By Mohamed Abdel Salam, *Egypt: New Sufi women’s association* - Bikya Masr - Cairo, Egypt
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cairo: In an unprecedented move for Egypt, Magda Eid, the founder of the first female association for Sufi women, announced in statements to local newspapers that the country’s security agencies requested a list of names of members and founders of the proposed association as a prerequisite step prior to the final submission of documents for its establishment.
She said that as soon as the approval of the names by the authorities, the group “will start the first procedures for the establishment of the first female Sufi association in Egypt, called women of Sufism.”
Eid, the wife of Mohammad Shahawi, the renowned Chairman of the Committee of the Five Ways of Sufism, said that the aim of the association is to raise awareness of Sufi women and the principles and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah – the deeds, sayings and actions of the Prophet Mohamed – especially since most of the women lack awareness in these issues, “because of its unique role to serve the practice of Sufi groups through the preparation of food in celebrations, and other business, where the laws and customs of the chiefdom prevent the participation of Sufi women in its work.”
Eid said that recent history has witnessed anti-Sufi campaigns, especially through the banning of celebrations, or “moulids.” She added that “they [the government] accused us of characteristics that have not nothing to do with us, so we felt that we must address these unjust campaigns.”
Eid explained that Sufism preaches tolerance, good counsel and derives its teachings from the Qur’an and Sunnah as well as the Prophet, saying that the deployment of these teachings in the community “is necessary, after the spread of militant rhetoric led by the Salafis and the Wahhabis.”
The Suif leader added that the members of the association, most of whom are wives of sheikhs of the Sufi order, will engage in educating Sufi women and girls, “without the intervention of religious leaders of the Sufi sect,” and she confirmed that it will depend on the self-help efforts of its members, and contributions, including contributions and donations from Sufi sheikhs to keep the organization afloat.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
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Saturday, October 03, 2009
Women Of Sufism
Monday, September 28, 2009
Cairo: In an unprecedented move for Egypt, Magda Eid, the founder of the first female association for Sufi women, announced in statements to local newspapers that the country’s security agencies requested a list of names of members and founders of the proposed association as a prerequisite step prior to the final submission of documents for its establishment.
She said that as soon as the approval of the names by the authorities, the group “will start the first procedures for the establishment of the first female Sufi association in Egypt, called women of Sufism.”
Eid, the wife of Mohammad Shahawi, the renowned Chairman of the Committee of the Five Ways of Sufism, said that the aim of the association is to raise awareness of Sufi women and the principles and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah – the deeds, sayings and actions of the Prophet Mohamed – especially since most of the women lack awareness in these issues, “because of its unique role to serve the practice of Sufi groups through the preparation of food in celebrations, and other business, where the laws and customs of the chiefdom prevent the participation of Sufi women in its work.”
Eid said that recent history has witnessed anti-Sufi campaigns, especially through the banning of celebrations, or “moulids.” She added that “they [the government] accused us of characteristics that have not nothing to do with us, so we felt that we must address these unjust campaigns.”
Eid explained that Sufism preaches tolerance, good counsel and derives its teachings from the Qur’an and Sunnah as well as the Prophet, saying that the deployment of these teachings in the community “is necessary, after the spread of militant rhetoric led by the Salafis and the Wahhabis.”
The Suif leader added that the members of the association, most of whom are wives of sheikhs of the Sufi order, will engage in educating Sufi women and girls, “without the intervention of religious leaders of the Sufi sect,” and she confirmed that it will depend on the self-help efforts of its members, and contributions, including contributions and donations from Sufi sheikhs to keep the organization afloat.
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By Mohamed Abdel Salam, *Egypt: New Sufi women’s association* - Bikya Masr - Cairo, EgyptMonday, September 28, 2009
Cairo: In an unprecedented move for Egypt, Magda Eid, the founder of the first female association for Sufi women, announced in statements to local newspapers that the country’s security agencies requested a list of names of members and founders of the proposed association as a prerequisite step prior to the final submission of documents for its establishment.
She said that as soon as the approval of the names by the authorities, the group “will start the first procedures for the establishment of the first female Sufi association in Egypt, called women of Sufism.”
Eid, the wife of Mohammad Shahawi, the renowned Chairman of the Committee of the Five Ways of Sufism, said that the aim of the association is to raise awareness of Sufi women and the principles and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah – the deeds, sayings and actions of the Prophet Mohamed – especially since most of the women lack awareness in these issues, “because of its unique role to serve the practice of Sufi groups through the preparation of food in celebrations, and other business, where the laws and customs of the chiefdom prevent the participation of Sufi women in its work.”
Eid said that recent history has witnessed anti-Sufi campaigns, especially through the banning of celebrations, or “moulids.” She added that “they [the government] accused us of characteristics that have not nothing to do with us, so we felt that we must address these unjust campaigns.”
Eid explained that Sufism preaches tolerance, good counsel and derives its teachings from the Qur’an and Sunnah as well as the Prophet, saying that the deployment of these teachings in the community “is necessary, after the spread of militant rhetoric led by the Salafis and the Wahhabis.”
The Suif leader added that the members of the association, most of whom are wives of sheikhs of the Sufi order, will engage in educating Sufi women and girls, “without the intervention of religious leaders of the Sufi sect,” and she confirmed that it will depend on the self-help efforts of its members, and contributions, including contributions and donations from Sufi sheikhs to keep the organization afloat.
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