Mysticism Mystic ism Today Umair Khan Although mysticism has been an enigma since time immemorial, yet its romantic appeal for masses has constantly been increasing. Mysticism is the last refuge from the exclusivist doctrines of theologians. Its tradition is based upon hidden wisdom instead of manifest knowledge. Instead of concerning concerning itself with the dierences dierences of religious religious thought, it propagates propagates the Universal message of love, peace, tolerance, and integration. very religion has had their own share of mystics during every era. ven in today!s post"modern world, mysticism has still a lot to oer. #hana"e"$arhang Iran, situated in %ahore, arranged the launching ceremony of the book titled &Tasawwuf & Tasawwuf Aur Aj Kay Su" 'Mysticism and Mystics of (oday). A si*able number of people were present in the hall. (he program started with several colleagues and friends of the author sharing their views regarding him. (he panelists invited to give their valuable opinions limited their talks to su+sm in a broad perspective. perspective. As opposed to the title of the book, no one delved into the complicate darena of the challenges faced by mysticism in the contemporary world and how the suifs or mystics of today are coping with such challenges. imilar is the case with the content of the book. Mainly, it is a collection of interviews conducted conducted by Mr. Ali Abbas along with some essays penned by Ali Abbas. (he book contains the interviews of those who are popular in -akistan regarding mysticism. (he list includes aba /ahya, ilal 0utb, Ahmad 1aved, #hanum (ayaba ukhari, ano 0udsiya, 1aved I2bal, and even 3rya Ma2bool 1an. (he book starts starts with small small essays by the author author mostly addressin addressing g the anxieties of the young who are about to start their professional careers. 4hile reading this section, one cannot help but feel as if spiritualism is branded as self"help literature by the author. (he aim in these essays does not seem to be the attainment of divine blessings5 blessings5 it is rather a banal contentment on the social condition one is trapped in. In giving examples from history, all the !su+s! of today being interviewed in the book gave references of Maulana 6umi, hams (abre*, Ali 7a8veri, Mu8addad Alf ani, Allama I2bal, etc. ut, no one once mentioned heikh Muhayuddin Ibn"e"Arbi Ibn"e"Arbi who is considered considered an authority on Islamic Mysticism by academia in general and ma8ority of mystics in particular. (he book falls short of discussing the theoretical framework of su+sm and how it can still be relevant in the twenty +rst century. 7owever, the overall message of the book is 2uite positive. It is trying to promote love, tolerance, simplicity, harmony, learning, and self satisfaction. Moreover, the in2uisitive nature of humans is appreciated and they are not asked to blindly follow every aspect of the faith told to them by some authoritative +gure. If the author had
refrained from choosing as ambitious a title for the book as this one, suggesting to address the issues faced by mysticism in the contemporary world, it could have been considered an interesting compilation of interviews on mysticism.
