Sufi Institutions (Handbook of Oriental Studies: Section 1; The Near and Middle East)

This handbook describes the social and economic underpinnings of Islamic mysticism across centuries and geographical regions, paying special attention to the institutional dimensions of Sufism and complex relations between Sufis and the societies in which they played a wide variety of important roles. "This volume describes the social and practical aspects of Islamic mysticism (Sufism) across centuries and geographical regions. Its authors seek to transcend ethereal, essentialist and "spiritualizing" approaches to Sufism, on the one hand, and purely pragmatic and materialistic explanations of its origins and history, on the other. Covering five topics (Sufism's economy, social role of Sufis, Sufi spaces, politics, and organization), the volume shows that mystics have been active socio-religious agents who could skillfully adjust to the conditions of their time and place, while also managing to forge an alternative way of living, worshiping and thinking. Basing themselves on the most recent research on Sufi institutions, the contributors to this volume substantially expand our understanding of the vicissitudes of Sufism by paying special attention to its organizational and economic dimensions, as well as complex and often ambivalent relations between Sufis and the societies in which they played a wide variety of important and sometimes critical roles. Contributors are Mehran Afshari, Ismail Fajrie Alatas, Semih Ceyhan, Rachida Chih, Nathalie Clayer, David Cook, Ste+ѓphane A. Dudoignon, Daphna Ephrat, Peyvand Firouzeh, Nathan Hofer, Hussain Ahmad Khan, Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen, Richard McGregor, Ahmet Yas+ʹar Ocak, Alexandre Papas, Luca Patrizi, Paulo Pinto, Adam Sabra, Mark Sedgwick, Jean-Jacques Thibon, Knut S. Vik©ır and Neguin Yavari"-- Provided by publisher "This volume describes the social and practical aspects of Islamic mysticism (Sufism) across centuries and geographical regions. Its authors seek to transcend ethereal, essentialist and "spiritualizing" approaches to Sufism, on the one hand, and purely pragmatic and materialistic explanations of its origins and history, on the other. Covering five topics (Sufism's economy, social role of Sufis, Sufi spaces, politics, and organization), the volume shows that mystics have been active socio-religious agents who could skillfully adjust to the conditions of their time and place, while also managing to forge an alternative way of living, worshiping and thinking. Basing themselves on the most recent research on Sufi institutions, the contributors to this volume substantially expand our understanding of the vicissitudes of Sufism by paying special attention to its organizational and economic dimensions, as well as complex and often ambivalent relations between Sufis and the societies in which they played a wide variety of important and sometimes critical roles. Contributors are Mehran Afshari, Ismail Fajrie Alatas, Semih Ceyhan, Rachida Chih, Nathalie Clayer, David Cook, Stéphane A. Dudoignon, Daphna Ephrat, Peyvand Firouzeh, Nathan Hofer, Hussain Ahmad Khan, Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen, Richard McGregor, Ahmet Yaşar Ocak, Alexandre Papas, Luca Patrizi, Paulo Pinto, Adam Sabra, Mark Sedgwick, Jean-Jacques Thibon, Knut S. Vikør and Neguin Yavari"-- Provided by publisher This volume describes the social and practical aspects of Islamic mysticism (Sufism) across centuries and geographical regions. Its authors seek to transcend ethereal, essentialist and spiritualizing approaches to Sufism, on the one hand, and purely pragmatic and materialistic explanations of its origins and history, on the other. Covering five topics (Sufisms economy, social role of Sufis, Sufi spaces, politics, and organization), the volume shows that mystics have been active socio-religious agents who could skillfully adjust to the conditions of their time and place, while also managing to forge an alternative way of living, worshiping and thinking. Basing themselves on the most recent research on Sufi institutions, the contributors to this volume substantially expand our understanding of the vicissitudes of Sufism by paying special attention to its organizational and economic dimensions, as well as complex and often ambivalent relations between Sufis and the societies in which they played a wide variety of important and sometimes critical roles. Contributors are Mehran Afshari, Ismail Fajrie Alatas, Semih Ceyhan, Rachida Chih, Nathalie Clayer, David Cook, Stphane A. Dudoignon, Daphna Ephrat, Peyvand Firouzeh, Nathan Hofer, Hussain Ahmad Khan, Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen, Richard McGregor, Ahmet Yaar Ocak, Alexandre Papas, Luca Patrizi, Paulo G. Pinto, Adam Sabra, Mark Sedgwick, Jean-Jacques Thibon, Knut S. Vikr and Neguin Yavari Contents 5 Acknowledgments 9 Abbreviations 12 Introduction What Is a Ṣūfī Institution? 17 Part 1 The Economy of Sufism 41 Chapter 1 Economies of Sufism 43 Chapter 2 Endowments for Ṣūfīs and Their Institutions 74 Chapter 3 Donations to Ṣūfīs and Ṣūfī Institutions 97 Chapter 4 Sufism, Futuwwa, and Professional Guilds 105 Part 2 Ṣūfī Places and Dwellings 119 Chapter 5 Ṣūfī Places and Dwellings 121 Chapter 6 Ṣūfī Shrines 161 Chapter 7 Ṣūfī Lodges 173 Chapter 8 Ṣūfī Outposts (ribāṭs) 190 Part 3 The Social Role of Ṣūfīs 201 Chapter 9 The Social Role of Ṣūfīs 203 Chapter 10 Ṣūfī Altruism 234 Chapter 11 Sufism, Urbanisation, and Sociability in Cities 243 Chapter 12 Ṣūfīs in Rural Environments 255 Part 4 Sufism and Worldly Powers 269 Chapter 13 Sufism and Worldly Powers 271 Chapter 14 Ṣūfī Terminology of Power 308 Chapter 15 Ṣūfīs as Court Advisors 319 Chapter 16 Sufism, the Army, and Holy War 331 Chapter 17 Ṣūfī Sultanates and Imamates 338 Part 5 The Organisation of Mysticism 349 Chapter 18 The Organisation of Mysticism 351 Chapter 19 The First Communities 378 Chapter 20 Ṣūfī Lineages and Families 390 Chapter 21 Established Ṣūfī Orders 401 Chapter 22 Cyber Sufism 421 Index 431