Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba'i University & Imam Khomeini International University Qazvin (Visiting Professor), Tehran and Qazvin, Iran
2 Associate Professo rPhD, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The Concept of National Identity in Sufi Communities: A Case Study of the Ahl-e Haqq Order in Iran
Today, the concept of national identity constitutes a central issue in the nation-state building project and is a fundamental component of social capital. At the same time, defining the role of Sufi communities within this project remains a contentious subject. A critical and underexplored question is whether national identity and a positive attitude toward Iranian nationhood exist among Sufi adherents—a question that this study addresses, demonstrating that, at least for some groups, the answer is affirmative.
The prevailing assumption is that Sufis are inherently non-national, leaning instead toward cosmopolitanism—or even transcendent universalism. This research challenges such notions by examining the extent of national identity awareness and allegiance among followers of the Ahl-e Haqq Order, one of Iran’s largest Sufi traditions.
Conducted through phenomenological analysis in the counties of Sahneh, Sarpol-e Zahab, and Delfan (in Kermanshah and Lorestan provinces), this study draws on 21 purposively sampled cases from the target population. Findings reveal that the lived experience of Ahl-e Haqq followers is predominantly shaped by tariqa (order-based) identity, which, far from hindering national identity formation, actively facilitates its manifestation in everyday life through various mechanisms
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