Where can I get information about the "Mutasawafe" sect of Muslims who
practice the unusual practice of going into a trance in their worship
and then they speak in "unknown tongues."

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 06 Apr 2004 04:28 PDT

Could it be that you got the name a little wrong?

Dear Little Willie, 

I think I know to which sect you're refering to, although: 
- It is not a "sect" but a stream in Islam, to which many different groups adhere. 
- It is not called "Mutasawafe" in English, but Sufism, which comes
from the same Arabic route of tasawwuf.

Sufism is the "mystical" stream of Islam. It began to sperad during
what we call "The Middle ges", through muslim merchants that used to
travel to remote parts of the Muslim Empire. The merchants were hosted
in Zawias, orders' monestries, where Sufism was practiced.

The particular practice of going into a trance-like mode, is practiced
in dance by the Darvishes, the followers of some Sufi orders. The
dancing Darwishes are quiet known, and some of the orders could be
also seen, performing (or were commecialised by their governments, who
understood what potential it has got, especially in Turkey).

Sufi sites
----------
Haqqani Foundation of America - <http://www.naqshbandi.net/haqqani/> -
a Sufi order in North America.

International Association of Sufism - <http://www.ias.org/> - "The
International Association of Sufism is a non-profit organization
affiliated with the United Nations and designed to promote peace and
knowledge"

Sufism, Sufis, and Sufi Orders: Sufism's Many Paths -
<http://www.uga.edu/islam/Sufism.html> - "An annotated and explanatory
web directory of Sufism designed for students, scholars, and the
general public"


Sufi Darvishes, Dancing 
-----------------------
THE SUFI DANCERS - <http://www.worldphotos.org/egypt_sufi_dancing.htm> 

I hope this answered your question. 
Search terms: 
Sufism
Darvishes

Please contact me if you need any further clarification before you rate it.

I am a muslim, But I don't think of any sect like that however there is a concept 

"Tasawaf" Which menns Spritualism and inwhich Meditation
(consentration) is practiced. Considering Persian and Urdu Language
"Mutasawafe" could mean a Spritual person practicing Meditation while
worshiping. Again this has nothing to do with a sect, anybody can do
it and It is more common in Budhism and Hinduism.

If you go for learning telephathy and even advaced yuga , then you
would require Meditation (consentration) as practice

Regards
Ehsan

From Islamic Point of view You may consider following links:

http://www.raza.co.za/Publications/Publications_Murshid%20and%20Mureed.htm
http://www.al-maqsood.org/tassawuf/sufi-miscon/which_tassawuf.htm

In islamic book "Kashful Mahjoob" is considered a stand book if you
could find its English Translation, then you would find more than what
you are looking for.

http://www.sabiree.com/sufism/baiat_book/baiat8.htm

I still don't think and believe  "going into a trance in worship and
then then speaking in "unknown tongues"