Kasnazani
Encyclopedia
The Kasnazani order is a Sufi order
popular in Iraq
and Iran
, especially among the Kurd
s. It is a sub-order of the Qadiri order and is thought to be the largest order in Iraq. It makes no distinction between Sunni and Shia followers. The order is known for its rituals during which some of its adherents (dervish
es) inflict wounds upon themselves
, such as piercing their bodies, chewing blades or electrocuting themselves. It is also known for the music performed during the rituals using large drums (daf
).
The order was founded by the Kurdish Sheik Muhammad Abdul-Kareem al-Kasnazani, who had friedly ties with Saddam Hussein shortly before the US invasion, and fled to where he now lives.
Tariqah
A tariqa is an Islamic religious order. In Sufism one starts with Islamic law, the exoteric or mundane practice of Islam and then is initiated onto the mystical path of a tariqa. Through spiritual practices and guidance of a tariqa the aspirant seeks ḥaqīqah - ultimate truth.-Meaning:A tariqa is a...
popular in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, especially among the Kurd
Kürd
Kürd or Kyurd or Kyurt may refer to:*Kürd Eldarbəyli, Azerbaijan*Kürd Mahrızlı, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Goychay, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Jalilabad, Azerbaijan*Kürd, Qabala, Azerbaijan*Qurdbayram, Azerbaijan...
s. It is a sub-order of the Qadiri order and is thought to be the largest order in Iraq. It makes no distinction between Sunni and Shia followers. The order is known for its rituals during which some of its adherents (dervish
Dervish
A Dervish or Darvesh is someone treading a Sufi Muslim ascetic path or "Tariqah", known for their extreme poverty and austerity, similar to mendicant friars in Christianity or Hindu/Buddhist/Jain sadhus.-Etymology:The Persian word darvīsh is of ancient origin and descends from a Proto-Iranian...
es) inflict wounds upon themselves
Mortification of the flesh
Mortification of the flesh literally means "putting the flesh to death". The term is primarily used in religious and spiritual contexts. The institutional and traditional terminology of this practice in Catholicism is corporal mortification....
, such as piercing their bodies, chewing blades or electrocuting themselves. It is also known for the music performed during the rituals using large drums (daf
Daf
A daf is a frame drum used as a musical instrument in popular and classical music. The term daf is used in Iran / Kurdistan for a large drum that has a series of four interlinked rings in the frame. Daf is mostly used in Middle East, Iran, Armenia, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and ...
).
The order was founded by the Kurdish Sheik Muhammad Abdul-Kareem al-Kasnazani, who had friedly ties with Saddam Hussein shortly before the US invasion, and fled to where he now lives.
External links
- Kasnazani Order website (Arabic)