawaf occurs when Muslims perform a circumambulation seven times around the Kaaba, in a counterclockwise (when viewed from above) motion.

I doubt that it is just coincidence that the ancients knew about seven planets, and the Tawaf involves seven circumambulations (and Creation in Genesis 1 took seven days). Whether the ancients knew about the counterclockwise movement of the planets (thus explaining the counterclockwise movement in Tawaf, as well as in the counterclockwise procession of the Torah around the synagogue), is an interesting question.

 

[MorningSong51]

Yes, when viewed from above the sun’s north pole, all the planets (except Uranus and Venus) rotate counterclockwise. And all the planets (without exception) also orbit the sun in a counterclockwise (when viwed from above their north poles) direction.

The Tawaf occurs when Muslims perform a circumambulation seven times around the Kaaba, in a counterclockwise (when viewed from above) motion.

I doubt that it is just coincidence that the ancients knew about seven planets, and the Tawaf involves seven circumambulations (and Creation in Genesis 1 took seven days). Whether the ancients knew about the counterclockwise movement of the planets (thus explaining the counterclockwise movement in Tawaf, as well as in the counterclockwise procession of the Torah around the synagogue), is an interesting question.

Thank you for giving me some additional information about this and I took the time to read a little more about it. Tawaf or circumambulation of the House of Allah at Mecca - is a renewal of faith.


Tawaf: Utmost degree of love

Circumambulation means to go round something. This act shows the utmost degree of love to the extent that a lover wishes to sacrifice himself for the beloved. A real pilgrim who has thirst for meeting his Beloved has been detached from everything. By going round the House of the Beloved, he wishes to prove that he desires nothing but God.