Majalah Al-Hikmah Edisi ke 16

The International Sufi Movement (ISM) as a New Age Spirituality Prof. Madya Dr.Mohamed Mihlar Abdul Muthaliff Pensyarah, Fakulti Kepimpinan dan Pengurusan (FKP) mihlar@usim.edu.my Founded in 1923 by the Chishti Sufi master and Indian musician Inayat Khan (1882-1927), the International Sufi Movement (ISM) is a decentralized global network. Its core mission, based on Khan's instruction to harmonize East and West, promotes a universalist mysticism decoupled from traditional religious obligations, a radical approach that aligns with New Age thought. After Khan’s death, leadership passed through his family, leading to the development of distinct branches. The main administrative center, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is considered the direct continuation of his original work. A significant and highly visible branch, the Sufi Order International, was developed by his son, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, and is now led by his grandson, Pir Zia Inayat Khan. This branch expanded the teachings into psychology and science. Autonomous centers exist worldwide, all united by the common, universalist teachings of Inayat Khan. The intention of the Inayatian Sufi movement is to formulate a vision of Sufism by developing a new and modern or “Western Form of Sufism”. It does not replicate traditional Indian Sufism but draws on strands within the Chishtiyya order and Islam as well as other Indian spiritualities and belief systems. The key aspects of this movement are the unity of religious ideals or to respect for the unity and diversity of the world religions, spiritual liberty, and divinity of the human soul. It also emphasizes the notion of “Oneness of Being” and “Divine Love” which are common themes of this so- called Sufi movement. The ISM systematized the Hindu philosophy of Advaita Vedanta and its own in a complex colour symbolism of subtle substances. It expounded the monistic concept of God which is known as “God is All and All is God”. It can be regarded as one of those Sufi movements that introduced Sufism to the Western world as well as one of those sects that departed from the Islamic concept of monotheistic God or the theory of tawhid. MA JA L AH A L - H I KMAH 53