SUFI IDEOLOGY AND IT’S INTEGRATION WITH THE SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF MEDIEVAL ASSAM, A PROVINCE IN INDIA

Abdul Hamid Sheikh

M.A.(English), Jamia Millia Islamia

ABSTRACT: 

The aim of the study is to find out the influence of Sufism on Indian culture and society. The sufis were the propagators of love, affection, mercy, brotherhood and harmony all over the world .The teachings of Sufis influenced both rural and urban region of India. It had a long and deep political, cultural and social sway over the masses of India. Under the banner of Sufism, Islam is a faith with enough flexibility to be adjusted with the varied socio-cultural backgrounds. They tool to proselytizing. It taught the masses to be religiously tolerant and thus it can be seen as an edifice to nation building. The edge of religious conflicts were blunted by the teachings of Sufism .To make Islam emotionally satisfying, they made several concessions to the practices of other creed. It had a liberalizing impact on the masses that brought the people closer giving up much of their orthodoxy.

KEYWORDS: Sufism, religious tolerance, communal harmony.