Political Sufism in Contemporary Pakistan: The Key Aspects

The article explains the uniqueness of political Sufism in Pakistan and its incongruence with the general characteristics of political Islam (Islamism). Two aspects of Pakistani political Sufism have been established: the conceptual one that suggests the incorporation of Sufi views and ideas into politics, and the personalistic one that is embodied in the mechanism of direct (as well as indirect) participation of authoritative Sufi figures in political life. Neither of these aspects falls within the definition of political Islam. In the first case, the use of Sufi rhetoric in the political sphere is not accompanied by the religious agenda, nor by the setting of Islamist goals rather, the stress is laid on the cultural component of Sufism, its religious tolerance and peaceful nature as the keystones of Islamic identity. In the second case, the involvement of Sufi pirs in politics and of the politicians “from the outside” in Sufi ceremonies is not accompanied by religious slogans; neither side sets the goal of spreading Sufism or makes pleas for the reformation of society in accordance with Islamic values. Simultaneously, one can safely speak about the covert implementation of religious authority in politics by pirs and about the engagement of Sufi “vote bank” by social elites in order to sustain their positions. Still, in both of its aspects, political Sufism represents an integral part of Pakistan’s political life: its positions are strong, even more so that it is organically embedded into the very fabric of society.

Islam, Pakistan, political Sufism