Poly-symbolic Religiosity and the Dilemmas of American Sufism; an Ethnographic Study of Zikr at a Sufi Shrine in Manhattan

Shermeen Bano,Inam Ul Haq

doi:10.32350/jitc.91.07

Abstract

This ethnographic endeavor seeks to explore the ritual of Zikr and its association with the shift and dilemmas in American Sufism at a Sufi Shrine in Manhattan, The United States of America. The study highlights the ways in which Islam accommodate socio- cultural change without losing its traditional identity: It has not changed in essence. Also, it throws light on the ways such monotheistic religions create social relevance for their followers in a culture alien to universalizing discourses and identities. The paper argues that esoteric versions of traditional monotheistic religions, like Sufism are more suited to postmodern religious consciousness of modern day individuals. The study employs the conceptual lens of postmodern religiosity. Four formal interviews of the Sufi followers (dervishes) alongside field jottings that expanded from January 2012 till December 2012 were conducted. The analysis was thematic in nature. The structure of the Zikr ritual was elaborated followed by offering prayer the ‘Sushi’ way. This form of prayer ensures convivial co-existence amongst intra-religiouscollectivities. The study concluded that the concept of religiosity is poly-symbolic in nature. The Zikr ritual acts as a distinct plain that invokes a sense of belonging for the participants in diverse settings. American Sufism is multifaceted in essence and in spirits

Highlights

In a spacious room with no furniture an elderly Turkish man sits down with his legs crossed on a dark navy blue sheepskin placed on the floor
Zikr is characterized by attempts to theorize the intersections of the individual, cultural, social and political that occurs in processes of religious memory making
It creates an awareness of the multiple scales and directions, temporal and spatial, typifying religiosity – ranging from the local, through the national and regional, to the transnational and global, while traversing past, present and future temporalities

Summary

Introduction

In a spacious room with no furniture an elderly Turkish man sits down with his legs crossed on a dark navy blue sheepskin placed on the floor He has a black turban on his head and small strands of curly white and grey hair peek from beneath it. Fair skinned and slightly heavy, he has a black shawl over his shoulders and he’s wearing a long beige silk shirt with dark brown narrow stripes. He is wearing a silver metallic belt over his waist and white cotton pant under the long shirt.

Methods

Results

Conclusion