“Political Sufism”: The Interplay of Sufism and Politics in Somalia

Sufism and its adherents have long been considered as being mainly engaged in mystical activities and disinterested in politics. This argument has however been challenged by a number of scholars as history proves that Sufis have not been always detached from politics. This is an exploratory research on the relations between Sufism and politics in Somalia. The purpose of this article is twofold: To deconstruct the myth surrounding the apolitical nature of Sufis and; to explore the interplay between Sufism and politics in Somalia in the pre-colonial era, the colonial, post-independence, and after the civil war periods. I argue that Sufis and Sufi movements in Somalia have often joined politics. This is not to say that their mystical aspect is exaggerated, rather, joining politics has often been a necessity Sufis could not avoid.