learn more about sufism; beliefs, history, stories, etc.

... and if there is truth in that, then yes, this has been worth doing. My heart sought the path, my feet tread softly upon it, and my mind keeps me steady and constantly open to learning even more about this beautiful aspect of my Faith which I have embraced.

Alhamdulillah, it is definitely worth it.

I recently read a book, Why I am a Muslim, by Asma Gull Hasan (that is her photo above). This book has affected my view on faith and belief quite a bit.

Add to this that one of my newest friends (and also one of the first friends I made here in San Antonio) is Sufi, and add to that my mentor (he refuses to be considered an Imam, although every Muslim, regardless of whether they are Sunni, Shi’ite or Sufi, feels he should be) is Sufi, and has taught me (or rather helped me understand) more about our Faith than anyone else I know, and I come up with this:

It is time to learn more about Sufism, instead of just thinking of them as the hippies of the Muslim world. ::lol::

I have realized that the people I know who are Sufi seem to have a much better, truer, and stronger grasp on absolute Iman than I do… I wish to research this and understand fully why this is. Why it is that I have often seen deeper and more wholehearted faith and trust in Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala within the eyes and hearts and actions of my Sufi friends than I have in so many other Muslims (including myself, unfortunately). Why it is that they can always seem to find the true meaning of gratitude for what Allah Azza wa Jall has given us, in everything, be it a situation we can learn from or a dying plant.

Asma Gull Hasan shines so very brightly in her faith, and reading her words left me with such an empowered and complete sense of pride in being Muslim; she has a way or saying what she feels in a true and blunt manner, and it causes me to re-evaluate myself and how deeply my Iman truly runs. Her words do not have that do-this-or-else-you-are-an-awful-Muslim feeling that often seems to be behind much “advice” given (in any religion, actually, there are those in any path who state how much better they are on that path, and then those who just shine... Ms. Hasan is one of the ones who just shines). This is the strange part (for me): she doesn’t even wear hijab! This alone gave me pause, and started my contemplations.

My search begins… =)