Earle H. Waugh
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9789774160899
- eISBN:
- 9781617970467
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774160899.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
Founded in the sixteenth century, the Demirdashiya Sufi order in Cairo has played an influential role in Egypt's public life, and through a line of family sheikhs has channeled the impulses of its ...
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Founded in the sixteenth century, the Demirdashiya Sufi order in Cairo has played an influential role in Egypt's public life, and through a line of family sheikhs has channeled the impulses of its Sufi origins into different types of reform. Practicing a visionary form of piety, the Demirdashiya—once legendary for its wealth and secrecy—continues to influence a small but important segment of contemporary Cairo's inhabitants. This study highlights the Demirdashiya's sophisticated and complex relationship with both politics and Islamic culture. As part of his research, the author of this book attended the order's liturgies—the dhikrs (remembrance) and khalwa (retreat) —normally closed to outsiders. During an annual khalwa, the adept silently meditates for three days in his own cell. More than giving up human discourse, the mandated silence is a reordering of sensitivities to the divine, and a path to insight into the many ways that God conveys Himself to humans. Examining the role of the Demirdashiya in Egypt's history as well as its visionary piety, the book explores the dialectic between reform and vision in a stable Sufi order. It also probes how these competing ideals were incorporated into the physical world of the zawiya, mosque, and living quarters, and the extension of its influence in Europe through its most famous daughter, Qut al-Qulub, noted visionary author and mother of the order's current sheikh.Less
Founded in the sixteenth century, the Demirdashiya Sufi order in Cairo has played an influential role in Egypt's public life, and through a line of family sheikhs has channeled the impulses of its Sufi origins into different types of reform. Practicing a visionary form of piety, the Demirdashiya—once legendary for its wealth and secrecy—continues to influence a small but important segment of contemporary Cairo's inhabitants. This study highlights the Demirdashiya's sophisticated and complex relationship with both politics and Islamic culture. As part of his research, the author of this book attended the order's liturgies—the dhikrs (remembrance) and khalwa (retreat) —normally closed to outsiders. During an annual khalwa, the adept silently meditates for three days in his own cell. More than giving up human discourse, the mandated silence is a reordering of sensitivities to the divine, and a path to insight into the many ways that God conveys Himself to humans. Examining the role of the Demirdashiya in Egypt's history as well as its visionary piety, the book explores the dialectic between reform and vision in a stable Sufi order. It also probes how these competing ideals were incorporated into the physical world of the zawiya, mosque, and living quarters, and the extension of its influence in Europe through its most famous daughter, Qut al-Qulub, noted visionary author and mother of the order's current sheikh.
Anne Marie Oliver and Paul F. Steinberg
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195305593
- eISBN:
- 9780199850815
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195305593.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
This chapter documents the authors' quest to find the meaning of the Gharqad Tree based on their conversations with the different sheikhs of Hamas. As “the Hour approaches”, according to Hamas, the ...
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This chapter documents the authors' quest to find the meaning of the Gharqad Tree based on their conversations with the different sheikhs of Hamas. As “the Hour approaches”, according to Hamas, the Forces of Light would finally prevail, and all of creation would turn against the Jews, even the land itself. Their only ally would be the Gharqad Tree. Some said the Israelis planted the tree around their settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, thereby creating magic mandalas protecting them from attack. The Gharqad Tree has become such a powerful trope in the Muslim–Jewish and Palestinian–Israeli struggle over Jerusalem and “the Holy Land” that Islamists around the globe now commonly refer to the tree exclusively in terms of the Jews of Jerusalem and Palestine.Less
This chapter documents the authors' quest to find the meaning of the Gharqad Tree based on their conversations with the different sheikhs of Hamas. As “the Hour approaches”, according to Hamas, the Forces of Light would finally prevail, and all of creation would turn against the Jews, even the land itself. Their only ally would be the Gharqad Tree. Some said the Israelis planted the tree around their settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, thereby creating magic mandalas protecting them from attack. The Gharqad Tree has become such a powerful trope in the Muslim–Jewish and Palestinian–Israeli struggle over Jerusalem and “the Holy Land” that Islamists around the globe now commonly refer to the tree exclusively in terms of the Jews of Jerusalem and Palestine.
Julian Johansen
- Published in print:
- 1996
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198267577
- eISBN:
- 9780191683305
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198267577.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Islam
This chapter explores the contrast between the 'Ashīra as the publicly visible ‘face’ of the Order and the Ṭarīqa itself. This is to demonstrate the ways in which the Order is presented to the ...
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This chapter explores the contrast between the 'Ashīra as the publicly visible ‘face’ of the Order and the Ṭarīqa itself. This is to demonstrate the ways in which the Order is presented to the public, and to clarify the relationship between the initiatic and associational elements of its membership. The appeal of the Ṭarīqa is broadened, defined only as an Order of the Shādhilī way. This alteration of emphasis is taken a step further by the formation of the 'Ashīra Muṭammadiyya. By stressing the way of the Prophet over that of the Sūfī Sheikhs of subsequent generations, the organization's links of identity have been extended as far as human transmission allows. The conference for the implementation of Sharī'a and the local projects and social services are specifically discussed.Less
This chapter explores the contrast between the 'Ashīra as the publicly visible ‘face’ of the Order and the Ṭarīqa itself. This is to demonstrate the ways in which the Order is presented to the public, and to clarify the relationship between the initiatic and associational elements of its membership. The appeal of the Ṭarīqa is broadened, defined only as an Order of the Shādhilī way. This alteration of emphasis is taken a step further by the formation of the 'Ashīra Muṭammadiyya. By stressing the way of the Prophet over that of the Sūfī Sheikhs of subsequent generations, the organization's links of identity have been extended as far as human transmission allows. The conference for the implementation of Sharī'a and the local projects and social services are specifically discussed.
