At Pir Mahroof's House Kashmir Colony Dina 2

Noor-e-Muhammadi
I recorded that Qari Sahib and three boys were sitting with me in the guest room and that QS was singing some naats. I thought he had a fine, controlled voice and noted the skill in singing naats requires precise and accurate punctuation. Sometimes Qari Sahib paused abruptly in the naat.

I noted once more how mature the boys appeared to be in their personal conduct and that they were being tutored in the ways of sub continental sufism. I then wrote something about Noor-e-Muhammadi saying that conflict occurs as to the nature and purpose of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) himself. Sufis believe that before the world was created Allah made the Noor-e-Muhammadi. This belief elevates the Holy Prophet to an extremely high status indeed which some other groups disagree about.

Sufis stress the love for and devotion to the Prophet (saw) which aims to access the mystical, unseen and hidden knowledge of Allah. Sufi ceremonies attempt to bring man closer to God. There exists, in sufi belief, a category of persons known as 'wali ullah' or friends of God. Such people are preceived as 'intercessors' with God and explains why millions of Muslims worship at the site of the shrines of the saints. In recent years there has been a marked increase in sectarian violence and suicide bombings at the shrines of sufi saints in Pakistan. This highlights theological differences of belief between various sunni groups.

In our conversation my journal records that we did turn to talk about Salafis/Wahabis. The term is used to describe the Saudi puritanical view that Muhammad (saw)was but an ordinary man chosen by God to be the recipient of Divine Revelation. Such Muslims frown upon what they see as 'shrine cults' and protest that no intercessors between man and God are required.

This clash of beliefs has a remarkable Christian counterpart reflecting, as it does, some of the differences between Catholics and Protestants. Catholics are big believers in shrines and the intercession of the saints whilst Protestants most definitely are not.