Rifa'i

The Rifa'i are a Sufi order most commonly found in the Arab Middle East but also in Turkey and the Balkans. They have sometimes been (slightly derogitorily)called the 'howling dervishes' due to what some see as their 'excessive' practices during their zikr. Much of this may be due to cultural missunderstanding from 19th century Western travellers to the Middle East who may have indeed veiwed their practices as 'strange and/or excessive' they have been known to pierce their bodies using skewers and place hot irons in their mouths without injury, practices that although may have caught the imagination of Western travellers such as E.W. Lane in the last century have also incurred the wrath of both strict theologans such as ibn Taymiyyah and modern reformists alike, this is slightly unfortunate as much of this controvorsy has little to do with the founding Sheikh himself Ahmed ar-Rifa'i.

It is said he was an extremely pious man of a humble nature who prefered to be amongst the poor and weak of society. Born in 1118 in Basra in southern Iraq he was a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad and related to Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani. It is also said that the story of his followers being able to pierce their bodies without injury relates to a time when Sheikh Ahmed ar-Rifa'i went to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, on arriving at Medina (where the Prophet Muhammad is buried) and wishing to visit the resting place of the Prophet the guard would not permit him entry due to the fact that he was not wearing the clothes of a 'Seyyid' (descendent of the Prophet)at this he is reported to have said: "As-Salam alaka ya jeddi" (Peace be upon you O my ancestor). At which the Prophet replied: "Alakum salam Ya walidi" (Upon you be peace O my son) and his hand came out from the tomb which Ahmed ar-Rifai kissed. On seeing this the people around him fell into ecstasy and began stabbing themselves with knives and swords. When this moment had passed and on seeing the injured people lying around him Sheikh Ahmed ar-Rifa'i went amongst them and healed them, since then the Rifa'i Tariqa has always had this gift to heal.

Sheikh Ahmed ar-Rifa'i also authored a number of works on Sufism which have survived to this day.

He passed away in 1181 in Wast in Iraq.