Cleric: Sufism is the Common Ground Among All Sects of the Islamic Ummah

According to the Taghrib News Agency, Mohammad Taqi Seifaie emphasized the role of Sufism as a common point among Islamic sects during a workshop focused on "Analyzing the Status of Spirituality and Islamic Movements in the Islamic World."
He stated: "Sufism, as a spiritual movement, is the most deeply rooted manifestation of spirituality in the Islamic world, observable in various forms across all Islamic schools of thought."
He clarified: "One of the important elements that distinguishes the Islamic Revolution of Iran from other intellectual and spiritual movements in the Islamic world is the combination of three elements: 'spirituality,' 'rationality,' and 'anti-imperialism.'
This unique model has attracted the attention of Islamic thinkers and elites not only at the regional level but also globally."
Seifaie added that "spirituality alone cannot be the driving force behind political and social transformations." He explained: "What sets the Islamic Revolution apart from secular, purely Sufi, or merely political movements is that its spirituality is combined with a jihadist spirit, anti-imperialist sentiment, and rationality. This is the model that has been experienced, albeit imperfectly and sporadically, in the Algerian Revolution, anti-Zionist struggles, and Islamic resistance in Palestine."
The Director of Religions and Sects Department at the Islamic Propagation Organization also highlighted the role of Sufism in various parts of the Islamic world, noting: "In several countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, India, and parts of the Arab world, various Sufi orders such as Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Shadhiliyya, and others are actively present.
While these orders have immense potential for nurturing individual spirituality, they often lack the political, social, and revolutionary frameworks necessary to confront global imperialism."
He continued: "From our perspective, what has introduced the Islamic Revolution of Iran as a model is not just the strengthening of spirituality but also its guidance in the struggle against tyranny and domination. In fact, Sufism that does not react to imperialism is, at best, a part of the cultural body of Islam, but it cannot be a civilization-building movement."
In another part of his speech, Seifaie reviewed the contemporary history of the Islamic world and the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphate, analyzing: "After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1917, the Islamic world experienced political fragmentation, cultural poverty, and military dependency on Western powers. This collapse laid the groundwork for the formation of the Zionist regime and weakened the spirit of resistance among Muslims."
He pointed out that many resistance groups have emerged from Islamic and spiritual movements, stating: "Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Islamic Jihad in Palestine are examples of successful integration of spiritual, ideological teachings and the discourse of resistance, which have continued to be the flag bearers of the struggle against Zionism and colonialism in the region."