Aligning with the Illuminated
w/ Pir Zia Inayat Khan & Shaykha Fariha
An Afternoon of Teachings, Tribeca, New York
May 9, 2026, 2:00 – 6:00 pm ET
The Sufis live for God alone; They have no other impetus. Their bodies made of skin and bone, And yet their hearts are limitless. — Pir Zia Inayat Khan, from Tears from the Mother of the Sun
On Saturday, May 9, we invite the Inayatiyya and Nur Ashki Jerrahi communities to join us for a special collaboration between Pir Zia Inayat Khan, mystic, scholar, and teacher of the Inayatiyya, and Shaykha Fariha, dervish and spiritual guide of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, at The Sufi Lodge in New York City!.
This time together will connect us with the Diwan, or High Council (mala al-a’la), which consists of the illuminated souls we call on in Sufi prayers. These souls collectively work to guide us toward divinity as the destiny of creation unfolds. The masters, saints, and prophets who compose the Diwan are shining exemplars of the Divine Qualities of love, harmony, and beauty.
When the procession of these illuminated souls is viewed in its planetary entirety, the unity of the Message is seen in full relief. When this vision is experienced directly, human life takes on a profound dedication to the path of service and glorification for which we were all born.
Schedule
We will gather on Saturday, May 9th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, with a 1.5 hour teaching session with Pir Zia from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, followed by tea and refreshments and a group dhikr from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Doors will open at 1:30pm, with tea available throughout.
Also, on Friday evening, May 8th, we hope you will all join us for a free and public book reading and conversation between Pir Zia Inayat Khan and Humera Afridi, about Pir Zia’s new book, Tears from the Mother of the Sun. This event will take place at The Sufi Lodge from 7-9pm. You can find out more and RSVP here.
Registration & Pricing
Participants can choose to attend one or both gatherings. While Friday is free, we ask that everyone RSVP via the Registration link, to reserve their spot. Tuition covers an afternoon of teaching on Saturday. Meals are not included. This program is in-person only and will not be livestreamed.
Accessibility
The Sufi Lodge has limited access for those unable to traverse stairs. The meeting space is downstairs with wheelchair access, but bathrooms are upstairs only.
To see other stops on the Book & Teachings Tour in New York, Washington DC, Boston MA and Berkeley CA, click here.
Speakers
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Pir Zia Inayat KhanPir Zia Inayat Khan, PhD, is a scholar of religion and teacher of Sufism in the universalist Sufi lineage of his grandfather, Hazrat Inayat Khan. Pir Zia is president of the Inayatiyya and founder of Sulūk Academy, a school of Sufi contemplative study and practice.
He is author of Tears from the Mother of the Sun with visual artist Amruta Patil, Immortality: A Traveler’s Guide; Mingled Waters: Sufism and the Mystical Unity of Religions; and Saracen Chivalry: Counsels on Valor, Generosity and the Mystical Quest. Pir Zia divides his time between Richmond, Virginia and Suresnes, France. -
Shaykha FarihaShaykha Fariha is the spiritual guide of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order in New York City. She was born in 1947 into a socially committed, eclectic Catholic family in Houston, Texas. At the age of 29, she met her teacher, Shaykh Muzaffer Ozak of Istanbul, and received direct transmission from him in 1980. Shaykh Muzaffer also gave direct transmission to Lex Hixon (Shaykh Nur al-Jerrahi), who envisioned a radical and illumined path of the heart which he called Universal Islam. After Shaykh Nur’s death, Fariha took on the guidance of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi Order, with circles around the world. This lineage offers the nectar of teachings of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him, which guide the seeker to self-knowledge and immersion in God. The sacred practices of zikr, prayer, charitable living, fasting and retreat are all embraced.
