Veil of Sadness and Practices to Achieve Happiness in Mysticism

On mysticism, the terms “Sorrow and Happiness” have always been of interest to Sufism from both theoretical and practical points of view and mystics, according to their mood and behavior as well as social, political, and cultural status of their time, chose one of these two (sadness and happiness) states. Sorrow is regarded as a veil and destitution which makes the mystic always be sad and sorrowful. On the other hand, Happiness is similar to spiritual revelations and a state of euphoria which offers confidence in God’s mercy and grace for the mystic. Since early Sufism is based more on piety and abstinence, the first Sufis often chose Sorrow and Fear states; but as we move away from early centuries and come closer towards the romantic mysticism, Happiness, hope, and trust in God’s grace and mercy become more prominent. This paper first introduces two mystical states of “Happiness and Sorrow” and then investigates different ways of behavioral development in different periods of Sufism. Ways such as manifestation of Truth (God) on mystic in the guise of body, God’s call and the pleasure of it, reciting the Quran and reflecting upon its verses, visiting Khidr and meeting the sages and the sacred, making a pilgrimage to Sufi masters’ tombs, Sufi dance, listening to the stories of the common people, even drunk and atheistic ones, and infidels, and eventually specific locations and times.