(Outline of Sufism in Europe (France and Spain
Despite its enormous
influence in countering terrorism, the spread of Sufism (Islamic mysticism) in
Europe has not been paid attention of scholars and decision makers in the Arab
region. In Europe, Sufi movements are trying to curb the increasing extremism
posed by hard-line movements such as the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood; since
this mystical Islamic Sunni doctrine represents the moderate Islam, the
European authorities’ relations with Sufis have deepened.
This study sheds the lights on the outline of Sufism and its influence in Europe. It tackles two main factors: First, the Sufism influence and characteristics, while the second focuses on the possibility of relying on the Sufi movements to combat the growth of extremist ideologies among the Muslim youth in Europe.
First: Sufi presence in Europe
The Sufism entered Europe since the 4th century, when Muslims ruled Andalusia. Since the beginning of 20th century, Andalusia became a starting point for the Sufi movement in Europe, especially in Spain and France due to migration of Sufi people from Moroccan courtiers (Tunisia-Algeria) to these two European countries. The Sufism was brought to various European countries by international students, immigrants and refugees fleeing various political regimes, especially in North Africa, India and Pakistan.
A) Sufism in Spain
About 1.21 million Muslims live in Spain, which hosts the largest number of Sufis in Europe and is considered the most prominent places of Sufism in the history. Sufis occupy the second largest number of Muslims in Europe after the Sunni Muslims. Meanwhile, the Shiite Muslims ranked number three among the Islamic community of Spain.
The Islamic mystical doctrine in Europe dating back to the 8th century, when Muslim controlled over Iberian Peninsula ["Al-Andalus] . Since then, Spain was considered a home ground for the Sufi Sheikhs such as ascetic and scholar Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad b. 'Abd Allah b. Masarra b. Najih al-Jabali and Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Mohammed ibn Musa ibn Ata Allah al-Mariyyi al-Sanhaji, also known as Al-Urruf (1088 – 1141), who founded a Sufi Madrasa (school) bears his name.
Sufism reached its summit by Skeikh Abū ʿAbd Allāh Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad ibnʿArabī, who was born in Murcia in 1165 and died in 1240 in Damascus. Philosopher ibnʿArabī has many disciples, including scholar Abd el-Hakh Ibn Sab'in and poetal-Shatri, whose Sufi arts reached to the Arab heritage due to the Moroccan culture. Also polymath poet and philosopher Lisan ad-Din ibn al-Khatib was an Arab Andalusian pioneer in Sufism.
In his book “The Religious Minorities”, Fernando Bedal Fernandez made an outline of Sufism in Spain as following:
1- The Naqshbandi (or Naqshbandiyah) Order:
It ranked first among all Sufi orders in terms of the number of disciples in Spain. Naqshbandiyah emerged in Granada of Bukhara, where the number of Naqshabandi Sufis reached 1,200 disciples. It has many Islamic centers across Spain and owns several online media outlets.
2- Tijaniyyah:
This order was founded by philosopher Ahmed al-Tijani in Algeria in the 8th century. Tijaniyyah comes number two in terms of the numbers of disciples.
3- Muridya Order:
Muridya Order ranks number three. It is considered a new Islamic Sunni Sufi order based on faith, full submission to Allah and charity. It calls for the sincerity of belief in Allah.
Why is the influence of Sufism getting increase in Spain?
There are three main factors behind extending of Sufism in Spain:
- Moderate religious discourse: The Sufism in Spain and European communities presents itself as anti-radicalism front.
- Well funding: Adequate funding has enabled the Sufi orders in Spain to extend their influence all over the Muslim communities.
- The historical presence: Early existence of Sufism helped bring a dominant influence over the societies through creating a circle of relations with various parties.
Forms of Sufi Influence in Spain:
1- Establishing organizations and Associations:
These organizations are interested in preaching and promoting Islamic culture, rituals and traditions. One of such associations is the Suleymanci Order, which has many affiliated branches and followed by hundreds of disciples in Europe’s Turkey.
2- Supervising Religious Madrasas (Religious Schools):
Some Sufi movements supervise and run a number of schools, with the aim of preparing religious preachers and imams. Imam al-Ghazali Institute in Paris is one of religious madrasa.
3- Using Mosques:
Mosques are seen good platforms for Sufis to disseminate the mystical doctrine all over Europe.
4- Founding Charities:
They primarily provide services to Muslims in European countries. Such charities hold religious educational lessons and provide financial assistance to the poor, especially to students and migrants.
