The Making of an Inclusive Community for Muslim Americans

Third Place as a New Mode for the Sufi Community

Abstract

This paper discusses features observed in the recent development of Sufism in America by focusing on “Traditional Islam,” which is an emergent Sufi trend that has recently gained popularity among the younger generation of Muslim Americans. After providing an overview of this phenomenon and its theology, the paper analyzes its institutional dimension, paying special attention to community organizations that function as hubs for its adherents. The paper draws attention to the “third place” between home (the private sphere) and mosques (the public sphere) as a key concept for understanding the nature of these Sufi-oriented community organizations. Based on an analysis of the activities and spaces of the Ta'leef Collective—one such emergent organization—the paper identifies the significance of the third place as a space that is supplementary to the existing mainstream community and concludes that this aspect of being a supplement has enabled these organizations to reach out to Muslim Americans, bridging the gap between Sufi and non-Sufi communities. The paper also describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that the Ta'leef Collective is now shifting to a community with a stronger Sufi identity through its emphasis on rituals such as Mawlid and Friday prayer. It is also anticipated that such a shift will impact the mode of the inclusive community in the future.