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In Sufism, Khalwa (Arabic: خلوة, also khalwat; lit., "solitude"; pronounced in Iran, "khalvat"; spelling in Turkish, halvet) is a solitary retreat, traditionally for forty days, during which a disciple does extensive spiritual exercises under the direction of a shaykh.[1]
A Sufi murid will enter the khalwa spiritual retreat under the direction of a shaykh for a given period, sometimes for as long as 40 days, emerging only for salah (daily prayers) and, usually, to discuss dreams, visions and live with the shaykh. Once a major element of Sufi practice, khalwa has become less frequent in recent years.
It is the act of total self-abandonment in desire for the Divine Presence. In complete seclusion, the Sufi continuously repeats the name of God as a highest form of dhikr, remembrance of God. Then, "Almighty God will spread before him the degrees of the kingdom as a test".
A religious school is known as a khalwa in Sudanese Arabic.[2] This reflects the former dominance of Sufism in the Sudan.
The Khalwati order (Halveti) of Sufism derives its name from the term "khalwa".
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Mevlevi Terms and Definitions". www.dar-al-masnavi.org.
- ^ Revealed: chaining, beatings and torture inside Sudan's Islamic schools The Guardian, 2020
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