MOSTResource.org

Resources on Muslims for the Entertainment Industry

  • Story Bank
    • Business & Technology
    • Entertainment
    • Culture & Lifestyle
    • Medical
    • National
    • Faith
    • Sports
    • Women
    • World
  • Resources
    • Faces & Places
    • Statistics
    • Infographics
    • Research / Reports
    • Quick Takes
  • Perspectives
  • Events
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Staff
    • Parent Organization
    • Videos
  • Story Bank
  • Business & Technology
  • Entertainment
  • Culture & Lifestyle
  • Medical
  • National
  • Faith
  • Sports
  • Women
  • World
mostresource storybank video

Explored Our Story Bank Yet?

Our curated collection of thousands of stories has helped top Hollywood writers, producers, and creatives. Watch our brief video to learn more.

Faith, National — December 13, 2017   

In Manhattan, There’s No Mystique Behind Sufism

Original article by ADELA SULIMAN published in the New York Times on 09/25/2016

Photo Credit: New York Times
Photo Credit: New York Times

Sufism is a belief and practice in which Muslims seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through a personal experience of God – and is considered highly spiritual and even mystical. Having been forced underground by Ottoman rulers in the 13th century, it has been a private act of faith for much of its existence. But in Manhattan, worshipers are coming out and opening the doors to those curious.

Every Thursday, on the Upper East Side, Abdul Latif welcomes a group of like-minded worshippers or “beloved” as he calls them. During prayer, the group —mostly American-born converts to Islam – form a circle and lock hands as Mr. Latif leads the group in a chant, repeating the 99 sacred names of God and prayers of adoration. This is a communal meditation called Zikr – and as the pace of the chants quicken, people sway together and emotions come through.

Sufism represents all sects of the Muslim faith. “You can be a Shia or a Sunni or any type of Muslim and still be a Sufi,” says James W. Morris, professor of Islamic thought and history at Boston College. Annmarie Agosta, who grew up in an Italian-American family in Brooklyn and became a Sufi in 2009 says, “I feel a deep responsibility to stand for the true message of Islam, which is peace, tolerance, and compassion. This is the message of Sufism.”

Read more ...

Our Experts Are Here To Help

Want to start a conversation with our experts for help with your project?

Related Articles

  • M Film Lab Now Accepting Applications for Screenwriting Program
  • American Eid – Interview with Director Aqsa Altaf
  • Post vaccine, Muslim travelers are heading to… Israel

More From The Story Bank

Post vaccine, Muslim travelers...

Last year the Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. This marked a public normalization of relations not seen in decades. And with this new … [Read More...]

Meet the first Muslim head...

As new head coach for the New York Jets, Robert Saleh is making history as the first Muslim American to lead a team in the National Football League. The Lebanese American is also the third Arab … [Read More...]

Meet American’s Youngest...

According to The Hill, Bushra Amiwala "is part of a new generation stepping into politics." In 2019, she was elected to the Skokie Board of Education in Illinois, making this Pakistani-American … [Read More...]

Riz Ahmed Is Oscars’ First...

Riz Ahmed has become the first Muslim nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Academy Awards for Sound of Metal, not long after Mahershala Ali made his own history with two Best Supporting … [Read More...]

More Women Study Physics in...

A recent report from Physics magazine finds that physics departments in many western universities have a "significant gender disparity, with far fewer women than men taking up the subject." However, … [Read More...]

Enter your email to receive periodic updates

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy© 2002–2023 MOST ResourceMOST Resource globe


We use cookies to improve your browsing experience and to collect anonymous data to enable us to manage our website. Our Privacy Policy is a complete disclosure of our data collection policies, including the choices you have to control information we might collect. Your use of this site represents your consent to our Privacy Policy.