Assess The Significance Of Sufi Political Movements

In recent decades, the rise and spread of Islamist political movements have been at the forefront of studies and media attention. Social and political relations interconnected with Islamist movements, and their respected countries hold great significance. As both Sunni and Shi’a revivalist movements receive a great deal of news time, the same cannot be said about other Islamist groups and their offshoots such as Sufism. The mystical beliefs and practices of Sufi tradition have historically set Sufis apart from their other Islamic counterparts. The Sufi movement has been traditionally regarded as apolitical or quietest, until the late 1960s when it began branding itself as a legitimate alternative to conservative political Islamism. In more

This paper will examine three different Sufi political movements in the countries of Morocco, Lebanon, and Turkey by comparing and contrasting how they influence society. Although each of these movements is from a different region: northern Africa, the Levant, and Anatolian peninsula; they still demonstrate the significance of Sufi political movements regardless of their location. Of the three movements analyzed they all appear to be rooted in Sufi traditions while incorporating varying levels of modernity along with their individual religiosity. The complexities of sociopolitical relations within these countries and understanding how Sufi movements operate can help give a better sense of their impacts on society as a

106). After the death of Sheikh Yassine, the movement has faced some internal arguments. Recently, two separate groups have emerged within the AWI: one that favors the idea of political integration into Moroccan government and one that favors the idea of working with other Islamist (including militant) groups (Sakthivel, p. 7). The AWI has uniquely structured itself to be popular amongst many Moroccans regardless of their pious beliefs. They also have organized themselves to be open and favorable to diversity, which includes women and Shiites. A major strength of Sheikh Yassine’s movement is the education and incorporation of women into prominent positions within the organization. The group does still promote traditional aspects of Islam such as veiling, though are insistent on women’s political equality (Sakthivel, p. 16). The educational structure of the AWI has aimed to allow Islamist women to have their own interpretations and perspectives, which is fairly different from other Islamist