Studies on Sufism in Central Asia

Studies on Sufism in Central Asia

Reproduces 12 studies which explore previously unstudied sources with an eye to identifying prominent developments in the social and organizational history of the major Sufi groupings of the region.

The chronological range reflected in the studies included here runs from the 13th century to the 17th, with a somewhat uneven distribution between the earlier half of the period (13th-15th centuries, with six articles, Nos. II, IV, V, VII, VIII, and XI) and the later half (16th-17th centuries, with four pieces, Nos. III, IX, X, XII), and two studies (Nos. I and VI) spanning the entire period.

Specific Sufi traditions

The studies included here reflect DeWeese’s attention to groups and individuals that might be identified (despite the focus of some of his more recent work on questioning the use and meaning of such labels) as Kubrav, Yasav, and Khwajagan/Naqshband, with four studies focused entirely on Kubrav circles (Nos. I, II, V, XI), five on Yasav subjects (Nos. III, VII, IX, X, XII), and one on the Khwajagan (No. VIII), as well as one dealing with Yasav-Naqshband relations (No. VI) and another exploring a group that falls outside these labels (No. IV).

Khwajagan and Naqshband history has a strong ‘background’ presence, nevertheless, in five other articles (Nos. I, III, IV, VII, and IX), reflecting the steady rise of the Naqshbandiya to predominance among Central Asian Sufi traditions.