5- Having Media outlets:
Most Sufism movements have online media outlets to present and disseminate religious views. The language used on the websites is mostly in the language of the European country in which the Sufi movement is located, in addition to the Arabic language.
B) Sufism in France
France is one of the most vital places for Sufism in Europe. It is the second largest host country for Sufists in terms of numbers and influence. Most of Sufi disciples live in Paris and its suburbs. Two orders of Qadiriyya and Tijani are the most common followed mystic movements. The spread of sufism in France was encouraged by Moroccan migrants in early 20th century. Some of French writers and intellectuals were affected by Sufism; for example, Soclar of Islam Louis Massignon and Philosopher and theologist Henry Corbin were affected by Sufism in their writings.
In his book Imams de France, Jean-François Mondot took sheikh Mohamed Ewaz, the head of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque of Paris as a good example of Sufis, who has the ability to disseminate the moderate Islam in France in both Arabic and French languages.
The Most significant platforms of Sufism in France:
1- The Foundation of the Grand Mosque of Paris:
It was founded in 1922 with a French-Moroccan fund. It is one of the most important places of religion education in France for Muslims of North Africa.
The Mosque has a hall for performing prayers, and annexed institution for teaching Islamic rituals. French authorities allowed Sufis movements to run the mosque to teach their moderate teachings; the state gave a permit to Sheikh Ahmad al-Alawi Mustaghānimī, the Sheikh of Alawiyya Order, to visit the mosque as a way to open the door for Sufi Movements’ exsitence in the mosque.
2- Imam Ghazali Institute:
In 1993, France built the institute, from which Imams graduate. It also amis to teach Islamic rituals by Sufis in both French and Arabic languages.
The Active Orders in France:
1- Naqshbandi Order:
It is the largest order in the term of the number of disciples and geographic presence in Paris.
2- Al-Qasimiyya al-Shazlyyia Order:
The order was founded by Sheikh Abu al-Qasim al-Balkhiri. Its headquarters located in an apartment in the industrial neighborhood. The disciples gather on Thursdays after the afternoon prayers. Most of disciples are Tunisian traders and workers.
Reasons behind current advance of Sufism in Europe
1- Popularity
Due to their popularities among the European communities, Sufism movements are used as counter-terrorism tools in Europe, particularly against the growth of violence via disseminating the moderate image of Sufi Islam.
U.S strategists increasingly see that the Sufi movement with its global branches may be one of the best weapons against extremism. according to a story titles “Hearts, Minds, and Dollars” by U.S.News & World Report in 2005.
However, U.S. politicians can not publicly accept Sufism as religion should be separated from the state as per the US Constitution. Now, U.S. officials are openly pushing towards strengthening the relationship with the Sufi movement, the report added, noting that some suggestions proposed to allocate U.S. aid for the restoration of Sufi shrines abroad, for the preservation and translation of medieval manuscripts, and for the encouragement of governments to promote the rise of Sufism in their country.
2- Recruiting loyalists:
Mosques and Sufi centers are used to spread Sufism among Muslims and immigrant communities in Europe to recruit more loyalists. They se modern means of communication to spread Sufism in European society.
3- Political Support to Counter-terrorism efforts:
Several European countries rely on Sufi movements, social media platforms, and media outlets to mobilize considerable support against terrorism and for taking military action against terrorists groups of ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Consequently, Sufism Movement became an open Islamic window for explaining the reasons for European military interventions in Islamic countries to fight terrorism.
Lastly, sufism in Europe is considered a mouthpiece of moderate Islam. Despite the fact that the sufism has no large interest in the Arab world, it has significant influence on European migrants, particularly on youth, thanks to the support of governments. However, there are concerns about possibilities of exploiting Sufi movements via Iran-backed Shitte to penetrate into the European communities.
Reference:
1- Orientalists’ Efforts in Studying the history of Islamic Sufism by Zuheir Youssef Aleiwi al-Hedeiri at University of Al-Qadisiyah/ Faculty of Arts/ History Department.
https://www.iasj.net/iasj?func=fulltext&aId=69386
2- The Mosque of Paris is a religious and cultural landmark in France for almost a century by Dr. Salah al-din al-Mistawi
3- Sheikh of Sufism in Spain says 3 million Sufists in Europe..Naqshbandiyah and Shazlyyia are the common orders- by al-Dostor newspaper
https://www.dostor.org/2135779
4- Sheikh of Zawaya [Sufi Centers]: Why did Europe support Sufism?
5- Muslim Networks and Movements in Western Europe- SEPTEMBER 2010 Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
6- MUSLIM DIASPORA- THE SUFIS IN WESTERN EUROPEE- KHALED DURAN.
