"Libya Sufi shrines attacked 'by Islamist hardliners'" BBC

"A shrine in the Libyan capital Tripoli venerating a Sufi Muslim saint has been partly destroyed - the latest in a series of attacks blamed on ultra-conservative Salafi Islamists. Tripoli residents said men with bulldozers attacked the shrine of al-Shaab al-Dahmani, unimpeded by police. The attack came a day after hardliners were accused of damaging the tomb of a Sufi scholar in the city of Zlitan. Hardline Salafists regard the shrines as idolatrous. On Friday, a group attacked the tomb of 15th-Century scholar Abdel Salam al-Asmar in Zlitan, about 160km (100 miles) south-east of Tripoli. The Reuters news agency said its dome had collapsed. Video footage showed chunks of masonry littering the floor, bullet holes pockmarking the walls and ornate Islamic tiling destroyed."  BBC

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It has seemed that Libya might perhaps have escaped the curse of Salafist Wahhabism.  This seemed true because of the peculiar nature of the country with its small population, its long history of Sufi involvement in religious affairs, and the high percentage of Libyans who were educated abroad by the unlamented  Qathafi government.

There is, however, a sizable Salafist group.   Their eventual role in the country is uncertain.  These Salafists are showing up in places like Syria and more particularly in Central Africa.  In Mali they are attacking the Zawiyas of Sufi lodges and the tombs of Sufi saints.  In Mali the Salafists now hold Timbukto (veriously spelt).  If they succeed in capturing the capital, Bamako, their will be an even more severe "purge" of Muslims who are thought to be less than pure.

Sufism is a varied expression of Islam that concentrates on the Batn, the inner spiritual life of Muslims rather than the rule driven Islam of the Salafists who seek everywhere to impose their inhumanly austere Sharia law.  They hate the Sufis for their belief  in the importance of the love of God.

The distinctions among various forms and belief systems within  Islam still escape almost everyone in the US, and, especially within the US Government.  It is my impression that people do not wish to understand.  What they want is the GWOT.  Ignorance makes the endless devotion to that cause easier.  pl   

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Hallaj

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19380083

Comments

[FB Ali]

"What they want is the GWOT".

For the influential sector that does, creating chaos in the Muslim world (which enables the Salafi Jihadis to prosper) is a logical policy. That other, saner elements in the US policy-making structure do not see this is a sign of blindness or/and ignorance.

[The Twisted Genius]

Aren't the Sufis present in large parts of Pakistan as well? I remember reading about Sufi villagers pushing back against the Taliban when they came out of the mountains and tried to push their Salafist ways into the valley villages.

It's too bad the American public can't make the distinction among the different varieties of Islam. They can't even distinguish between a Sikh and a Moslem. Nor do I see our "political elites" being capable of making those distinctions. I hope there are some in Africom and the IC who can make this distinction and reach the decision makers inside the Beltway.

BTW, whenever I hear of the Sufis, I imagine Danny DeVito's line in "The Jewel of the Nile" when he declares, "Sufis Rule!"

[FB Ali]

Sufi beliefs and practices were an important element of Islam in South Asia, especially Pakistan. This was a heritage from the Sufi 'saints' and mystics who were the primary cause for the spread of Islam in the Indian subcontinent. Unfortunately, the aggressive Wahhabism imported from Saudi Arabia in the last few decades has forced such Sufi elements in the religion to retreat into the background.

It seems that American 'experts' on the Muslim world are also now becoming aware of what is happening. In a recent op-ed in the NYT Robin Wright says, "But there is something dreadfully wrong with tying America’s future position in the region to the birthplace and bastion of Salafism and its warped vision of a new order". It's a bit late for that warning!

[Babak Makkinejad]

All:

Sufis are not against Sharia, they predicate their practices and beliefs on Sharia (Law).

What they say, however, is that the Law is not All the Truth of Religion (Islam).

Their major innovation is the recasting of the Christian Trinity: God, Man(Son), Love (the Holy Ghost).

Sufism is alive and well in Turkey, in Iran, and in Pakistan.

But they lack the billions of dollars that Saudis spent on Protestant Mulsims (a.k.a. Wahabis and other assorted neo-Salafis.).

[different clue]

Is a bit late still better than never? Or is it a bit too late to matter any more? (If the dawning realization causes the US to reverse course on supporting the FSA for example, is it not too late yet for Syria?)

[Babak Makkinejad]

I think about 1/3 of the Sikh scirptures is Sufi poetry - in Persian.

Guru Nanak Singh was a Muslim.

[Babak Makkinejad]

It is just a game for them.

