Revered Turkish Cypriot religious leader ailing
Hundreds of followers gathered outside the commune of Turkish Cypriot Sufi mystic Sheikh Nazim Kibrisli in Lefka yesterday after a sudden decline in the religious leader’s health Monday night.
Nazim, 89, leads the Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Islamic order that boasts hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide. He claims to be the direct descendent of the 11th century Sufi saint Abdul Qadir Jilani and 13th century mystical poet Jalauddin Rumi.
According to reports, doctors were called to Nazim’s dergah, or religious commune, after an embolism in one of his lungs caused him breathing difficulties. Despite efforts to move him to hospital on Monday night, the still-conscious Sheikh refused to go. Doctors are believed to be at his side.
Last night, well-wishers from around the world were said to be heading to Lefka to join prayers for the Sheikh’s wellbeing.
Despite his international appeal, Nazim has been widely shunned by the staunchly secular Turkish Cypriot community. Since the 1950s he has been barred from preaching in mosques in Cyprus. However, to his international audience he is revered as a saint.
It is unclear who will succeed him as leader of the Naqshbandi order.
[Picture from Sufilive, the Official Media Library of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani and the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order.]
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