Murid

Murid (Arabic: مُرِيد‎) is a Sufi term meaning 'committed one' from the root meaning "willpower" or "self-esteem". It refers to a person who is committed to a Murshid (spiritual guide) in a Tariqa (spiritual path) of Sufism. Also known as a Salik (Arabic: سَالِك‎) or a seeker, a Murid is an initiate into the mystic philosophy of Sufism. When the seeker makes a pledge (Bay'ah) to a Murshid the seeker becomes initiated as a Murid. The initiation process is known as `ahd (Arabic: عَهْد ‎) or Bai'ath. Before initiation, a Murid is guided and taught by a Murshid or Pir who must first accept the initiate as his or her disciple. Throughout the instruction period, the Murid typically experiences visions and dreams during personal spiritual exercises. These visions are interpreted by the Murshid. A common practice among the early Sufi orders, was to grant a khirqa or a robe to the Murid upon the initiation or after he had progressed through a series of increasingly difficult and significant tasks on the path of mystical development. This practice is not very common now. Murids often receive books of instruction from Murshids and often accompany itinerant Murshids on their wanderings.

Murid (Chakwal)

Murid (Urdu: مريد ‎) is a town located in Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. Murid is located 10 km west of Chakwal.

See also

Muridae

The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and indeed of mammals, containing over 700 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.

The name Muridae comes from the Latin mus (genitive muris), meaning "mouse".

Distribution and Habitat

Murids are found nearly everywhere in the world, though many subfamilies have narrower ranges. Murids are not found in Antarctica or many Oceanic Islands. A few species, notably the house mouse and black rat have been introduced worldwide. Murids occupy a broad range of ecosystems from tropical forests to tundras. There are fossorial, arboreal, and semi-aquatic murid species, though most are terrestrial. The extensive list of niches filled by murids helps to explain their relative abundance.

Diet and Dentition

There are a broad range of feeding habits found in murids, ranging from herbivorous and omnivorous species to specialists who consume strictly earthworms, certain species of fungi, or aquatic insects. Most genera consume plant matter and small invertebrates, often storing seeds and other plant matter for winter consumption. Murids have sciurognathous jaws and a diastema is present. Murids lack canines and premolars. There are generally three molars (though sometimes only one or two) and the nature of the molars varies by genera and feeding habits.