Negah Angha, King’s College London
My groundbreaking doctoral research delves into the Sufi practices of adab (ethical self-discipline) and khedmat (service), examining how they foster social harmony and actively contribute to community well-being both within and beyond Sufi communities. This dual focus is instrumental in fostering peaceful intercultural and interfaith relationships, while simultaneously enhancing and contributing to the academic literature in international relations and peacebuilding efforts.
From 2018 to 2019, I undertook 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork focusing on two distinct Sufi orders: the Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi (MTO) Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism in Germany and the Tariqa al-Harraqiyya in Morocco. The research analysed the interplay between these orders’ spiritual practices and social engagements, examining how these dynamics unfold in contexts where Muslims constitute both a minority (Germany) and a majority (Morocco).
Adab consists of discursive and behavioural practices that not only cultivate personal virtues such as tolerance and dignity but also promote respectful external behaviour. Khedmat, unlike obligatory religious duties such as zakat which focus on religious obligations, involves service that reaches beyond one’s community, aiming to enhance both spiritual and societal well-being.
Building on Mohamed Abu-Nimer's 2003 research on insaniyat (humanity) in Sufism, my research highlights the potential of Sufi practices, particularly khedmat, to enhance intercultural and interfaith collaboration. This reflects on how Sufi practices are not merely inward looking but are also deeply engaged with the welfare of broader communities, advocating for a just peace that promotes cooperative and non-dominant interactions among diverse groups. My findings suggest that religion, often seen as a source of conflict, can instead serve as a force for peace. This perspective provides a fresh approach to understanding the role of religious practices in international relations, redirecting the focus from conflict causation to mechanisms of peacebuilding.
By situating the Sufi understanding of adab and khedmat within the broader scholarly debates on Islamic movements and their role in fostering societal peace, my research not only fills a gap in the study of Sufism but also enriches our understanding of how religious practices can intersect with and contribute to the field of international relations. This approach demonstrates that religious practices are not only culturally enriching but are also vital tools for peacebuilding, providing fresh perspectives for addressing global conflicts and promoting intercultural cooperation.
My study conceptualises social harmony through the lens of ‘just peace’ (Allan and Kerry 2006). This concept advocates for non-dominant, cooperative, and deliberative interactions, promoting a peace process that embraces diverse identities and fosters equitable dialogue. Western academia has often misinterpreted - and continues to misinterpret - the concept of social harmony within Sufism, leading to a superficial understanding that may obscure injustices or inadvertently support neo-colonial and authoritarian agendas (cf. Omer 2007). In stark contrast, justice and equality are fundamental to Sufism’s understanding of social harmony. This reorientation from an individualistic focus to communal engagement is particularly pertinent in discussions about religion’s role in public life, providing new insights into how religious beliefs and practices can contribute to international peacebuilding efforts.
My research contributes to contemporary discussions on social harmony, interfaith dialogue, and peace promotion across diverse cultural contexts. This is illustrated by detailed vignettes from my fieldwork, which demonstrate the enactment of these engagements. These vignettes highlight the significant influence of Sufi relational ethics in fostering mutual understanding and collaboration across varied cultural and religious landscapes. As part of this blog post, I intend to share innovative aspects of my research with a broader audience. For instance, at MTO, khedmat programmes are designed to facilitate interpersonal connections, fostering a culture of peace and mutual understanding and embodying a practical application of relational ethics. MTO’s engagement with local churches and synagogues, and participation in public events, such as Ramadan and Nowruz celebrations, exemplifies this commitment. In my research on the Harraqyya community in Morocco, I highlight how their zawiya (Sufi centre), adjacent to the Rabbi Chaim Pinto Synagogue, serves as a physical testament to centuries of interfaith coexistence, with interfaith dialogues enhanced by shared cultural activities. These initiatives are founded on the principle of insaniyat (humanity), which advocates enhancing the well-being of people from diverse backgrounds, thereby facilitating deeper connections and understanding.
This research seeks to advance the ongoing dialogue on the dynamic role of religion in fostering social harmony and just peace, offering new insights into the transformative influence of Sufi practices within international relations. The study posits that Sufism’s emphasis on ethical self-cultivation and communal service not only shapes individual believers but also has profound implications for broader social interactions. My novel findings suggest that the principles of adab and khedmat, though rooted in Islamic traditions, can be dynamically applied to foster interfaith dialogue and community integration, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries.
About the author: Negah Angha is a PhD candidate in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.
Disclaimer: The opinions and characterizations in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the US government.
Bibliography:
Abu-Nimer, Mohammed. Nonviolence and Peace Building in Islam: Theory and Practice. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2003.
Allan, Pierre and Alexis Keller. What is a Just Peace? Oxford University Press, 2006.
Omer, Atalia. “Religion Versus Peace: A False Dichotomy.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism 7, no. 3 (2007): 109–131