Folk Islam (Pagan Islam)

I have always wondered how people from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Africa have mixed pagan local customs with Islam. How do they rationalize the mixture of Wathaniyya/Paganism with the strict guidelines of Islam? I myself am a deist at heart so this would be simple for me since I can easily reject whatever I wish.
Do people in such countries willfully ignore the Quran and cherry pick from it? Then later add what they want to it to create a Folk Islam fused with animism and pagan customs?

Sterling Archer said:

I have always wondered how people from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Africa have mixed pagan local customs with Islam. How do they rationalize the mixture of Wathaniyya/Paganism with the strict guidelines of Islam? I myself am a deist at heart so this would be simple for me since I can easily reject whatever I wish.
Do people in such countries willfully ignore the Quran and cherry pick from it? Then later add what they want to it to create a Folk Islam fused with animism and pagan customs?

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Hey check out the pdf in the link and the Sufi link...it covers how pagan philosophy was fused into Islamic culture after translation of Ancient Greek texts in the Islamic Golden Age. Islamic conquest of the sub-continent led to many Sufi mystics learning meditative practices from Hindu Gurus and incorporating their core Pantheist beliefs into their understanding of who or what God is.

Mansur Al Hallaj a 9th century Mystic used to pray like this:

"If you do not recognize God, at least recognize His sign, I am the creative truth —Ana al-Haqq—,
because through the truth, I am eternal truth."


I find Dr. Bilal Phillips' lectures to be quite informative..he also has done alot of research on the occult.

Did God Become Man [ Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips ] - Books - English

http://www.sullivan-county.com/wcva/sufism.htm


Ultimately I think the Sunnis are not wrong in their intentions to not deviate from Muhammads message not even one bit..I can find logic in how the most basic of differences in the understanding of God and his message can leave the door open for innovations (both major and minor) in the long run..IMO if there was no Shi ism (belief in a chosen bloodline) there would not have been any Sufis..The core belief in an intercessor Master(sufi), Prophets family(shia) conflicts my understanding of the Quran..

The Quran 6:51
"Give this warning to those in whose (hearts) is the fear that they will be brought (to judgment) before their Lord: except from Him they will have no protector nor intercessor: that they may guard (against evil)."
The Quran 5:109
On the Day when Allah will gather the Messengers together and say to them: "What was the response you received (from men to your teaching)?" They will say: "We have no knowledge, verily, only You are the All-Knower of all that is hidden (or unseen)."
The Quran 63:5
And when it is said to them "Come, the Messenger of Allah will pray for your forgiveness", they turn aside their heads, and thou wouldst see them turning away their faces in arrogance. (5) It is equal to them whether thou pray for their forgiveness or not. Allah will not forgive them. Truly Allah guides not rebellious transgressors.
The Quran 25:30
Then the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense."

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The Sufi teacher IMO is no different from the Grand Master at a secret society/lodges..I have found so many similarities in their concepts and teachings..The Sufi teacher has his own Tareeqah (Path) which his students learn from him..they have initiations and full obedience to the Sufi Master is required, even in matters which contradict the Quran.
I have looked into this further and leaning towards the opinion that enlightenment has alot to do with the ancient knowledge revealed in Babylon.

But now in some places people raising the voice against it and challenging the orthodox traditions.

Monotheist 101 said:

Mansur Al Hallaj a 9th century Mystic used to pray like this:

"If you do not recognize God, at least recognize His sign, I am the creative truth —Ana al-Haqq—,
because through the truth, I am eternal truth."

Click to expand...

And he was cut into pieces which were burnt. It is said that he kept saying it while he was being cut up.

Sterling Archer said:

I have always wondered how people from Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Africa have mixed pagan local customs with Islam. How do they rationalize the mixture of Wathaniyya/Paganism with the strict guidelines of Islam? I myself am a deist at heart so this would be simple for me since I can easily reject whatever I wish.
Do people in such countries willfully ignore the Quran and cherry pick from it? Then later add what they want to it to create a Folk Islam fused with animism and pagan customs?

Click to expand...

I was watching the documentary once, "Around the World in 80 Faiths" which featured some Folk Islam in it, from Indonesia. One woman that they interviewed said that their cultural practices of worshipping the deceased and other such traditions did not conflict with their Islam. They regard their ancestral traditions as culturally relevant to deal with the spirits of this life, and their Islamicity for the salvation in the next. They see Allah eventually in all creation, but still deal with the jinns and spirits of this present life as well.

I've read that many Turkish people also follow a paganish sort of Islam.

Speaking from personal experience, it seems that Ismaili Muslims (at least the ones from India and Pakistan) have certain aspects of Hinduism in their religion.