EGYPT: SUFI RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT

(30 Dec 1994) English/Nat


The religious Sufi movement is presenting the humane face of Islam to counteract the negative image fundamentalism is giving their faith.

Sufism could provide the answer to secular governments in the Middle East which are wrestling with the problems of fundamentalism, once again in the news after the recent hijacking of an Air France passenger plane.

These are the Sufis: the mystics of Islam.

There are dozens of Sufi fraternities and brotherhoods all over the Muslim world, providing a possible barrier to Islamic extremism.

Their purpose in life is to achieve spiritual purity, closeness to God and inner peace.

The Sufi tradition is as old as Islam itself and has survived countless generations.

The use of music, dance and the invocation of God's divine attributes serve to bring people closer to God.

There are no less then five (m) million registered Sufi members in Egypt alone and the numbers keep growing rapidly.

But experts in Egypt claim Sufism is being encouraged by the government in order to combat the threat of Muslim fundamentalists who have been battling with the government for political control.

SOUNDBITE:
"Sufi orders in Egypt offer an apolitical Muslim culture. A culture of generosity, tolerance and sharing. And it gives much identity to the participants and therefore it is understandable to see the government protecting them, patronising them and in a sense encouraging that kind of Muslim culture to flourish. Especially during a time when a more political kind of Muslim culture is becoming widespread with the fundamentalist groups. And therefore one can argue that the encouragement and the popularisation of Sufi culture can be a barrier to the spread of Muslim fundamentalism in this country."
SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hoda Lutfy - expert on Islamic History

The Sufis are generally apolitical.

They strive to rid themselves of worldly desires.

For them, the Holy Jihad or struggle is aimed not against the government, but at overthrowing the devil within themselves.

SOUNDBITE:
"In honour of the saint, food is given freely to the people and that of course has a tremendous draw. And tea and all the Sufi tarikas (brotherhoods) vie with each other to show their hospitality, because that is a part of Sufism. The idea that if you love God you must love My creatures. This is one of the famous, sacred hadiths or sayings of the Prophet in which the Prophet is almost speaking in God's name, where God is saying if you love me you must love My creatures. So you will have retired army generals, teachers, engineers, merchants in ordinary dress serving tea, coffee, sometimes food even. That is part of the moulid (festival)."
SUPER CAPTION: Abdallah Schleifer - expert of and convert to Sufism

The spirit of giving, which is as much a part of Sufism as song, dance and music, has had the effect of popularising Sufi culture to the masses.

But, not everybody these days is going to the Sufi festivals in order to invoke God's divine presence.

Many simply go to have a good time.

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