Burhaniyya Sufi Group Attracts Westerners Towards Islam
18 April, 2016KHARTOUM (SUDANOW) - The recent memorial of the late leader of the Burhaniyya Sufi (mystic) Order Sheikh Mohammad Othman Abu al-Burhani and his late son Ibrahim had attracted throngs of of adherents from around the World, the West in particular.
The congregations were widely attended by the two sheiks lovers from within Sudan and from Europe, the Americas and from Arab and Asian countries.
Burhaniyya adherents have poured into Khartoum from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, France, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and from the Arab and African regions.
Hameeda Disougi, a public health specialist from California , U.S.A, said she converted to Islam 40 years ago through the Burhaniyya Sufi Order .” I hail from a practicing Catholic family and since my childhood I had a passion for mathematics and Algebra. But I used to wonder why Christians say they worship ‘’The One God’’ , while they believe in the Trinity. One day I asked the church pastor : Who is the One God ? Is he is the God, the Son or the Holy Ghost? That is because I understand that one +one +one equals three and not one. Here the pastor summoned my mother and told her that “ your daughter is a Mohammedan.”
“Prior to that I had never heard anything about Islam. But later on during my early years at the university I met a Burhani brother who had an Islamic library. Then I came to know about Islam and pronounced the Shihada (that there is no God but Allah) and joined the Burhaniyya Order. Later on I met Sheikh Ibrahim and learned the Moslem rites and came to learn about the tolerance and other tenets of Islam. I then visited many areas and became a religious guide in my home state of California and by Allah’s will many Americans have converted to Islam thanks to the effort and guidance of the Burhaniyya group.
Hameeda further said she and her children are keen to fly to Sudan every year to attend the memorial of the two Sheikhs in recognition of their leadership.”Our visit to Sudan is a spiritual picnic that renews our faith and during which we taste the spirituality of worship. Here in Khartoum we attain a peace of mind that cannot be reached through material fulfillment,’’ she said.
Sakeena Boukdina, a French woman of Algerian origin said as Moslem immigrants in France they suffer quite a lot because the media therein distorts the image of Islam .” We cannot defend Islam, especially after the recent horrific terrorist attacks and the emergence of extremist movements and currents whose news occupy the media outlets,’’ she said.
Sakeena said she was born in France to a French family and joined the Burhaniyya Order with the help of a French friend. She visited the centre (Mashyakhat) of the Burhaniyya in Shinida (Germany) in 1997 and after that she kept visiting Sudan every year where she and her family members attend the memorial of the two sheikhs.
“We are now in bad need to commit to the Burhaniyya and its teachings , because it is a reflection of the real face of Islam that preaches tolerance, moderation, fraternity and social peace. We are now very upset by the terrorist orientations that attract the Moslem youth. Islam does not permit the killing of humans for no wrongdoing as we see now. Sufism and the Burhaniyya Order are the way out for our young generations and for non-Moslems who know nothing about Islam other than what they see in the media,’’ she said.
Sakeena, who is also a writer, said Sufism and the Burhaniyya Order are acceptable among the French.In France, she said, they have a centre where they give lessons and hold sermons every Saturday. She said a lot of non-Moslem French nationals visit the centre, many of whom have become Moslems and joined the order.
Dawood Sirlo, a pensioner from New York, U.S.A, said he hailed from a practicing Christian family.
‘’As a young boy I hoped to become a priest. However, one day on my way back home I came across a group of people speaking about Islam and Jesus Christ. I also heard something about The Prophet Mohammad and that he is Allah’s final messenger. I was very moved by what I heard. Then I embraced Islam and for my first seven years as a Moslem I used to perform my prayers. But my soul wanted more, until a friend took me to the Burhaniyya centre where I listened to Imam Fakhr Eddeen’s poems and the madeeh (songs praising The Prophet Mohammad). I immediately joined the Burhaniyya order and then came to know that Prophet Mohammad’s love is life. Then I kept visiting Sudan annually with my family to attend this memorial and Prophet Mohammad’s birthday celebrations. These are true celebrations where the place attracts people from all races and colors with one aim: to praise Allah and The Prophet Mohammad. It is a great relief and a happiness indescribable to be here.’’
Dawood said in New York and New Jersey the Burhaniyya have two prayer places (zawyas) where celebrations are held and lectures are delivered about Islam. “We are accepted in the community and our place and hearts are open for all,’’ he said.
He said in New York he owns a bus on the side of which he inscribed “ Love of The Prophet Mohammad”. He said many Americans had found their way to Islam through the Burhaniyya Order.
Mariam Nagler, a German lady who studies art and culture said she hails from a Moslem family who converted to Islam through the Burhaniyy . She said ever since their childhood she and her family used to come to Sudan to attend the memorial .
“The two sheikhs’ memorial represents for us a good chance for spiritual fulfillment, especially under the present conditions when Moslems in the West are under such social and political pressure. We are afraid to say we are Moslems due to these circumstances,’’ she said.”
‘’ The two sheiks’ memorial in Khartoum and the sermons held on the occasion give us much relief and help us to adhere to Islam more and more, ‘’ she said.
Dr. Jamal Yaseen, a bone surgery consultant, also an adherent of the Burhaniyya Order, said it is no wonder that there is hostility towards Islam in the West at the moment because “conspiracies against Islam had never ceased ever since the dawn of Islam.’’
“The difference today is that Islam’s enemies now control the media. This makes their voices higher. What makes things worse is that extremist currents had helped enemies of Islam by distorting the image of Moslems through their inhuman deeds that incite hatred towards Islam.
Dr. Yaseen has maintained that Sufism does reflect the morality and the luminous image of Islam .” Sufists had always been an example to be followed by their good conduct, sincerity and faithfulness, ’’ he said.
He said the Burhaniyya always seek to create an example to be followed , adding that they avoid direct preaching and dialogues and, instead, seek to give a good example of Islam. “This has caused our members to be accepted in the communities we live in who gradually choose Islam,’’ he said.
“Westerners lack spirituality and that is why they are now attracted to Islam where they find a peace of mind generated by love of the Prophet and the praise of Allah’s name,’’ he said.
“What really counts is our commitment to Islam,’’ he said , adding that the Sheikh stays between six to nine months every year in Europe where he educates his followers and at the end picks guides to continue with the education of the order’s adherents.
He said they now have three generations in Europe with a main centre ( mashyakhat) in Shinida in Germany. Germany has got the bulk of Burhaniyya adeherents, followed by Demark . “ We also have centers in France and Stockholm (Sweden) and Basil (Switzerland).
Recent statistics show that 12.5 million non-Moslems had converted to Islam in the last two decades . By that result Islam is the religion that attracts more converts from other religions.
Experts attribute this turn towards Islam to the fact that Islam best fits human nature and is not opposed to reasoning, added to the prophesies of the Qur’an and Prophet Mohammad’s tradition which were confirmed by modern sciences and research.
The turn towards Islam is not confined to a certain social class in the West. People from different social groups have embraced Islam, including international celebrities from the domains of sports, the arts and politics.
The Burhaniyya Order congregation indicates that Sufism does give a good image of Islam that reconciles piety and modernity. Sufism can take humanity back to the pure origins of Islam.
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