Sufi shrines and their cultural significance in modern dialogue

Sufi shrines and their cultural significance in modern dialogue

On February 6th and 7th, 2025, a remarkable workshop entitled “Managing Sufi Shrines and Lodges” took place at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich (UniBw M), led by Prof. Robert Langer and Dr. Evelyn Reuter (both from UniBw M) and Prof. Cem Kara from the University of Hamburg. The aim of the event was to discuss the management of Sufi places, which play a central role in individual and collective religiosity.

The event brought together 24 international participants from various disciplines, which promoted intercultural exchange. At the opening of the workshop, Prof. Isabelle Deflers, Vice President for Internationalization and Diversity at UniBw M, welcomed those present and highlighted the importance of the Sufi tradition in the global religious landscape.

The first approaches and developments of Sufism

Sufism, a mystical movement within Islam, began in the early centuries of the religion, specifically in the 7th and 8th centuries. The early Sufis sought a deeper, personal connection to the divine and lived in seclusion to distance themselves from material wealth. Important figures such as Hasan al-Basri and Rabi'a al-Adawiyya shaped this movement by introducing concepts such as humility and divine love. With the formation of organized Sufi orders in the 9th and 10th centuries, such as the Qadiris and Chishtis, Sufism became increasingly widespread and became deeply anchored in Islam over the centuries.

The 13th century is considered a heyday for Sufism, not least due to the influence of Jalaluddin Rumi, whose work “Masnavi” deals with central themes of divine love. The subsequent spread of Sufi teachings and shrines across different cultures demonstrates the adaptability and cross-cultural relevance of Sufism in world history.

Workshop highlights and specific talks

A central element of the workshop was the highly regarded keynote lecture by Dr. Maren Freudenberg, who took a current look at the parallels between religious organizations and commercial enterprises with the topic of religious economics. In addition to other lectures, for example on Sufi mosque complexes in Pakistan by Prof. Michel Bovin, commercially run Sufi retreats in southern Spain by Prof. Mark Sedgwick were also discussed.

Another important contribution came from Prof. Johara Berriane, who presented the Tidjani Shrine in Fes, Morocco, as an international travel destination and place of cultural exchange. These contributions demonstrate the economic and cultural importance of Sufi sites within the global community.

Transformation and preservation of Sufi places

The second panel of the workshop was dedicated to the transformation of Sufi places into cultural monuments. Here, Prof. Michiel Leezenberg emphasized the dependence of the preservation of Sufi places in Kurdish northern Iraq on regional political patronage. Another focus has been on the expropriation and claiming of these sites as national cultural heritage in various countries including Turkey, China and Kyrgyzstan.

Dr. Brett Wilson discussed the existence of Sufi museums in Turkey after the ban on Sufi orders under Ataturk, while Dr. Pascale Bugnon cited the Suleiman-Too Mausoleum in Kyrgyzstan as an example of a recognized cultural monument. The discussions took place in small groups where economics of religion was discussed in relation to symbolism, contexts, actors and financing. The aim of these approaches was to systematize knowledge about the management of Sufi places, as well as of unibw.de is reported.

Overall, the event illuminated the complex interplay of faith, culture and economics in the world of Sufism, which is also increasingly relevant today. More and more people are recognizing the universal themes of Sufism, which continue to play an important role in promoting interreligious dialogue.

Sufism has its roots firmly in the Islamic faith, but can inspire people across cultural and religious boundaries through its teachings and practices. This continuation of the tradition is also supported by matariweka.com observed, which documents the development and spread of Sufism throughout history.

The management and preservation of these unique spiritual places is of great importance, both for the religious community itself and for the cultural landscape that they shape.