To investigate contemporary European Sufism, Piraino (1984-) spent a lot of time in different organisations. He did not just observe from a distance, but participate in both the groups religious and secular activities.
After a general introduction into the subjects, the groups dealt with are Qadiriyya Budhishinshiyya, Alawiyya Darqaqiyya Shadhiliyya, Naqsbandiyya Haqqaniyya and Ahmadiyya Idrisiyya Shadhiliyya.
Some of these groups are small in Europe or for example small in Italy, but larger in France; or relatively big. Piraino undertook his investigations in the two mentioned countries (but has also visited groups in other countries and gives information about even more countries based on other investigations) and takes them as (relatively) exemplary for the rest of Europe.
In a personal way, with many anecdotes, the author describes his experiences with both members and leaders of the different groups. You get a general idea of where the groups come from, how they developed, what kind of people are members, how the organisations work, etc.
The mentioned groups differ quite a bit, from very open to the world, having non-Muslim members for example; to stricter Islamic organisations. Some are very open with music festival open to the public, others are more closed. Also doctrinal there are differences, from spiritual (even leaning towards New Age) to almost dogmatic followers of René Guénon, to of course ‘very Islamic’. It is interesting to see how open some members are. In most groups there are also people visiting the graves of Christian saints for example. Social subjects such as the role of women, the use or alcohol or tabacco are spoken about, the atmosphere during meetings, the ways prayers are performed. Piraino went along on pilgrimages, visited seminars, joined camps and visited a lot of meetings.
The result is an interesting and well readable book about a few forms of Sufism that can be found in the West.
2024 Edinburgh University Press, isbn 1399536109
