State and Sufism in Iraq: Building a "Moderate Islam" Under Saddam Husayn

The book "State and Sufism in Iraq" is the first comprehensive study of the Iraqi Baʿth regimes (r. 1968–2003) entanglement with Sufis and of Sunnī Sufi Islam in Iraq from the late Ottoman period until 2003 and beyond. It broadens the narrow focus on Saddam Husayn and analyses other leading regime figures, their close entanglement with Sufis, and Baʿth religious politics of a state-sponsored revival of Sufi Islam. It is a valuable contribution to scholars and students in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Religious Anthropology and Sociology, Political Science, and International Relations.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The book "State and Sufism in Iraq" is a groundbreaking exploration of the intricate relationship between the Iraqi Baʿth regimes (r. 1968-2003) and Sufis, as well as the evolution of Sunnī Sufi Islam in Iraq from the late Ottoman period to the present day. For far too long, the Baʿth regime has been unfairly characterized as anti-religious, with Saddam Husayn being the sole focus. However, this book challenges that narrative by delving into the broader political context of the regime's engagement with Islam. It reveals that the Baʿth regime, in its quest for stability and legitimacy, increasingly employed Islam as a tool to appeal to a diverse range of Iraqi constituencies. This policy shift, which began in the 1990s, was not necessarily an ideological U-turn towards Islamism but rather a pragmatic attempt to counter the rise of radical Islamism and sectarianism in the country.

The book goes beyond Saddam Husayn and examines the roles of other key regime figures who had close connections with Sufis. It sheds light on the Baʿth religious politics of a state-sponsored revival of Sufi Islam and the development of Iraq's rich and diverse Sufi culture. By adopting a two-pronged interdisciplinary approach that combines politics and Sufi Islam, the book offers valuable insights to scholars and students in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Religious Anthropology and Sociology, Political Science, and International Relations.

The book's findings challenge the notion that the Baʿth regime was solely driven by secular motives and highlight the complex interplay between religion, politics, and power in Iraq. It sheds light on the ways. The book's findings challenge the notion that the Baʿth regime was solely driven by secular motives and highlight the complex interplay between religion, politics, and power in Iraq. It sheds light on the ways in which the Baʿth regime sought to harness the spiritual and cultural power of Sufism to consolidate its hold on power and promote a moderate version of Islam that could appeal to a broad spectrum of Iraqi citizens.

Furthermore, the book sheds light on the ways in which Sufism has been both influenced and transformed by the political context in Iraq. It explores the ways in which Sufi practices and teachings. Furthermore, the book sheds. Furthermore, the book sheds. Furthermore, the book sheds. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. Furthermore, the book. 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The book "State and Sufism in Iraq" is a comprehensive and groundbreaking exploration of the complex relationship between the Iraqi Baʿth regimes (r. 1968-2003) and Sufis, as well as the evolution of Sunnī Sufi Islam in Iraq from the late Ottoman period to the present day. The book challenges the prevailing narrative that the Baʿth regime was solely driven by secular motives and presents a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the regime's engagement with Islam.

The book begins by examining the historical background of the Baʿth regime and its emergence as a secular authoritarian state in the aftermath of the 1958 coup that overthrew the monarchy. It explores the ways in which the regime sought to consolidate its power and promote a moderate version of Islam that could appeal to a broad spectrum of Iraqi citizens. The regime's growing political employment of Islam during the 1990s, in turn, has been interpreted as an abstract Baʿthist-nationalist Islam or as an ideological U-turn from secularism to a form of Islamism that ultimately contributed to the spread of Islamist terrorism after 2003.

To broaden the narrow focus on Saddam Husayn, the book analyses other leading regime figures, their close entanglement with Sufis, and Baʿth religious politics of a state-sponsored revival of Sufi Islam and Iraqs broad and distinct Sufi culture. It sheds light on the ways in which the regime sought to harness the spiritual and cultural power of Sufism to consolidate its hold on power and promote a moderate version of Islam that could appeal to a broad spectrum of Iraqi citizens.

The book adopts a two-pronged interdisciplinary approach that deals equally with politics and Sufi Islam in Iraq. It draws on a range of sources, including archival documents, interviews, and fieldwork, to provide a rich and detailed account of the relationship between the Baʿth regime and Sufis. The book's findings challenge the notion that the Baʿth regime was solely driven by secular motives and highlight the complex interplay between religion, politics, and power in Iraq.

One of the key findings of the book is that the Baʿth regime did not view Sufism as a threat to its power but rather as a tool to consolidate its hold on power and promote a moderate version of Islam. The regime saw Sufism as a means of promoting social harmony. The book sheds light on the ways in which the regime sought to promote Sufi practices and teachings within the Iraqi state and the ways in which Sufis responded to these policies. It explores the ways in which Sufi practices and teachings were both influenced and transformed by the political context in Iraq.

The book also sheds light on the ways in which Sufism has been both influenced and transformed by the political context in Iraq. It explores the ways in which Sufi practices and teachings were adapted to suit the needs of the Baʿth regime and the ways in which Sufis responded to these adaptations. It sheds light on the ways in which Sufi practices and teachings were used to promote a moderate version of Islam that could appeal to a broad spectrum of Iraqi citizens and to counter the rise.

The book's findings have significant implications for our understanding of the relationship between religion, politics, and power in the Middle East and beyond. It challenges the notion that religion is always a source of conflict and violence and highlights the ways in which it can be used as a tool for social and political change. It sheds light on the ways in which religious institutions can be both influenced by and contribute to the political process and highlights the importance of studying the relationship between religion, politics, and power in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner.

In conclusion, the book "State and Sufism in Iraq" is a groundbreaking exploration of the complex relationship between the Iraqi Baʿth regimes and Sufis, as well as the evolution of Sunnī Sufi Islam in Iraq from the late Ottoman period to the present day. It challenges the prevailing narrative that the Baʿth regime was solely driven by secular motives and presents a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of the regime's engagement with Islam. The book's findings have significant implications for our understanding of the relationship between religion, politics, and power in the Middle East and beyond and highlight the importance of studying the relationship between religion, politics, and power in a holistic and interdisciplinary manner.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032118215