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Sufism, this venue of education and spiritual teaching, considered to be the heart of the faith of Islam, was first defused informally before it was progressively structured around the 11th century. Historically, the transmission of this teaching is done, from the 13th century down through spiritual centers that earned by merit to preserve the norms of culture, sociability and spirituality proper to Islam in an era of dislocation of Muslim world, particularly under the impact of Mongol invasions. These centers in fact have known how to preserve a message of universal spirituality that has nourished the Muslim culture and not only enhanced its artistic and literary expressions, but also its social and economic advancements. For centuries Sufism has inspired simultaneously the organization, and the ethical and spiritual charters of guilds of crafts throughout the Muslim world. In Morocco for example, guilds and special trades have traditionally allied themselves with Sufi orders. The relationship that has been established between spirituality and social and human development has marked naturally the cultural and historical identity of Morocco. These Sufi Orders of Morocco have known through time an international beaming by establishing their zawiyas in different countries. The case of the Zawiya Quadiriya and Zawiya Tijania in this regard is an eloquent illustration. The roles of these Sufi orders of teaching and civic and spiritual education at the same time engagement of human development and mediation for peace, in a profound and creative effect, are what constitute the Moroccan culture. The festival of the Sufi Culture has not only the gift to identify a spiritual and artistic patrimony of an exceptional wealth, but also to open the thought on what could be the benefit of this patrimony on the heart of the Moroccan society today. Sufism can also inspire on global level, some new approaches for concrete maneuvers of peace mediations and for development of mutual dialogues between religions and cultures. This festival can contribute as well as promote and defuse throughout the world, particularly in a troubled era, the message of peace, universality and spirituality registered in the heart of Islam. Hamid Mernissi All rights reserved |
