BILAL ORFALI: Unwrapping the mysteries of Sufism | Sarde (after iftar) Podcast #71

Bilal Orfali is a scholar specializing in Arabic literature, Quranic studies and Sufism, who currently serves as the Sheikh Zayed Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies at The American University of Beirut (AUB). During his PhD at Yale he began looking into spirituality and Sufism to satisfy his curiosity, and now teaches an in-demand class about it at AUB.
In this Sarde, we spoke about the following:
Why is Rumi so damn popular?
How is Sufism defined and practiced around the world?
Common myths and misconceptions about Sufist beliefs from multiple perspectives
What unites/separates Sufism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism?
Different interpretations of Sufism across countries and cultures throughout history
Mysticism and the arts in Sufism (poetry, dance, art, singing)


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Chapters
[0:00] Why is Sufism a debatable topic worldwide?
[7:36] The etymological origins of the name “Sufism”
[9:49] The historical beginnings of Sufism
[10:55] The existential questions that define Islamic branches
[14:24] The story of the Prophet Mohammad and the angel Gabriel
[16:32] Various Sufi practices throughout history
[21:59] All about the Dervishes (Sufi whirlers) and the Mevlevi way
[25:16] Mystical and Sufist practices in other religions
[28:56] Debunking the misconceptions of Sufism brought on by the internet
[31:26] The controversial miracles in Sufism and criticisms from other religions
[35:43] The danger Sufis represented to the Turkish system
[38:21] Sufis don’t worship out of fear of Hell nor desire for Heaven
[42:37] Defining the gender of God
[43:57] Yawm Al Mithak: The moment of creation
[49:43] Finding beauty in the art of math and in Arabic literature
[53:06] The similarities between the world’s religions
[57:02] The enemies of Sufism over time
[1:03:39] Al-Hallaj, the Absolute Truth and the secret he divulged
[1:07:11] Teaching life values in a college course through Sufism
[1:22:05] The concept of marriage & love in Sufism
[1:30:45] Ambiguity in Sufism No Halal (right) Nor Haram (wrong)
[1:32:09] What unites/separates Sufism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism?
[1:39:05] Can unreligious people be considered “Good”?
[1:51:42] The negative side of Sufism
[1:55:23] The negative connotation of Hope in Sufism
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Created by Médéa Azouri & Mouin Jaber
Executive Producer Rita Choueifati
Edited by Dana Abdessamad
Translated by Elodie Finestres
Subtitling by Image Production House
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Sarde (noun), [Sa-r-de]: A colloquial term used in the Middle East to describe the act of letting go & kicking off a stream of consciousness and a rambling narrative.
The Sarde After Dinner Podcast is a free space based out of the heart of Beirut, Lebanon, where Médéa Azouri & Mouin Jaber discuss a wide range of topics (usually) held behind closed doors in an open and simple way with guests from all walks of life.

Digital Distribution: concast.me

#Sardeafterdinner #BilalOrfali #MouinJaber #MedeaAzouri