Sufism: The invisible branch of Islam

28 Sep 2012, 5:58 pm   -   Source: Patrick Abboud, SBS
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More than two weeks on from riots in Sydney’s CBD, Muslim community leaders and authorities are still working to prevent any repeat of incidents.

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By SBS video-journalist Patrick Abboud

More than two weeks on from riots in Sydney’s CBD, Muslim community leaders and authorities are still working to prevent any repeat of incidents.

But this week sees a counter response from an Islamic group calling its action an “alternative peaceful protest”.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of western Sydney ‘Sufi-style’ responding to what they feel is a growing worldwide anti-Muslim sentiment, in part fuelled by a recent anti-Islamic film.

“Our way of practising Islam is showing God and the Prophet how much we love them,” says Dr Nadir Obeid – a Sudanese Sufi community leader and one of the organisers of the event.

“This is the best way of answering the heightened response of something that has offended Muslims around the world”. Sufism is a branch of Islam that is often overlooked because of its more esoteric approach.

“We’re not doing anything offensive. This is Australia and here it is a very good way of telling people if we are going to protest – let’s protest this way,” says Dr Obeid.

The Sufi events are taking place in major thoroughfares of Auburn and Parramatta. In a display of ritualistic chanting the group congregates at the centre of these two western Sydney suburbs.

At the first event last night, several members of the local Auburn community joined the “protest”.

Some shopkeepers also closed their businesses to join the demonstration.

The event culminated in a traditional Sufi performance at the main public square of Auburn as part of the Sydney Sacred Music Festival.

DEMYSTIFYING SUFISM

Sufism is generally defined as the inner or more mystical dimension of Islam.

The spread of Sufism has been considered as a definitive factor in the spread of Islam globally.

There are estimated to be about 5,000 Sufis practicing in Australia from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The Australian Centre for Sufism and Irfanic Studies describes Sufism as an effective tool for inter-religious dialogue and a practice that fosters inter-cultural understanding.

Members of the two main sects of Islam - Sunni and Shi’a - may adopt elements of Sufism within their faith but there are some Salafi or Wahhabi Muslims that dismiss Sufism as a legitimate branch of the religion.

Professor Julia Day Howell from the Religion and Society Research Centre at the University Of Western Sydney has been studying Sufi groups for the past 20 years.

“All through the history of Islam some of the greatest Islamic scholars have been Sufis and this is something that urban sophisticates in the Muslim world are now recognising - that Sufism is an integral part of the proper tradition of Islam,” she says.

“Members of the Sufi orders in Australia will say that Sharia is important but they see deeper values behind the law and perhaps not be so black and white in its implementation”.

In a bid to demystify Sufism, Dr Obeid has been running workshops and talks across western Sydney within Muslim and non-Muslim communities for the past six months as part of a project titled Tariqua which means ‘towards respect’ in Arabic - the language of Islam.

Paula Abood is one of Australia’s leading community cultural development practitioners and the project manger of Tariqua.

Describing the ‘alternative protest’ events this week, she said “this is an opportunity for different communities to come together in a meaningful way and exchange dialogue and understanding”.

“Tonight there were people from all over Sydney who came, residents came out of their apartments in Auburn, shoppers stopped shopping and came and participated. There was a real energy and that’s the western Sydney way - embracing difference in positive ways,” she added.

Islamic , Patrick Abboud SBS

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Your Comments

protests aim at international audiences

barry - from burwood, 8 months ago

In any good democracy we are all free to think what we want.. even to think harm to others .. but we are not free or have a right to cause that harm and the act of Inciting violence is in that grey area between thinking and doing harm. Any group that believes in peaceful protest rather than violence should be welcome.. and we are part of the cyber/TV network world and protesting nowadays is about broadcasting across national borders, not necessarily within it

Correction

Nadir Obeid - from Lakemba, Sydney, 8 months ago

I would like to correct some facts. We are a social organization ( The Sudanese Social Society Inc.) and not a religious order. I am not a scholar or a religious leader. I am the chairperson . Yet we would like to thank the SBS for giving us the chance to show that through the chant and rhythm, we can show the world how beautiful our faith is,and that we can speed love, peace and harmony.

mr

jack - from perth, 8 months ago

This is Australia! If you don't like it, leave it!

Sufism is one aspect of Gnosticism

Samandar - from Sydney, 8 months ago

Gnosticism simply means "Mankind has potential to care for the universe as well as care for every individual form of life, and this is acknowledging God." All prophets even pre-dating Christianity tried to convey this message. All current religious empires have diverted this simple path (Tarighat) into a corrupt business of power and war mongering. The essence of Sufism is in every one's heart, once all labels removed: Care for all forms of life, the knowledge will guide you to sustainabilty.

Budvv

Marty - from Perth, 8 months ago

What the hell are they protesting about???? Sufi-style or any other style??? And who are they protesting too??? This is Australia, we have nothing to do with other countries citizens posting anything on facebook/youtube etc. So why protest here???

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