Official Islam, Transnational Islamic Networks, and Regional Politics: The Case of Syria

Abstract

Since the coup d’état in 1963, Syrian politics of Islam has been characterized by a permanent search for Islamic legitimacy. The Sunnis, who represent the majority of the population, felt increasingly alienated by successive minority regimes. In the pre-Asad period from 1963 to 1970, the deteriorating relationship between the ruling elites and the Sunnis led to an excessive use of repressive strategies aimed at gaining control of the domestic Islamic landscape. With the advent of Hafiz al-Asad in 1970, little room for maneuver was left. The Sunni religious establishment rejected his effort to redefine the politics of Islam. This boycott frustrated Hafiz al-Asad to the extent that he turned toward Sufi and Shiite Islam in search of possible cooperation. While most of the Sufi orders remained at a distance, the Nagshbandiyyal welcomed this unique chance to enter the political and religious scene. Close cooperation with the Kaftariyya Sufi order of the Syrian Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaru, gave Sufi Islam a dominant role in Syrian religious politics. Another minor officially accepted Naqshbandi Sufi order is led by Sheikh Muhammad al-Khaznawi in Syrian Kurdistan.KeywordsMiddle EastIslamic WorldIslamic TeachingIranian CulturalElite MemberThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.