Hazen, Julianne (2011) Contemporary Islamic Sufism in America: the Philosophy and Practices of the Alami Tariqa in Waterport, New York
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Hazen, Julianne (2011) Contemporary Islamic Sufism in America: The Philosophy and Practices of the Alami Tariqa in Waterport, New York. PhD Thesis, SOAS, University of London http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/13816 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD Thesis, pagination. CONTEMPORARY ISLAMIC SUFISM IN AMERICA: THE PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICES OF THE ALAMI TARIQA IN WATERPORT, NEW YORK JULIANNE HAZEN Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2011 Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East School of Oriental and African Studies University of London 1 Declaration for PhD Thesis I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the School of Oriental and African Studies concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination. Signed: ____________________________ Date: _________________ 2 ABSTRACT Despite predictions of widespread secularism, Sufism is establishing itself as an alternative religion in Western societies. This study explores how Islamic Sufism is implemented in contemporary America by focusing on the philosophy and practices of the Alami Tariqa in Waterport, New York. Started in the 1970s by a shaykh from the Balkans, this t}ari>qa community is unique due to its large number of American-born members (murīds), its ethnically-diverse membership, and its adherence to Islam. This study hopes to increase understanding of what it means to pursue a religious lifestyle as a Muslim Sufi in America. It also intends to expand the literature on Sufism in America and provide detailed analysis of this particular Sufi community. This study uses an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from the social sciences and religious studies. Fieldwork was conducted in Waterport from July 2009 to August 2010. The research methods included surveys, 14 semi-structured interviews, and participant observation, which were enhanced by the researcher’s insider status as a member of the Alami Tariqa. The analysis situates this t}ari>qa among the Sufi movements in America and describes how it became established in Waterport. It explores how Islamic Sufi movements have adapted to the pluralistic, Western setting by observing the Alami Tariqa’s approach to upholding sharī‘a while providing opportunities for spiritual growth to both men and women of any ethnic background. This study aims to increase understanding of why Americans join Sufi movements by analysing the conversion narratives and survey responses of current murīds. Additionally, it inquires into the pursuit of spiritual goals in a modern environment by presenting several common ascetic practices performed by the Alami Tariqa. Although this t}ari>qa is relatively small, it has the potential to increase awareness of how Islamic Sufism is practiced in modern America. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .........................................................................................................................3 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...............................................................................................6 GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................7 PREFACE ..........................................................................................................................13 INTRODUCTION: The Modern Implementation of Sufism in America..........................16 Aims of Study ................................................................................................................ 17 Justification .................................................................................................................... 18 Literature Review........................................................................................................... 21 The Research Context .................................................................................................... 25 The Research Participants .............................................................................................. 27 Methodology .................................................................................................................. 28 Insider Status .................................................................................................................. 36 Chapter Overviews......................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER ONE: Sufism in America................................................................................42 Religion and Modernity in the West .............................................................................. 43 The Religious Environment in the United States ........................................................... 46 Sufism ............................................................................................................................ 58 Sufism in America ......................................................................................................... 67 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 82 CHAPTER TWO: An Example of Third-Wave Sufism in America.................................84 Balkan Roots of the Alami Tariqa ................................................................................. 86 The History of the Alami Tariqa in America ................................................................. 92 Present Time: Leadership, Membership, and Activities .............................................. 108 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 117 CHAPTER THREE: Issues of Acculturation: Ethnicity, Race and Gender....................119 The Acculturation of Sufism in the West .................................................................... 120 Ethnicity and Race ....................................................................................................... 125 Negotiating Gender ...................................................................................................... 139 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................ 154 CHAPTER FOUR: Embracing Islamic Sufism...............................................................156 Religious Conversion ................................................................................................... 157 Findings........................................................................................................................ 164 Part One: Non-Muslims Who Accepted Islam through Sufism ................................... 167 Part Two: Non-Muslims Who Embraced Islam Separately from Joining the Tariqa .. 175 Part Three: Life-Long Muslims Who Joined the Tariqa .............................................. 186 4 Discussion .................................................................................................................... 192 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 197 CHAPTER FIVE: Ascetic Spiritual Practices..................................................................199 Asceticism and Sufism ................................................................................................. 200 Dhikr (Remembrance) ................................................................................................. 206 Khalwat (Seclusion) ..................................................................................................... 212 Muhasaba (Self-Examination) ..................................................................................... 215 The Annual Commemoration of Ashura...................................................................... 223 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 235 CONCLUSION: Sufism in America: Implications for Religion in Modern Times ........239 The Implementation of Islamic Sufism by the Alami Tariqa ...................................... 239 Greater Significance..................................................................................................... 247 Contemporary Sufi Theory .......................................................................................... 249 Final Thoughts ............................................................................................................