The Tijaniyya Tariqa in Cape Town

Abstract

This article examines the theme of “Engaged Sufism” through
the particular experience of the Tijaniyya tariqa in Cape Town. It
argues that the spiritual cultivation at the heart of Sufism ultimately
actively involves its followers with issues of public ethics, sociopolitical
relations and discourses around racial and ethnic
pluralism and identity. Based on fieldwork, this essay explores
the experiences of members of the Tijaniyya tariqa in Cape Town.
Particularly, it focuses on the different reasons that prompted
individuals to join the tariqa, the meanings that members attribute
to the Tijaniyya, the most essential teachings of this collective,
and the issues of race relations within the tariqa. This study finds
that the spiritual praxis of the Tijaniyya profoundly influences
the social behaviour of its followers, as is exemplified by its
impact on issues of race relations and identity in South Africa.
The findings suggest that the Tijaniyya tariqa in Cape Town offers
the unique opportunity to challenge racism and prejudice, and to
contribute to social cohesion.

Journal for Islamic Studies Vol. 26 2006: pp. 71-91