A comparative study of the workings of a branch of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in Lebanon and the UK
The thesis studies two groups of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. One is in Tripoli, north Lebanon, and has a loose membership of about 60 people. The other is based in London and has about 100 members, most of whom are Western Muslim converts. Sufism is Islamic mysticism. Sufis claim to emulate the mYbtical practices of the Prophet Muhammad which they believe were transmitted in their complete form to his first and fourth Caliphs. Sufi Orderb were first formalibed in the 9th c e n t u r ya . do and by -the- I-3th c en tu ryh-ad- gained an l.J ne a 5 y acceptance by orthodox Islam. They rapidly became an integral part of the Muslim world. The Naqshbandi Order c I a j m 5 tot r ace its des c e n t tot he fir s t Ca lip h and re g a r d s itself as the premier Sufi Order. The pro c e s se s 0 f model insation and industrial is ation led to drastic reduction in the influence of the Orders. Associated with this was the growing domination of a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which denied the orthodoxy of Sufism and today dominates Muslim religious expression. The thesis examines the contemporary role of a branch of a Sufi Order in the West and the East. The discrepancy between the values of Sufism and those of
Habibis, Daphne
Islamic mysticism
A comparative study of the workings of a branch of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in Lebanon and the UK. The thesis studies two groups of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. One is in Tripoli, north Lebanon, and has a loose membership of about 60 people. The other is based in London and has about 100 members, most of whom are Western Muslim converts. Sufism is Islamic mysticism. Sufis claim to emulate the mYbtical practices of the Prophet Muhammad which they believe were transmitted in their complete form to his first and fourth Caliphs. Sufi Orderb were first formalibed in the 9th c e n t u r ya . do and by -the- I-3th c en tu ryh-ad- gained an l.J ne a 5 y acceptance by orthodox Islam. They rapidly became an integral part of the Muslim world. The Naqshbandi Order c I a j m 5 tot r ace its des c e n t tot he fir s t Ca lip h and re g a r d s itself as the premier Sufi Order. The pro c e s se s 0 f model insation and industrial is ation led to drastic reduction in the influence of the Orders. Associated with this was the growing domination of a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam which denied the orthodoxy of Sufism and today dominates Muslim religious expression. The thesis examines the contemporary role of a branch of a Sufi Order in the West and the East. The discrepancy between the values of Sufism and those of
comparative_study working branch sufi order lebanon study two_group sufi order north lebanon loose membership people base london member western muslim convert sufism islamic mysticism claim emulate practice prophet believe transmit complete form first fourth sufi first the gain acceptance orthodox islam rapidly become_integral part muslim world order des lip premier sufi order pro model industrial lead reduction influence orders associated grow domination interpretation islam deny orthodoxy sufism today dominate muslim religious_expression examines contemporary role branch sufi order west_east discrepancy value sufism