Abstract
Ever since its inception, Sufism has had considerable influence in Muslim society, through mystical insights and organizational power. However, it is often thought to have lost its significance in the modern age. The researchers of Sufism have tried to determine and examine the various roles of Sufism in today’s Muslim society. A∆mad Kuftārū, a Naqshbandī Sufi master in modern Syria, reflects the defensive mode of Sufism today. He is also regarded as a successful Sufi master who promotes the value of Sufism in Muslim society. This paper focuses on Kuftārū’s prominence as a Sufi master and clarifies how he has promoted the value of Sufism. Kuftārū’s attitude toward Sufism and his Sufi network are not always oriented to the mainstream discourses of Sufism, but through a certain marginalization of Sufism, he succeeds in bringing recognition to the presence of Sufism as the backbone of his Islamic orthodoxy orientation and various types of social activities. From this point of view, we could say that Kuftārū’s Sufism can be evaluated interpretively and retroactively.
