Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Modern Spiritual Sectarianism: The Influence of Nursî’s Mysticism on Islamism in Turkey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Religions and Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Theological Denominations, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Sufism and Mysticism, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
Abstract
In examining newly emerged mysticisms and mystical thoughts in the Islamic world, a challenging issue is the negative relationship often perceived between mysticism and politics. However, some states and movements throughout Islamic history have had a mystical structure and nature. Scholars like Javad Tabatabai and Abdolkarim Soroush offer differing theories on this relationship. An example of a positive relationship between mysticism and politics is found in the social Islam of Turkey, where this theory influences the Turkish government. This movement is significantly impacted by Naqshbandi and Nursi mysticism. This political-social movement, influenced by mystical perspectives, emphasizes elements such as the unity of the Islamic world, the civilizational model of Islam, a positive approach to the achievements of Western civilization, the prominent role of the social aspects of Islam, the provision of services and utilities to people, a moderate interpretation of Islam, cultural Islam, fighting ignorance and division through education, and tolerance towards religious minorities. The connecting point between the mystical view and the Islamic perspective is the ideas of Fethullah Gülen. By adopting a pragmatic approach, Gülen endeavors to utilize both hard and soft power tools to offer a moderate interpretation of Islam. This research employs an analytic-descriptive method to examine and analyze the influence of Nursi mysticism on Islam in Turkey in terms of modern spiritual sectarianism.
Keywords

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