A Critical Review of Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Sufi Music

Abstract

Sufi music, deeply intertwined with Islamic mysticism, serves as a profound medium for spiritual expression and transcendence. Across cultures, particularly in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, Sufi music has evolved as an experiential tool to facilitate states of spiritual ecstasy (wajd), divine remembrance (dhikr), and the dissolution of the ego (fanā) (Qureshi, 2006; Ernst, 2011). This paper explores the historical origins, philosophical underpinnings, and contemporary relevance of Sufi music as a catalyst for spiritual awakening. It critically examines how musical traditions such as Qawwali, Sama, and Hadra embody Sufi cosmology and discusses debates around orthodoxy, authenticity, and commercialization in the modern era.