Sultan Bahu: Repeat the Name of God
Photo: Jewish dervishes Agha-Jaan Darvish and his brother, patriarchs of the Darvish family. Tehran, Iran, c.1922. “Because of its specific association with Sufism and its ensuing identification with Islam, dervishhood is an order comprised almost exclusively of Muslim practicioners. The two Jewish dervishes pictured here in this rare photograph are among the very few who had successfully been integrated into the order without converting to Islam. Like the Jewish practitioners of a traditional Iranian sport in the houses of strength (zurkhaneh) — a sport that is profoundly intertwined with Islamic ritual — these dervishes represent a uniquely Iranian hybrid of Judaism and Islam. Each of the Jewish dervishes seen here is displaying emblematic accoutrements of dervishhood: 1) The cloak, an outward sign of his state. 2) A kashkul (begging bowl) often made of such materials as mother-of-pearl. 3) A gourd, a coconut shell, or carved wood suspended from the wrist by a chain. 4) A tabarzin (short axe or hatchet) carried in the right hand and intended to fend off wild animals or highway robbers. 5) A chanta (patched bag) slung over the shoulder to carry essential items. 6) Takht-e pust (skin bed), a small mat made of animal skin that served as his bed while traveling. 7) A long rosary.” Photograph and explanation from .Esther’s Children: A Portrait of Iranian Jew's, edited by Houman Sarshar.
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'Repeat the Name of God, O Bahu,
and free yourself from the worries of life.'
(Sultan Bahu)
(Sultan Bahu)
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Recommended Reading:
'Islam in Global History: Volume One: From the Death of Prophet Muhammed to the First World War'
By Dr. Nazeer Ahmed (Author)
Purchase Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Description:
With the scope of a philosopher and the precision of a scientist, Dr. Ahmed takes us on a journey through the labyrinth of Islamic history offering unique insights into its own internal dialectic as well as its interactions with Western civilization. Using pivotal personalities and critical events as guideposts, he has brought forth the complex interplay of political, social, economic, spiritual and religious currents within the large and diverse Muslim world and their interconnections with global developments. It is a book for the layman, the historian, the pundit and the policy maker alike at a time when Islam takes roots in America and as it becomes a major force in shaping the destiny of man. "Dr. Ahmed has used his clarity of thought and his lucid prose to convey the meaning of the Muslim experience in history. Those who are interested in getting new perspectives and insights from the emerging community of Muslim intellectuals in the West can find much food for thought in this book". Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Ph.D., Department of African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Legislator, scientist, educator, and community leader, Dr. Nazeer Ahmed is Executive Director of the American Institute of Islamic History and Culture based in California. After his graduation with distinction from the University of Mysore, India, he entered the California Institute of Technology as an Institute Scholar (1961) where he earned MS and Ae. E. degrees. Later, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree (1967) from Cornell University and an MBA from Rider University. Dr. Ahmed was an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly in Bangalore, India (1978). He was an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, GA (1988) from the 46th Congressional district in California. He is an inventor and holds fourteen United States Patents. His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and he has conducted extensive lecture tours in the United States.
'Islam in Global History: Volume One: From the Death of Prophet Muhammed to the First World War'
By Dr. Nazeer Ahmed (Author)
Purchase Book:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Description:
With the scope of a philosopher and the precision of a scientist, Dr. Ahmed takes us on a journey through the labyrinth of Islamic history offering unique insights into its own internal dialectic as well as its interactions with Western civilization. Using pivotal personalities and critical events as guideposts, he has brought forth the complex interplay of political, social, economic, spiritual and religious currents within the large and diverse Muslim world and their interconnections with global developments. It is a book for the layman, the historian, the pundit and the policy maker alike at a time when Islam takes roots in America and as it becomes a major force in shaping the destiny of man. "Dr. Ahmed has used his clarity of thought and his lucid prose to convey the meaning of the Muslim experience in history. Those who are interested in getting new perspectives and insights from the emerging community of Muslim intellectuals in the West can find much food for thought in this book". Professor Sulayman S. Nyang, Ph.D., Department of African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C. Legislator, scientist, educator, and community leader, Dr. Nazeer Ahmed is Executive Director of the American Institute of Islamic History and Culture based in California. After his graduation with distinction from the University of Mysore, India, he entered the California Institute of Technology as an Institute Scholar (1961) where he earned MS and Ae. E. degrees. Later, he received a Doctor of Philosophy degree (1967) from Cornell University and an MBA from Rider University. Dr. Ahmed was an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly in Bangalore, India (1978). He was an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta, GA (1988) from the 46th Congressional district in California. He is an inventor and holds fourteen United States Patents. His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and he has conducted extensive lecture tours in the United States.
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