Alleviation of Pain and Suffering in Muslim Societies: The Darbar and Dargah (Shrines of Muslim Saints) Way
Nooruddin Punjwani, MD, Interventional Pain Physician, Houston, TX; and Jan-e-Alam Khaki, PhD, Associate Professor of Education (ex-faculty), Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Pain and suffering has multifaceted dimensions in Muslim tradition. From original revealed text of the Quran to prophet Muhammad’s Hadith collections as well as what we know of prophet’s sunnah, human life in this world is considered only a brief journey in preparation for an eternal life that every individual will encounter after tasting the experience of death. Teachings of Islam emphasize dual dimension of pain and suffering as part and parcel of this life on earth, as well as helpful processes for humans to better prepare for the life to come, and further elevate their souls. After the Holy Scripture and Prophet’s teachings, these notions are seen concentrated in Sufi tradition throughout Muslim history, including that of the Southeast Asia. To that end, particular mention needs to be made of the mystical/Sufi saints who became central foci of devotional life in Muslim vernacular traditions. In all these cases, these saints are revered as ‘wali-ullah’, the intercessors to God’s mercy and believed to have special powers of healing in pain and suffering.
Over the centuries in Southeast Asia, the shrines of these Waliullah's became major centers of devotional attraction and began to play a major role in a Muslim's religious and devotional life. Visitation and tribute are paid to these shrines, mostly concentrated in Pakistan and India (though they are found in many other countries even in the United States). These shrines have become source of hope and intermediation between pain and suffering experienced by the devotees and the mercy of God. Devotees seek relief and refuge from their and their family’s pain, suffering and losses and visit these shrines, in many cases traveling to other countries to seek healing and health from these living or dead mystics seen as ‘elevated souls’ in close proximity of the divine.
Our paper aims to dive deep into the prevalence and rituals of this Muslim vernacular mystical tradition that is considered by devotees as a mode of alleviation of pain and suffering. The paper/workshop would include details of their rituals and created spiritual environment around tombs, whereby pained and afflicted devotees seek solace from their pain and suffering. The tradition is sought by those in pain that is not completely alleviated by traditional medical methods as well those in terminally ill conditions. Using multiple such shrines as case studies, the paper will attempt to make an argument for the effect of these places of spiritual concentration on the subjective feeling of pain. The paper will engage into discussing this form in its religious and cultural format within the larger framework of religious spiritual spaces of worship. Having tried all available means of treatment/reduction of pain, these devotees with either terminal illnesses or untreatable pain seek spiritual strength through these visitations and rituals possibly modulating their pain thresholds.
Over the centuries in Southeast Asia, the shrines of these Waliullah's became major centers of devotional attraction and began to play a major role in a Muslim's religious and devotional life. Visitation and tribute are paid to these shrines, mostly concentrated in Pakistan and India (though they are found in many other countries even in the United States). These shrines have become source of hope and intermediation between pain and suffering experienced by the devotees and the mercy of God. Devotees seek relief and refuge from their and their family’s pain, suffering and losses and visit these shrines, in many cases traveling to other countries to seek healing and health from these living or dead mystics seen as ‘elevated souls’ in close proximity of the divine.
Our paper aims to dive deep into the prevalence and rituals of this Muslim vernacular mystical tradition that is considered by devotees as a mode of alleviation of pain and suffering. The paper/workshop would include details of their rituals and created spiritual environment around tombs, whereby pained and afflicted devotees seek solace from their pain and suffering. The tradition is sought by those in pain that is not completely alleviated by traditional medical methods as well those in terminally ill conditions. Using multiple such shrines as case studies, the paper will attempt to make an argument for the effect of these places of spiritual concentration on the subjective feeling of pain. The paper will engage into discussing this form in its religious and cultural format within the larger framework of religious spiritual spaces of worship. Having tried all available means of treatment/reduction of pain, these devotees with either terminal illnesses or untreatable pain seek spiritual strength through these visitations and rituals possibly modulating their pain thresholds.