Reading the self through a hermeneutic of divine immanence

Abstract

Research in the field of Sufism and gender attests to the patriarchal and elite male foundations of the tradition. Scholars highlight how patriarchal renderings of Sufism emphasize divine transcendence and frame Sufi training of the self (nafs) through punitive mechanisms. Through a case study of Shaykha Fariha al-Jerrahi, the grand Shaykha (Sufi guide) of the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi community, this article explores approaches to Sufism that resist its patriarchal formulations. Shaykha Fariha’s teachings about the self, Sufi training methods, and pedagogical relationships show critical reflection on the effects of patriarchy on individuals with varying social and embodied experiences. She resists patriarchy by engaging in a hermeneutic of divine immanence, a multi-faceted way of interpreting the body and material elements of creation as the divine immanent. This article demonstrates scenarios in which a hermeneutic of divine immanence informs Shaykha Fariha’s pedagogy and her approach to training the self through embodied self-exploration.