The Struggle for Purity : Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufism in Eastern London

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The Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi order has spread throughout the world extensively since it was founded in 1973 by its Sheikh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani. The present thesis analyses one local branch of that order in Eastern London within a theoretical framework of New Social Movements, as formulated by the Italian sociologist Alberto Melucci. A general picture of Muslim presence in Britain is given, against which specific topics and activities of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani participants are described. Focus lies on social relations and expressions within the group, and these relations' ability to create collective identity and collective action in the form of Sufi practices. Traditional practices within a new social environment are also discussed. Criticism is formulated both towards social theorists who ignore the study of religious movements, and those engaging in social studies of Islamic activism without regarding Sufism a potential subject matter. Moreover, it is suggested that there is a need for redefining concepts of efficiency and success from an instrumental to a more inclusive approach, involving the process of framing collective identity. Likewise, social studies of contemporary Sufism need to be conscious of the ...