They claim to be the ‘lovers of the Prophet’. To their Muslim rivals, they are the ‘people of the graves’. To the extremists, they are not even Muslims. Islamophobes are keen to kick them out too.
Origins
This oldest and the largest movement in Islam has many claimants, with many legends. Sufi intellectual activity began during the 9th century, in keeping with the general explosion of intellectual activity among Muslims.
In the 10th century CE, for the first time in Muslim history, the Shi’a Fatimiyyun patronised the Sufi traditions that dwelled in the realm of Kashf and Ta’weel, claiming the “esoteric hints” in the Qur’an legitimised their right to govern. Their early texts do not mention their claim to kingship based on ahadeeth – because Shi’a study of Ahadeeth and Usul al-Fiqh hadn’t blossomed yet.
Spread
By the 12th century, as the Turkish (Central Asian) tribes replaced the Fatimis, they embraced Sufism which agreed with their ancestral belief systems. However, the new Muslim tribes swore allegiance to the Khaalif in Baghdad and agreed to follow the limits imposed by the Shari’ah. This process was helped greatly by Shafi’i scholars of the day.
The Turks were the new blood of Islam, and with them Sufism spread wherever they marched.
Both Shi’a and Sunnis had their Sufi branches, as the Turkish tribes accepted both Shi’a and Sunni Schools, depending on the political needs of the day. Each claiming a ‘Silsilah of a Saint’, numerous Tariqat sprang up all across the Muslim world since.
As the tribes spread far and wide, Sufis began to play the role of what today’s charities do: provide medical, psychiatric and spiritual care of their subjects in rural settings, while the Sultanat provided them with lands and tax-exempted revenue.
Decline
With the onslaught of Colonialism, Sufism had suffered just as Islam did – the Europeans withheld their revenues from Dargah (shrines) while the post-independent socialist dictators (the Middle East) simply uprooted them for their ignorance. In the socialist countries with Muslims minorities (like India), they were allowed to continue as before hoping they will see enlightenment one day.
Today, as modernity and science collide with Sufi traditions, the Sufi culture is finding itself discredited and in steep decline – traditional belief in sorcery, jinns, shrines, etc have taken a big hit.
The Sufis blame Salafism for their decline. However, it is Science which is extinguishing their flames of irrational passion. Unable to reconcile with reason, they will simply decline. Proud of their 1000-year legacy, they will have to change – with reason.
Challenge
With the slow erosion of Taqleed and zealous challenge from Salafism and Science, Sufis want to have a say in their future. Traditionally Sufis were selfless-servers of humanity, never Law-givers. Today, they are training their own ulema, rolling out their great scholars, and wants to pitch in.
The concern is, will they form a new sect (as Shi’a did) or will they be inclusive of all as they have been in the past? A new-way-of-thinking is needed to retain the valid Sufi traditions while weeding out superstitions. This is the 21st century’s challenge to the Sufis.
