The Unbroken Chain the Sufis of yesterday and today

Al-Tinnisi said: We were sitting with Malik with his companions around him. A man from the people of Nasibin said, 'We have some people who go by the name of Sufis. They eat a lot then they start [chanting] poems (qasa'id), after which they stand up and start dancing.' Malik said, 'Are they boys (sibyan)?' He said no. Malik said, 'Are they insane?' He said, 'No, they are old men (mashayikh) and other than that, and they are mature and sane (`uqala').' Malik said, 'I never heard that any of the people of Islam do this.' The man said to him, 'Indeed, they do! They eat, then they stand up and start dancing intensively (dawa'ib), and some of them slap their heads, and some their faces.' Malik started laughing then went into his house. His companions said to the man, 'You were, O man, ill luck (mash'um) for our friend [Malik]. We have been sitting with him thirty-odd years and never saw him laugh except today.'

This is narrated without chain by al-Qadi `Iyad. in Tartib al-Madarik (2:53-54).

(note that the above translation is that of G.F. Haddad)

Now click on the modern preservers of this unbroken chain to the first sufis!!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgwltTWiVdY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U_PWmQ_LtI