Sufism, mystics, and saints in modern Egypt

Book Description

In the bustling streets and quiet corners of modern Egypt, an ancient spiritual tradition continues to flourish, largely unseen by the outside world. This groundbreaking study reveals the vibrant reality of contemporary Egyptian Sufism, challenging widespread assumptions about Islamic mysticism in the modern era.

Through extensive fieldwork and careful analysis of both medieval and contemporary sources, this exploration takes readers into the lived experiences of today's Sufi practitioners. From ordinary women seeking spiritual connection in their daily lives to renowned mystics whose wisdom draws seekers from across the region, the book illuminates a diverse community united by their pursuit of divine truth.

Rather than viewing modern Sufism as a weakened echo of its classical past, this work presents it as a dynamic spiritual system that has adapted and evolved while maintaining its essential character. The research uncovers how Egyptian Sufis navigate the tensions between tradition and modernity, revealing practices and beliefs that have remained hidden from Western scholarship.

For readers interested in understanding how mystical traditions survive and transform in contemporary settings, this study offers rare insights into a spiritual world that continues to provide meaning and transcendence for countless practitioners. The book demonstrates that beneath surface appearances of decline lies a thriving mystical culture that speaks to universal human longings for connection with the divine.