Hillel Cohen
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780520257672
- eISBN:
- 9780520944886
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520257672.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, Middle East History
Based on the reading of top-secret files of the Israeli police and the prime minister's office, this book exposes the full extent of the crucial, and, until now, willfully hidden history of ...
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Based on the reading of top-secret files of the Israeli police and the prime minister's office, this book exposes the full extent of the crucial, and, until now, willfully hidden history of Palestine's collaboration with Israelis—and of the Arabs' resistance to it. A previous book, Army of Shadows, told how this hidden history played out from 1917 to 1948. Now, this book focuses on the system of collaborators established by Israel in each and every Arab community after the 1948 war. Covering a broad spectrum of attitudes and behaviors, the book brings together the stories of activists, mukhtars, collaborators, teachers, and sheikhs, telling how Israeli security agencies penetrated Arab communities, how they obtained collaboration, how national activists fought them, and how deeply this activity influenced daily life. When this book was first published in Hebrew, it became a bestseller. It evoked bitter memories and intense discussions among Palestinians in Israel, and prompted the reclassification of many of the hundreds of documents the author viewed to uncover a story that continues to unfold to this day.Less
Based on the reading of top-secret files of the Israeli police and the prime minister's office, this book exposes the full extent of the crucial, and, until now, willfully hidden history of Palestine's collaboration with Israelis—and of the Arabs' resistance to it. A previous book, Army of Shadows, told how this hidden history played out from 1917 to 1948. Now, this book focuses on the system of collaborators established by Israel in each and every Arab community after the 1948 war. Covering a broad spectrum of attitudes and behaviors, the book brings together the stories of activists, mukhtars, collaborators, teachers, and sheikhs, telling how Israeli security agencies penetrated Arab communities, how they obtained collaboration, how national activists fought them, and how deeply this activity influenced daily life. When this book was first published in Hebrew, it became a bestseller. It evoked bitter memories and intense discussions among Palestinians in Israel, and prompted the reclassification of many of the hundreds of documents the author viewed to uncover a story that continues to unfold to this day.
Edward William Lane and Jason Thompson
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9789774165603
- eISBN:
- 9781617975516
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- American University in Cairo Press
- DOI:
- 10.5743/cairo/9789774165603.003.0004
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Middle Eastern Studies
Egypt was no longer a province of the Ottoman Empire but Mohamed Ali continued to profess his allegiance to the Sultan. Mohamed Ali was tied by the Qur’an and Traditions, but otherwise had a ...
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Egypt was no longer a province of the Ottoman Empire but Mohamed Ali continued to profess his allegiance to the Sultan. Mohamed Ali was tied by the Qur’an and Traditions, but otherwise had a completely free hand in running of Egypt. This chapter details the systems of rule and justice—the different courts and councils, who sat on them, what their authority was, and who could use them—and the role of sheikhs and the clergy in maintaining order on a local level, through, for example, arbitration of disputes. It also looks at the role, ranks, and power of the police and the army. This chapter is replete with case studies that illustrate the way the many different arms of authority worked. Less
Egypt was no longer a province of the Ottoman Empire but Mohamed Ali continued to profess his allegiance to the Sultan. Mohamed Ali was tied by the Qur’an and Traditions, but otherwise had a completely free hand in running of Egypt. This chapter details the systems of rule and justice—the different courts and councils, who sat on them, what their authority was, and who could use them—and the role of sheikhs and the clergy in maintaining order on a local level, through, for example, arbitration of disputes. It also looks at the role, ranks, and power of the police and the army. This chapter is replete with case studies that illustrate the way the many different arms of authority worked.
Stig Jarle Hansen and Linnéa Gelot
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- June 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780190947910
- eISBN:
- 9780190055929
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780190947910.003.0034
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
This chapter considers how Al-Shabaab messaging can be best countered, drawing on field research in Mogadishu and Baidoa, focusing on the area of Bay/Bakool. It shows that lack of security, ...
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This chapter considers how Al-Shabaab messaging can be best countered, drawing on field research in Mogadishu and Baidoa, focusing on the area of Bay/Bakool. It shows that lack of security, opportunity, and justice, combined with clan conflicts create conditions that Al-Shabaab can exploit. In Bay/Bakool, the group is seen as having semi-territorial control; in other words, a fairly regular presence despite intermittent deployments or patrols by forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and African Union Mission in Somalia. Thus, the involvement of sheikhs and clan elders is all the more important as they wield considerable influence in communities and can strengthen efforts of countering violent extremism (CVE). A wide, inclusive approach is recommended, drawing upon a combination of different types of religious leaders, in which Sufi, Shafi'i, and Quietist/non-political Wahhabism are represented.Less
This chapter considers how Al-Shabaab messaging can be best countered, drawing on field research in Mogadishu and Baidoa, focusing on the area of Bay/Bakool. It shows that lack of security, opportunity, and justice, combined with clan conflicts create conditions that Al-Shabaab can exploit. In Bay/Bakool, the group is seen as having semi-territorial control; in other words, a fairly regular presence despite intermittent deployments or patrols by forces of the Federal Government of Somalia and African Union Mission in Somalia. Thus, the involvement of sheikhs and clan elders is all the more important as they wield considerable influence in communities and can strengthen efforts of countering violent extremism (CVE). A wide, inclusive approach is recommended, drawing upon a combination of different types of religious leaders, in which Sufi, Shafi'i, and Quietist/non-political Wahhabism are represented.
