International colloquium on Sufism held in Bejaia

2006-12-17

The 3rd international colloquium on Sufism was held in Bejaia. Academics and researchers from the Maghreb, Europe and the United States discussed the faith and its development.

By Nazim Fethi for Maghrebia in Bejaia—17/12/06

[Nazim Fethi] Bejaia, 220 miles east of Algiers, hosted the third international colloquium on Sufism.

The 3rd international colloquium on Sufism closed on Wednesday (December 13th) in Bejaia, following four days of meetings. The event drew 40 academics and researchers from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, the United States, Germany, Iran, France, Bulgaria and China. It followed the international colloquium of researchers from 30 countries on the Tidjani Sufi order in Ain-Madhi last month.

Bejaia, known as the "City of the 90 saints", was chosen for its distinguished history. It is the birthplace of Ibn Khaldun and has been a cultural and scientific centre for centuries, as well as a centre of Sufism.

The discussions focused on three areas: the virtues of theoretical Sufism, the transition which theoretical Sufism is undergoing, and the Sufi Tariqah ("way"), particularly in the Maghreb, West Africa, Turkey and the Balkans.

Sufism, a mystic tradition of Islam, originated in the religious teachings of the Prophet Mohammed. According to 11th century scholar Abu Hamid El Ghazali, Sufism is compatible with mainstream Islamic thought and theology because it developed from the Qur'an.

According to the organizers, the colloquium examined the development of the Sufi faith, its foundations, its masters and its followers, giving pride of place to the humanities and social sciences, poetry and semiotics. The participants focused on highlighting the message given by Sufism, the cardinal virtues of which are piety, tolerance, generosity and hospitality.

"A gathering can only be productive if it reopens debates. We, for whom doubt is a vocation, have to doubt if we are to move forwards. Those who are sure of what they believe in feel threatened," researcher Ahmed Ben Naoum said of the debate surrounding the Sufi movement. "The colloquium is an opportunity for us to discuss our ideas and also improve and build scientific theories. Talking about Sufism doesn’t mean we are Sufis ourselves. Our job is to study the traces it has left and the changes in its practices."

"These meetings enable researchers to share their knowledge, and Sufism is a peaceful movement. It preaches love for one’s neighbour, and that’s where Sufism has expanded beyond all limitations and ambiguities, making it a middle path far removed from religious extremism," Professor Kenneth Abdul Hadi Honerkamp from the University of Georgia said.

Sheikh El Tidjani Benaamar Kan, the son of the founder of the House of the Holy Qur'ran in Senegal, Sheikha Meriem Ibrahim Ilias, of the Tidjani Sufi order, believes that Sufism means living alongside others and accepting their differences.

Kan said Senegal, where a large proportion of inhabitants are Sufis, is a testament to the Sufi spirit because President Abdoulaye Wade -- who is openly Sufi and married to a Christian -- was voted into power by 50% of the Muslim population.