Islamic Sufism in America: The Philosophy and Practices of the Oveyssi Tariqa

Abstract

The Sufis bridge the divide between the societal development of religions and the individualistic journey of the self in understanding God by teaching the Islamic concepts of peace, including tawhid (unity with all), prayer, and respect towards others. These spiritualists have existed since the beginning of time. This paper looks into the notions of Sufism, its historical and contemporary existence in the United States, and the beliefs of one specific tariqa, the Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi order. Ethnographic research with participant observation from November-December 2018 in the Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi khaneghah of Dallas details numerous activities and practices, which illustrate the core teachings of the order and its uniqueness amongst all others. This thesis serves as an introduction to the Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism in the United States. In the following pages, this order is initiated to the academic discourse with an exploration of how Islamic Sufism is practiced in contemporary America. It is my hope that the readers come to better understand the spiritual dimensions of Islam through this study.