Sufism Currents in Central Asia

Sufism Currents in Central Asia

Author: Ahmad Pakatchi

Year: 2013

Language: Persian

Pages: 656

In this books Sufism current is analyzed in five countries, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It has been organized in five chapters: Sufism formation bedrocks, Asceticism, and Sufism in Tahiris and Samanids Age, Sufism in Central Asia before Joghtai Age, Survival of Sufism in Joghtai and Uzbeki Time and New developments and Sufism Survival.

It has been tried to deal with those who were important characters in history of Sufism. Page 616, subtitle Salafi Fundamentalist groups, reads, Salafi fundamentalist groups refer to a collection of religious groups who interpret innovation in Islam most beliefs and religious behaviors of other Muslim groups and define the right piety based on the Salaf sunnah, i.e. the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his companions. Followers of Muhammad Bin Abdolwahhab, aka Wahhabis, are among Salafis; however using Wahhabi as a general term for all Salafi fundamentalist groups is mistake. It is a mistake which is seen in various areas, including the Central Asia area. In answer to the question that why Salafi groups, located in the Central Asia, reject to be known as Wahhabi, it must be said that because they are not the followers of Muhammad bin Abdolwahhab; or basically “Wahhabi” is an inappropriate name which has been designed by opponents of this group; so, other groups prefer to be known with other titles such as “Ahle Tawhid”.

For the relation between Sufi and Salafi groups, it is suffice to mention that Salafis relate most of thoughts and deeds of Sufism to innovation in Islam and criticize the greatest Sheikh of Sufism. Therefore, it can be considered that competition between emissaries of Sufism and Salafism is potentially and sometimes practically is hostile.