Sufism and Interreligious Dialogue: The Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order in Indonesia

Wahyu Nugroho*  -  Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

(*) Corresponding Author

Sufism plays a vital role in the process of spreading Islam in Indonesia, the key factor being inclusion and tolerance. Nowadays, the tolerant spirit of Sufi Islam is more and more challenged by certain intolerant Salafi groups. It seems that some Sufi groups in Indonesia have unfortunately adopted some of their attitudes and have become increasingly wary of other religions and unwilling to engage with them in a constructive dialogue. This negative trend creates tension within the Muslim community and in Indonesian society at large. After all, Indonesia is a country that is built on the principles of religious plurality. This article explores the teachings and practices of the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi order and their understanding of religious plurality. The study found that—despite the existing Salafi trend— the Naqshbandi shaykhs continue to praise religious plurality as one of God’s blessings. In their view, the sincere engagement in interreligious dialogue allows their followers to experience and actualize God’s Love. The Naqshbandi order also actively engages in interreligious dialogue with other communities in Jakarta and Kartasura.

Keywords: Sufism; Naqshabandi Haqqani; Religious Plurality; Interreligious Dialogue; Tolerance

  1. Abdullah, Muhammad Amin. “Islam Di Indonesia Atau Islam Indonesia (Studi Pergulatan Definisi Dan Jatidiri).” Jurnal Sosiologi Agama 9, no. 2 (2015): 1–28. https://doi.org/10.14421/jsa.2015.092-01.
  2. Al-Haqqani, Shaykh Nazim. Defending Truth. London: Zero Productions, 1997.
  3. Al-Qushayri, Abu al-Qasim. Al-Qushayri’s Epistle on Sufism. Translated by Alexander Knysh. United Kingdom: Garnet Publishing Limited, 2007.
  4. Bruinessen, Martin van. Tarekat Naqsyabandiyah Di Indonesia: Survey Historis, Geografis Dan Sosiologis. Bandung: Mizan, 1992.
  5. Howell, Julia Day. “Indonesia’s Salafist Sufis.” Modern Asian Studies 44, no. 5 (2010): 1029–51. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0026749X09990278.
  6. ———. “Sufism and the Indonesian Islamic Revival.” The Journal of Asian Studies 60, no. 3 (2001): 701–29. https://doi.org/10.2307/2700107.
  7. Johns, Anthony H. “Sufizm as a Category in Indonesian Literature and History.” Journal of Southeast Asian History 2, no. 2 (1961): 10–23. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0217781100100547.
  8. Kabbani, Mawlana Shaykh Hisham. “Real Interfaith Started with Prophet Muhammad (S).” Interfaith, 2013. https://sufilive.com/print/?id=4816&lc=EN.
  9. ———. “Sayyidina Ali: Four Characteristics of Perfection.” Interfaith, 2008. https://sufilive.com/Sayyidina_Ali_ra_Four_Characteristics_of_Perfection-1077-print.html.
  10. ———. “The Flowers of Unity: One God, One Love.” Interfaith, 2007. https://sufilive.com/The-Flowers-of-Unity-One-God-One-Love--148-EN-print.html.
  11. Kabbani, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham. Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition. Washington DC: Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2004.
  12. ———. Keys to the Divine Kingdom. Washington DC: Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2006.
  13. ———. Pearls and Coral: Secrets of the Sufi Way. Washington DC: Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2005.
  14. Khalil, Mohmmad Hassan. Islam and the Fate of Others: The Salvation Question. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.
  15. Laffan, Michael Francis. The Makings of Indonesian Islam : Orientalism and the Narration of a Sufi Past. Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics. Oxford, England: Princeton University Press, 2011.
  16. Miichi, Ken. “Urban Sufi and Politics in Contemporary Indonesia: The Role of Dhikr Associations in the Anti-‘Ahok’ Rallies.” South East Asia Research 27, no. 3 (2019): 225–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/0967828X.2019.1667110.
  17. Nazim, Maulana Shaykh. Love. Malaga: Sereseres Ediciones/Alejandro Jose Baudino, 2009.
  18. Nielsen, Jorgen S., Mustafa Draper, and Galina Yemelianova. “Transnational Sufism: Haqqaniya.” In Sufism in the West, edited by Jamal Malik and John Hinnells. New York: Routledge, 2006.
  19. Nugroho, Wahyu. “Keterlibatan Sosial Sebagai Sebuah Devosi: Sebuah Kesalehan Sosial Tarekat Naqshbandiyah Nazimmiyah.” Gema Teologi 39, no. 1 (2015): 33–56.
  20. Simmons, Gwendolyn Zoharah. “Sufism and Its Response to Fundamentalism.” In Sufism and Social Integration, edited by Mohammad H. Faghfoory and Golam Dastagir. Chicago: ABC International Group. Inc, 2012.
  21. “Über Das Leben Maulana Scheich Nazims.” In Der Morgenstern, n.d.

Open Access Copyright (c) 2021 Teosofia: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Mysticism
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Teosofia: Indonesian Journal of Islamic Mysticism
Published by Fakultas Ushuluddin dan Humaniora (The Faculty of Ushuluddin and Humanities) Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo Semarang-Indonesia
Jl. Prof. Dr. Hamka KM 1 Ngaliyan Kampus 2, Semarang 50189
Central Java, Indonesia
Email: teosofia@walisongo.ac.id

apps