The Egypt Sufism Movements in the Aftermath of 2011 Revolution. Critical Study

Abstract:

Experts on Sufi movements often assume a potentially significant position for Sufism in forming the political map for change in Arab countries following the Arab Spring. This is particularly true for one of the most vibrant Sufi capitals of the Muslim world; Egypt, holding a record of more than ten million Sufi members. In spite of this, one year after the Egyptian Revolution, political developments began to exhibit the failure of Sufism to gain political ground in the post-Mubarak political scene. This paper discusses the problematic issues of Sufism with respect to politics in Egypt, with particular focus on the political experience of the Sufis in Egypt. It seeks to examine the Sufi experience in the process of political struggle, in addition to their contributions in the election held in November 2011 in an attempt to understand the factors which culminated in their gaining remarkably insignificant political support in spite of their massive membership base; and officially favored state support, both internally and externally. This study concludes that the nature of the Sufi practice itself has played a key role in restraining their political presence, in addition to their lack of political awareness as well as poor organization and populism; all of which have had a significant impact on the failure of the political experience of Sufi orders in Egypt.