Sufism

Since their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the Sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the Muslim world. Offering the first truly global account of the history of Sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of Sufi Islam through the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and ultimately into Europe and the United States.

• An ideal introduction to Sufism, requiring no background knowledge of Islamic history or thought
• Offers the first history of Sufism as a global phenomenon, exploring its movement and adaptation from the Middle East, through Asia and Africa, to Europe and the United States of America
• Covers the entire historical period of Sufism, from its ninth century origins to the end of the twentieth century
• Devotes equal coverage to the political, cultural, and social dimensions of Sufism as it does to its theology and ritual
• Dismantles the stereotypes of Sufis as otherworldly 'mystics', by anchoring Sufi Muslims in the real lives of their communities
• Features the most up-to-date research on Sufism available

List of Maps and Illustrations ix

Preface and Acknowledgments xi

Maps xiv

Introduction 1

1 Origins, Foundations and Rivalries (850–1100) 15

2 An Islam of Saints and Brothers (1100–1400) 71

3 Empires, Frontiers and Renewers (1400–1800) 125

4 From Colonization to Globalization (1800–2000) 187

Glossary: A Sufi Lexicon of Arabic Terms 239

Further Reading 243

Index 245

“It is therefore as welcome an addition to the upper-division Islamic studies classroom as it is to graduate seminars that focus on the history of Sufism.” (Journal of Islamic Studies, 1 September 2015)

“How Green has managed this considerable feat is nearly as interesting as the contents of this engaging volume. Adequately annotated chapters encompassing four large chronological eras stretched across increasingly expansive swaths of geography represent an interesting and not entirely predictable “periodization.” (Journal of the American Oriental Society, 1 October 2014)

“Green’s history is well organized and offers a number of clear themes and theses.” (The Journal of The Bulletin of the School of Oriental & African Studies, 1 August 2013)

“A must read not only for those interested in Islamic studies but also for those interested in world history. Summing Up: Essential. Most levels/libraries.” (Choice, 1 September 2012)

Nile Green is professor of South Asian and Islamic history at UCLA. He has travelled and researched widely throughout the Islamic world, and has published extensively on Islamic history and Sufism.

Since the emergence of Sufism in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the Sufis have held vast influence in almost every corner of the Muslim world. Offering the first truly global account of the history of Sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of Sufi Islam through the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and ultimately into Europe and the United States.

Moving beyond the description of doctrine, this book places Sufism in its social, cultural and historical contexts. It dismantles the stereotypes of Sufis as otherworldly “mystics” by anchoring Sufi Muslims in the lives of their communities. It explores Sufism's cross-cultural links with music, poetry, architecture and folk traditions, and delves into the social and political factors by which Sufi holy men gained followers among not only tribesmen and peasants but also emperors and bureaucrats – alliances that made leading Sufis powerful even at the height of European colonization. Requiring no background knowledge of Islamic history or doctrine, this book provides readers with an ideal introduction to Sufism as a global phenomenon. It explores not only the theology and ritual of Sufism but also its influence in shaping societies and cultures across the world.

"This comprehensive history of Sufism lucidly demonstrates how the tradition of Islamic spirituality and ethics has been continually adapted to new social environments over the centuries. A major contribution to Islamic studies."
—Carl W. Ernst, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"This is a magisterial survey of Sufism, from its origins and early brotherhoods to the challenges of first Islamic, then European empires. Green's astute analysis catapults global Sufism into the center of debates about Islam and Muslim identity."
—Bruce Lawrence, Duke University