Suffah
Suffah is one of Kaf's oldest continuously practiced religions, arguably as old as Jinnistan itself. Often considered the original faith of the Jinn, Suffah as expanded beyond the boundaries of location, nation, and race to become a major world belief. Suffas pride themselves on their daily devotion to the uncreated and wholly benevolent creator deity Almazda, ascribed to teachings based on the spiritual leader and prophet Zend. There is a duality to the world where the forces of righteousness are constantly battling the forces of wickedness and it is up to their followers to continue and the right path in order for the good forces to ultimately prevail and create a paradise.
The symbol of Suffah is that of a holy flame resting on top of an altar. The fire represents the presence of the divine during purity rituals. Although jinn are of one aspect of fire in a smokeless variety, all living things are said to manifest a spark of life that burns like that of the holy flame. The star within represents the eternal flames connection to the cosmos, reminding us that Almazda's presence is within the far reaches of the sky as well as within life, connecting the two through them.
History
Suffah is first large religion of the Djinn since they established written records. The vast majority of djinn were Suffa and their society followed rules based in their holy book. Classical Suffas were characterized by their asceticism, especially by their attachment to dhikr: the practice of repeating the names of Ila, often performed after prayers. Suffah was primarily thought of as the belief of the djinn, although there were followers of other races as well.
Near the end of the Ghulat Wars, a prophet whose named was lost to time was revealed by God's angel that the Shaytan would invade the capital of Jinnistan. While many ignored his claims, those clans that followed his advice fled just before the attack. The prophet was able to retrieve as much scripture as he could. With the rise of other civilizations generations later, the scattered Suffah followers and converts followed these recovered scriptures, creating the various orders which connected to each with the globalization of the world.
Mythology & Lore
Creation
In the beginning, the almighty creator Almazda created a world with different sentient forms of life.
First were the Angels created from light of the heavenly realm, then the Jinn who were created from the smokeless fire that propagates through space. While the angels dwelled within heaven, the jinn were given their own world to dwell known as Kaf. The creator also laid the foundation for physical life in the form of flora and fuana. The jinn were able to pass through Heaven and the physical world as they pleased.
Overtime, some angels found the jinn to be rather rambunctious for their tastes while some jinn envied that angels lived in such a beautiful realm all their days.
Eventually the two groups decided to come together to make a compromise. The angels would give the jinn the rituals and resources to make their world like heaven and the jinn would show up much less often in Heaven.
As the terms were being made, trouble began to brew. There were factions of jinn who believed that they should have permanent residence in Heaven and thus made arguments that pushed back the compromise. Eventually an agreement was made, and the angels gave the jinn the proper rituals to embue the land with more mana and subtle matter to mirror that of Heaven.
The instructions were mostly followed and the process went smoothly until the rebellious faction became impatient and took shortcuts speed this along. This only created more problems such as turbulent storms of mana that ravaged much of the world, and caused much damage to the jinn settlements on Kaf. For their actions, the rebellious jinn were labelled the Shaitan and exiled from Kaf and drifted far into space.
The remaining jinn pleaded to the angels for help, and they agreed to directly help if the jinn agrees to remain humble and obedient in the name of Ila and his angels. Thus the two races took centuries to repair the damage and make Kaf a suitable world for the newly named Djinn.
Divine Origins
While the roots of this belief are hard to codify, it is known that Suffah was the state religion of Jinnistan by at least .
Cosmological Views
Before time began there were two uncreated opposing forces. One was Ah-Mazda, wholly wise and benevolent and the other was Ah-Riman, a destructive and evil spirit. The two are polar opposites in basically every aspect, Ahmazda is kind, loving and is responsible for all positive things while Ahriman is destructive, spiteful, and is responsible for everything negative in the world. Ahmazda lived in infinite light and Ahriman was in infinite darkness. Ahmazda created the physical universe along with its aspects such as time, space, matter, energy, etc. He also created 7 immortal divinities known as Arch Spentas. Ahriman was able to creep into the world and slowly pollute it with chaotic influence.
Suffas believe we live in a time where both good and evil are present in the world, and that Ahriman is not a permanent fixture. This cosmic conflict involves all of creation (spiritual and material) and that everyone has an active role to play. The world of Kaf is meant to be a prison for Ahriman and its influences where it can be truly defeated slowly by the good thoughts, words and deeds of all sapient beings in creation. All sapients have the power the choose either good or evil and will be judged and rewarded once the end times begin. A savior will be born to lead the final battle against the forces of evil, causing the entire physical and spiritual worlds to go through a huge revolution. After the worlds are purged by holy fire to purify the damned so they can eventually be redeemed into a beautiful world with no presence of Ahriman.
Tenets of Faith
The aims of Suffah include: the experience of ecstatic states, purification of the heart, overcoming the lower self, communion with Ahmazda, and having good thoughts, to say good words, and doing good deeds.
Suffah is a belief whose followers consistently worship one god above others, who they believe created and transcends in all of existence. Unlike the other gods, Ilah doesn't take on a tangible form, and rarely sends his angels except in the most dire of times or the prophets.
Suffas have six main beliefs.
- Belief in Ahmazda as the only creator God who opposes Ahriman the destructive force.
- Belief that all the other god's angels were made in the image of Ahmazda's Arch Spentas.
- Belief in the holy book, Farqah to follow the path of Ahmazda as best as they can.
- Following the Prophet Zend's lifestyle and teachings.
- Belief in the Day of Judgement.
Ethics
Suffah generally is accepting of magic that used to understand natural law and used to do good. Suffah is merciful to those who use magic to defend themselves or someone else but forbids against using it to harm or violate life. Basically that means Suffas avoid using curses, hexes, or necromagy.
Worship
Suffah practices are basically thosed stated in the holy book, Furqah or based on the historical lifestyle of the prophet Zend who introduced the word of Ahmazda and saved the scripture from being lost in last Ghulat Wars.
The Five Pillars of Suffah are the five obligations that every Suffa must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life.
The Five Pillars consist of:
- Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Suffah profession of faith
- Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day
- Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy
- Sawm: fasting during the month of Virgo
- Rihla: pilgrimage to Majinn Square
Joy comes to those who give joy to others.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Suffa
Deities
Divines
Notable Members
Related Myths
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