Upanishads and Islamic Mysticism

by Dr. Intaj Malek

Islamic Mysticism that is popularly or rather fondly known as Sufism, seems to me very similar to the Upanishadic mysticism.  The Sufi mystics of Islam do talk about the unity of the Self with the Supreme self i.e. the Brahman in Upanishadic language.  The two separate traditions of spirituality ultimately merge together in fena or realization of the self.  The book deciphers the theme in the chapters that follow.

India is a beautiful garden with varied religious flowers and plants spreading in the world the aroma of love and brotherhood, peace and non-violence, kindness and generosity not only towards human beings but also towards animals and to the vegetation world. It is in such a garden that the flowers of Upanishads blossomed and ripened into fruits giving nectar to the entire world. It is because of this magnanimity of thoughts and richness of spirituality that encouraged me to write on such a subject. Upanishads do have everything that can satisfy the spiritual appetite of human beings. They are full of poetic beauty; spirituality and morality accompanied by an emphasis on knowledge of the Self that is Brahman. Upanishads are a proud possession of the Indian mystical tradition that has opened the new horizons for the development of other mystical traditions. Islamic Mysticism that is popularly or rather fondly known as Sufism, seems to me very similar to the Upanishadic mysticism. The Sufi mystics of Islam do talk about the unity of the Self with the Supreme self i.e. the Brahman in Upanishadic language. The two separate traditions of spirituality ultimately merge together in fena or realization of the self. The book deciphers the theme in the chapters that follow.