What is Sufism? Contemporary views vary tremendously, even among Sufis themselves. Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture brings to light the religious frameworks that shape the views of Sufism's friends, adversaries, admirers, and detractors and, in the process, helps readers better understand the diversity of contemporary Sufism, the pressures and cultural openings to which it responds, and the many divergent opinions about contemporary Sufism's relationship to Islam. The three main themes: piety, politics, and popular culture are explored in relation to the Islamic and Western contexts that shape them, as well as to the historical conditions that frame contemporary debates. This book is split into three parts:

* Sufism and anti-Sufism in contemporary contexts;

* Contemporary Sufism in the West: Poetic influences and popular manifestations;

* Gendering Sufism: Tradition and transformation.

This book will fascinate anyone interested in the challenges of contemporary Sufism as well as its relationship to Islam, gender, and the West. It offers an ideal starting point from which undergraduate and postgraduate students, teachers and lecturers can explore Sufism today.

About the Author
Meena Sharify-Funk is Associate Professor and the Chair of the Religion and Culture Department at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. William Rory Dickson is Assistant Professor of Islamic Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg, Canada. Merin Shobhana Xavier is Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Ithaca College, USA.

Reviews

"Contemporary Sufism examines both "God's unruly friends", as well as the scholars who have studied, written about, interpreted, and theorized about them. This is a welcome addition to the literature on Sufism and its interpreters." Amir Hussain, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, USA

"Contemporary Sufism fills an enormous gap in the Islamic Studies literature. The analysis offered here is especially powerful because it reveals the many ways in which Sufi practices challenge the conventional wisdom about gender and religious authority in Islam. Essential reading for anyone looking to understand religion and society in the Muslim world today." Peter Mandaville, author of Islam and Politics, George Mason University, USA

"A commendable research work, this volume is enhanced by it's comprehensible text, lucidity, text-title relevance, and rich notes at the end of each chapter. Contemporary Sufism: Piety, Politics, and Popular Culture is a must-read for students, researchers, and those with an expertise in religious studies, Islam, and Sufism and is highly recommended for the general readership as well." Mohammad Irfan Shah, Department of Islamic Studies at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.

Book Information
ISBN 9781138687288
Author Meena Sharify-Funk
Format Hardback
Page Count 270
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g