Sufism and the Political Islamicate : History and Anticolonial Resistance | Prof Dr Adnan Husain
Modern and Orientalist discourse often labels Sufism as a "spiritual" phenomenon separate from politics. This discourse aims to decolonize that narrative by tracing the early history of the Islamicate world. Through a reexamination of pre-modern history, we will uncover a robust and distinctive tradition of Sufi activism. Far from mere withdrawal from the world, Sufi orders frequently served as the backbone of resistance movements against colonialism. This session will discuss Sufi political theory grounded in Islamicate history, while also examining its relevance within the context of contemporary political thought. Prof. Adnan Husain is an expert in Medieval history (Mediterranean and Middle East). His research focuses on social phenomena and religious imagination within the Franciscan tradition and Sufi mysticism. His current research centers on cross-cultural interactions among Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the Mediterranean zone (10th to 15th centuries). 00:00 - Opening Remarks and Anti‑Colonial Foundations 01:26 - Fanon, Shariati, and the Dubious Letter 04:59 - 1960s Vision: Islam’s Anticolonial Promise 08:11 - Religion, Anti‑Imperial Resistance, and Revolutionary Shiism 15:53 - Sunni Islam’s Stagnation in Anti‑Colonial Struggle 24:23 - Survey of Sufi Movements and Politics 29:43 - Orientalist Misconceptions of Sufi Origins 31:16 - Western Framing of Sufism as Apolitical 32:26 - Correcting the View: Sufism’s Islamic Roots 37:04 - Impact of Colonialism on Sufi Gatherings 37:31 - Historical Sufi Political and Military Engagements 44:08 - Sufi Discipline and Warrior Ethos 47:02 - Ibn Khaldun’s Lens on Social Forces and Sufism 1:01:48 - Salafism’s Alignment with Imperial Powers
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