Quite a few Sufi mosques are unfold throughout the Gaza Strip, and every sheikh practices his personal method of Sufism. However all of them take part in performing the weekly “session,” which is a Quranic session wherein prophetic invocations and praises are chanted.
Sufism in Palestine might be traced again to the Mamluk period, and a few Sufi households in Gaza have grow to be well-known, such because the Sa’afin and Khalidi households.
Sufism has all the time raised controversy amongst some Muslims, nevertheless it stays a vital subject as many have studied Sufism in an try to succeed in a conclusion about Sufi thought. Nevertheless, many Sufis refused to speak to Al-Monitor for concern of repercussions from Hamas.
One sheikh of the Alawiyya order informed Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity, “The origins of our order [religious institution] return to Sheikh Ahmad bin Alawi. Sufism is among the foundations of Islamic beliefs. The weekly session we maintain is a clearing of worries and sins; followers collect to recollect God and the verses of the Quran with out distortion as some describe it and with out holding celebrations and drumming.”
He mentioned that he retains good relations with the Palestinian factions within the Gaza Strip, however the order’s rejection of Hamas’ rule relies on the motion’s insistence to rule by pressure of arms. “There’s nothing within the Ebook of God or the sunna that motivates me to battle those that oppose me with weapons, for God says, ‘And converse kindly to all individuals.’”
A Sufi affiliated with the Ahmadiyya order informed Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity, “Society’s negative view of Sufism stems from the brand new era’s ignorance of the true which means of Sufism. Our solely purpose is to revive the time of the Prophet Muhammad, and Sufism serves to reform oneself away from the inclinations and malice of political events and their solely curiosity to imagine political positions.”
When Hamas assumed energy in 2006, it shut down many Sufi zawiyas (assembly locations) on the pretext that they posed a hazard to society.
Nasser al-Yafawi, a Gaza-based historian who opposes Hamas’ actions towards Sufis, informed Al-Monitor, “The Sufis are great. I’ve visited the Qadiriya, Jaririyah and Rifa’i orders, and I witnessed a full weekly session with them. There isn’t any distinction between the orders. Their session is a non secular imagining of God and their celebrations are thought-about a spiritual dance to attract nearer to God.”
He mentioned, “In the beginning of its rule, Hamas closed many Sufi zawiyas, claiming Sufis pose a hazard to Gazan society. This can be a main false accusation as a result of Hamas desires to monopolize the management of the Islamic actions. I don’t assist Hamas’ standpoint and unjustified actions. It desires to rule so-called Islamic actions and disagrees with all events, not simply Sufis.”
Yafawi famous, “Some rumors spread about Sufis training freemasonry rituals and that they perform acts that violate social values. Hamas closed some zawiyas of the Ahmadiyya, Shadhiliyya and Alawiyya orders, limiting their actions and stopping them from holding non secular ceremonies and weekly periods. This can be a violation of freedom of expression. I’ve personally verified this and found that it’s all malicious rumors and false arguments.”
In the meantime, many assist shutting down Sufi zawiyas. Saleh al-Raqab, a professor of Islamic religion on the Islamic College of Gaza and a former minister of endowments, informed Al-Monitor, “Sufism in Gaza is made up of teams affiliated with sheikhs outdoors the enclave, such because the Shadhiliyya and Alawiyya orders, and so they have many heresies and myths, as we see of their many zawiyas, akin to dancing in mosques. They’ve very corrupt beliefs, however within the Gaza Strip they apply them with out understanding their meanings, akin to begging for the Prophet Muhammad to satisfy their wants.”
He mentioned, “There’s additionally loads of polytheism, which is exemplified of their e book ‘The Unity of Being‘ by Ibn Arabi. This particular person is an atheist since he sees all existence as one and believes there isn’t any distinction between a Creator and a creature. The Sufis right here in Gaza follow rituals with out the slightest understanding. They kneel to their sheikhs as we kneel to God. They even kiss the sheikhs’ hand and this represents polytheism and disbelief in God. The Sufis don’t provide something to Islam, however separate faith from politics. They’re utilizing social media these days to draw the youthful era, and it is a catastrophe.”
Raqab famous, “Dozens of younger persons are becoming a member of Sufism within the Gaza Strip as a result of they’ve an amazing non secular void that must be stuffed. I’m not conscious of the truth that Hamas closed Sufi zawiyas, nor about limiting their actions and celebrations, as a result of I’ve seen many zawiyas opening. However they have to be closed earlier than they unfold additional.”
Raqab defined that his doctoral thesis was about Sufi sects from an ideological standpoint, and he additionally teaches these subjects to school college students as he believes that Sufism in the whole Arab world has main deviations and contradicts Islam altogether.