Like boys everywhere, they will get tired of their latest toy (car, business, woman, cause) and move on to the next one.

The fault lies squarely with Muslim rulers and leaders; they should know better and act accordingly.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Col. Lang:

Al Halaj was executed because he stated that "I am the Law."

He was wrong to say so, but it was out of Joy of his Mystical experience - I think.

[turcopolier]

Babak

Yes. I know, and Ghazali saved them by provding a bridge however flimsy to Sharia, some sort of Sharia. Plwasw don't mistake me for Robin Wright. i have shorter hair. pl

[turcopolier]

Babak

Perhaps it was "I am the law," or perhaps it was "I am the truth." pl

[YT]

"Neither heretic nor believer, who am I?"

ابو حمید ابن ابوبکر ابراهیم

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farid_ud-Din_Attar

[Charles I]

A free man of Creation

[RetiredPatriot]

Sufism is a varied expression of Islam that concentrates on the Batn, the inner spiritual life of Muslims rather than the rule driven Islam of the Salafists who seek everywhere to impose their inhumanly austere Sharia law. They hate the Sufis for their belief in the importance of the love of God.

This is not too different than what is also happening in both Christendom and Judiasm. Fundamentalists and their -ism are on the march in both these belief groups and those that lean towards the "love of God" are shunted to the background, driven from theological influence, and charged with apostasy.

Fundamentalism demands ignorance because it demands complete devotion. And ignorance is what we make best in our modern world full of knowledge. What irony!

RP

[YT]

Bless you, sir.

[FB Ali]

What al-Hallaj is actually supposed to have said was, "I am al-Haqq". He was executed for heresy because this term is also used for God.

I believe that what he was really expressing was the truth he saw in his mystical vision that, on earth, God has devolved his responsibilities and (potentially) his powers upon humans. It was the realization of this awful burden that led him to cry out in agony:

"God cast him into the sea,
his arms tied behind him.
And said, ‘Take care, take care,
lest thou be wetted by the water'."

[turcopolier]

FB Ali

Yes "Ana al-haq" was what he said. I take that to mean that he felt merged with God (truth). That was enough to kill him. salafists are yearning for similar opportunities. pl

[Babak Makkinejad]

The opposition to sufis and their ideas and practices is endemic to all sects and legal schools of Islam.

Consider what the sufis are saying: that conformance to Law is not certain to lead to Salvation (for the individual).

That poistion implies that the position of very many Doctors of Religious Sciences of Islam who - over the centuries - have elevated the Law (Sharia in this case) to its current supremacy has been a misguided effort in substituting Form for Content.

They (the Doctors of Religion) would not be happy.

[Mark Gaughan]

PL,
What is the picture at the top of this post?
Mark

[Babak Makkinejad]

I took it to mean what Jesus is purported to have said "I am the Law, the Truth,..."

But he was not Jesus...

[Babak Makkinejad]

Yes he was experiencing a Truth but which was not his to express.

A piece of iron is put into fire and is warmed up. Before long, it is white hot and it cries out " I am one with Fire, I am Fire..."

A profound misunderstanding of the experience, won't ypu agree?

Regardless, to most people, in US, Iran, or elsewhere this is all meaningless pratter and fluff.

One has to have nuclear weapons - the Ultimate Materialization of the Death Principle - to give meaning to one's life and the life of others.

[Babak Makkinejad]

Only in God such a claim can have any substance, and only for the Un-Fallen.

[turcopolier]

Mark Gaughan

it is the name of Mansur al-Hallaj. pl

[RetiredPatriot]

In times past - times with less fundamentalist fervor - Sufism was tolerated and in many places flourished. But times have changed - and strident fundamentalism brooks no opposition. This is my main point.

As for ecstatic individual spiritualism, there's no doubt that dogmatic authorities are frightened, infuriated and outraged by those who claim the direct connection to their deities. As you note, such thoughts undercut the very dominion dogmatic authorities demand over the people. So the ecstatics must be suppressed and obliterated lest they erode the prerogatives of said leaders.

Thus it is now as it ever was....

RP

[turcopolier]

RP

"and in many places flourished." It flourished and continues to flourish nearly everywhere in the Islamic World. We are blinded to this becasue the complexity ofthe thought makes our collective heads hurt. It is so much easier to ignore this major thread in Islam. The dogmatic hate mystics in every religion. Islam is no exception. Sufism is usually a major component of village level religion as it was in Iraq. The jihadis learned this the hard way. pl

[Babak Makkinejad]

Regrettably, the mystics/sufis had no theory of governance - barring Ayatollah Khomeini.

The other famous one, Al Ghazzali, told his followers not to think lest they loose their faith.