Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Sakandarī: A Sufi, ʿĀlim and Faqīh
Issue: Vol 9 No. 1 (2013)
Journal: Comparative Islamic Studies
Subject Areas: Religious Studies Islamic Studies
Abstract:
Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh al-Sakandarī (d 1309) is known as the true founder of the Šādhilī Madhhab. Little is known about his role in creating both social peace and political stability in Mamluk Egypt. Comparing him to Ibrāhīm al-Dusūqī , I will study three aspects of this role. First, I will study his introduction of a new model of the Sufi-the Faqih vis-à-vis the Sufi-the Theologian, a model that created reconciliation between the two historical enemies: the Sufis and the Jurists. Second, Ibn ʿAṭāʾ Allāh moved from Alexandria to Cairo to be a teacher at al-Azhar University, turning Sufism into a respected discipline, and closing the gap between urban Islam and periphery Islam. Third, he forged a political alliance with Sulțān Qalāwūn that saved the Sulțān enough popular support to create political stability after long years of political turmoil.
Author: Mohamed Mosaad Abdelaziz Mohamed
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