A study on the role of Sama in literary-mystical texts

Abstract

The music is regarded as the origin for the reflection of passion, inner excitement and enthusiasm which leads to ecstasy, cheerfulness and happiness. “Sama” means listening and hearing any song that is pleasant to hear. This term refers to represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to perfection. Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at perfection. He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation. The elders of Sufism from the ancient period found that while the Sufi talent and the reasons may make men ready for such ritual talents, there is another practical tool that can be useful for this spiritual journey. They believes that this tolls is Sama that it can create a state in mind and heart accompanying with certain physical movement and if it is rhythmical, it accompanies with clapping and rhythmic dance and if not, it will lead to anxiety. The present study aimed to first define and describe the nature of Sama and then examine Sama from the perspectives of mystics and ultimately determine the final practical result from the perspectives of mystics.

Keyword: Mysticism, Sufism, Sama, Mystic and Sufi, Ecstasy