pīr
Quick Summary
A pir is a spiritual guide or saint within Islam, particularly found in India and Pakistan. These guides are central to the Sufi path, known as tariqah. A seeker, or murid, begins their spiritual journey by accepting a pir or shaykh as their master. The pir guides the disciple through strict ascetic practices and meditation, aiming to help them overcome their lower self and achieve spiritual understanding. The path involves various spiritual stations and states, ultimately leading towards a deeper knowledge of and love for God, and potentially a state of spiritual annihilation and "duration in God".12
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Islamic worldCultural flowering in IraqMasters (called sheikhs or pīrs) were beginning to attract disciples (murīds) to their way. Like other Muslims who tried to go “beyond” the Sharīʿah to inner truth, the Sufis practiced concealment of inner awareness (taqiyyah). Al-Ḥallāj, one of al-Junayd’s disciples, began to travel and preach publicly, however. His success…
Read MoreMasters (called sheikhs or pīrs) were beginning to attract disciples (murīds) to their way. Like other Muslims who tried to go “beyond” the Sharīʿah to inner truth, the Sufis practiced concealment of inner awareness (taqiyyah). Al-Ḥallāj, one of al-Junayd’s disciples, began to travel and preach publicly, however. His success…
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PakistanReligion of Pakistan…networks of holy men called pīrs, who receive great reverence (as well as gifts in cash or kind) from a multitude of followers. An established pīr may pass on his spiritual powers and sanctified authority to one or more of his murīds (“disciples”), who may then operate as pīrs in…
Read More…networks of holy men called pīrs, who receive great reverence (as well as gifts in cash or kind) from a multitude of followers. An established pīr may pass on his spiritual powers and sanctified authority to one or more of his murīds (“disciples”), who may then operate as pīrs in…
Read More