The Sufi Message: The Unity of Religious Ideals (Volume IX)

by Hazrat Inayat Khan

This invocation by Hazrat Inayat Khan represents the truth behind this book, in extremely subtle and meaningful words. The Unity of Religious Ideals may lead you straight on the path to your ideal, discover for you the religion, in whatever form it may appear, waken in yourself the longing for the Light and the Goa, and thus you may find the Self, as a pearl hidden in the shell of your heart. In six parts the whole field of religion is covered from the point of view of the mystic, the philosophy of religion, the concept of God and the God-ideal, the spirit of guidance and the spiritual hierarchy; then various religions and messengers are discussed, followed by a presentation of some religious symbols and their explanation.

Finally, the concept of the divine message is presented, followed by an exposition of the role of universal Sufism, and what contribution it can give to the development of the individual and of humanity at large. All Religions are essentially one: since there is only one God and one truth it cannot be otherwise. This is one of the principal tenets of Sufism, and is one of the most important elements of Hazrat Inayat Khan's message.

About the Author:

Hazrat Inayat Khan was a Sufi teacher from India who started "The Sufi Order in the West" in the early part of the 20th century. Inayat began to seek spiritual guidance at this point. Inayat himself showed exceptional musical talent. He had a beautiful voice and was noted for his exquisite vina playing. Inayat was soon in demand from many of the royal courts in India. However Inayat was not satisfied with a successful worldly life. He became intensely absorbed in spirituality and read sacred books with the greatest devotion.

During his spiritual searchings Inayat was drawn to the shrine of Khwaja Moineddin Chishti. Here despite the throng of devotees, Inayat felt great peace and calm.  Inayat took this as a sign to travel the Sufi path and therefore he started to look hard for a teacher to guide him. Eventually in Hyderabad, he met Mohammed Abu Hashim Madani, a great Sufi murshid. Madani recognized Inayat to be a seeker of the highest order so initiated him into the Christi path of Sufism.