Genderless souls?: Sufi women in sociopolitical contexts’

Sufism is a porous phenomenon that could be described with the categories of mysticism, esotericism, spirituality, and popular religion within the Islamic tradition. Sufism has been both at the centre of Islamic orthodoxy and morality, with many Sufis shaping Islamic institutions and doctrines across time and space, and at its margins, with Sufis challenging orthodoxy and social norms, reinventing rituals, and promoting blended practices based on visions, dreams, and ecstasy. One can think of the relationship between Sufism and Islam as two overlapping traditions, generally overlapping, sometimes distancing, and rarely separated (e.g. non-Islamic Sufism of Abraham Maimonides and Theosophical Society) (Piraino Citation2024b). Sufi heterogeneity and porosity are likely due to the importance of direct, ecstatic, mystical, and contemplative experiences that many Sufis live, which could bend boundaries, rituals, and traditions (Knysh Citation2017). The complicated relationship between Sufism and gender is inscribed within this ‘epistemological instability’. The relationship between gender and Sufism dwells between two interconnected but sometimes tenuous dimensions. There is a metaphysical discourse on female sanctity which elevates the feminine as the transcendent ideal, at times above the masculine one, and the most exemplary modality in which to achieve intimacy with the divine (Shaikh Citation2012). On the other hand, there are debates regarding gender norms, gender equality, and gender segregation in social contexts and ritual life that suggest more access and mobility for women. As such, across various geographical contexts, women have held positions of authority and have even at times been more prominent in authorial and institutional spaces defined by Sufi Islam. These two separate but overlapping approaches imply an ambivalent and oscillating relationship between Sufism and gender in historical contexts, which continues into its present iterations (Ahmed Citation1999; Xavier Citation2021). Another layer of complexity is added by broader discussions on modernity and Islam. Sufism is experiencing a period of renewal as charismatic leaders attract new disciples from different socio-cultural backgrounds globally (Piraino and Sedgwick Citation2019). The globalisation of Sufism is also marked by the rising visibility of female Sufi masters and disciples (Sharify-Funk, Dickson, and Xavier Citation2018). New emerging Sufi leaders have increasingly challenged the traditional Islamic heteronormativity (especially patriarchy) and offered progressive and liberal interpretations that are compatible with modern liberal values on women’s rights. Often dubbed, and problematically so, as the moderate, liberal, and tolerant face of Islam, Sufism as a discourse and theology seems to open more possibilities for spaces, ritual access, and leadership roles for women premised on interpretations of Islamic resources like the Qur’an and hadith. On the other hand, many other Sufi leaders have still been acting as the guardians of a patriarchal Islamic orthodoxy within Sufi brotherhoods. As such, the historical and contemporary terrain of Sufism’s entanglements with gendered norms are diverse, complex, contested, and at times, ambiguous. Finally, several contemporary Muslim feminists and activists have employed Sufi doctrines to reinforce their theological and political arguments in favour of a feminist Islam (as witnessed by many articles of this special issue) (Shaikh Citation2022; Sharify-Funk and Xavier Citation2023). Below then, we capture the state of the interdisciplinary field of Sufism and gender in more depth and then consider the contributions and interventions offered by the essays of this special issue.