Muslim thinker and member of the Sufi International Office Sheikh Muhammad Sadeq, has commended the efforts of the Leader of the World Islamic People's Leadership (WIPL) in serving Islam and Muslims around the world. He Highlighted in particular the WIPL Leader's continuous concern with Sufism and followers of various Sufi orders.

Sheikh Sadiq made the remark in an exclusive interview with Al-Daawa Al-Islamia newspaper while attending the meeting between WIPL's Executive Council and the Sufi International Office held recently in Tripoli.

When was the Sufi International Office established ?

The Sufi Office was established about 15 years ago, in response to the call by the WIPL Leader.

It was during the launching of "Sheikh Ahmed Zaruq Manara" in Tripoli. Sheikh Zarouq was a prominent Sufi scholar, who had a great contribution in disseminating sufi teaching in Libya.

The first sufi conference was held between the 16th and the 19th of September 1995, with the participation of hundreds of Sufi Sheiks from 57 states of the Muslim world. The conference's objective was to discuss the significance of Sufism and its role in the re-awakening of Muslim communities. During this conference, the WIPL Leader said: "We are meeting here today to invalidate what has been attached to Sufism, to clear off the dust of darwish and loss within Sufi practices."

He added: "We want the Muslim umma to wake up from its slumber."

At the end of the conference the WIPL Secretariat held a joint meeting with the Sufi International Office.

The meeting resolved to hold regular conferences on Sufism in various regions with the aim of consolidating the Sufi role and strengthening the religious spirit and spreading the true Islamic values in Muslim communities, and further activating Sufi orders' roles in conducting their duties.

The conferences were to be staged in Uganda, Britain, Senegal and Sri Lanka. The meeting also agreed that the Sufi International Office shall oversee and supervise Sufi activities world-wide. Thank God, it has undertaken a number of tasks in favor of advancing Sufism.



*Who are the members of Sufi International office?



The International Office formally comprised members from all around the world, including:

Sheikh Ala'uddin Abu-Aza'em Head of Al-Za'emia order in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Sheikh Ibrahim Salah – Mufti of Nigeria, Sheikh Mustafa Sise from Senegal, Sheikh Lutfi Dogan Turkey, Sheikh Abdul-Haq Kailani from Sweden, late Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro from Syria.

The new body comprises: Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh from Nigeria, Sheikh Qaribul-allah Muhammad Naser from Nigeria, Sheikh Muhammad Quraishi from Senegal, Muhammad Alaa-uddin Abdul- Aza'em from Egypt, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Abdul Qader from Indonesia, Sheikh Abdul-Hafiz Fant Zal from Germany, Sheikh Abdul-Hafizi from Morocco and Sheikh Sheikhuna Mbarki from Senegal.



•Does the Sufi international office have a role to play in guiding Muslim youth?

Of course, the International Office supervises the activities of various Sufi orders, and coordinates those activities through its head office in Tripoli.

The International Office has supervised a number of Youth conferences and symposia in various African and Asian countries, which aim at providing guidance to Muslim youth on Islamic ethics and their role in their communities. The Office has offered great support to Muslim Youth in many countries especially in sustainable development:



*What is the role of the Sufi International Office in enriching Islamic culture to confront the Zionist enemy and his destructive measures towards Muslim holy sites?

The Office plays an important role in sensitization and awareness of the Muslim Umma with regards to Islamic culture and developments in the Muslim World.

Sufism has also played a vital role in encouraging the Muslim Umma to defend and protect Muslim holy places and Islamic identity. The Sufis were at the forefront of the struggles against colonialism whether in Africa or Asia.

For instance, Sheikh Omar Mukhtar was a famous fighter against the Italian Colonization of Libya, in Algeria there was Abdul Qader Al-Jaza'er, and there were many more who have fought to defend their countries and Islamic sanctities.





We want the Sufi of today to stand up to confront the Zionists and to stop them from taking over the Muslim Mosque of Holy Al-Quds.

* What is the role of Sufism in the educational field?

For a very long time, Sufi orders have been at the forefront of enlightenment and education; they have disseminated Islamic teachings far and wide. No doubt it has been the Sufis who have spread the true Islamic knowledge in Africa, and have play a vital role in the education of the Muslim youth.

* What was the agenda of your last meeting?

Recently we had a meeting between the WIPL Executive Council and the Sufi Office which tackled a number of issues, in particular: ways of activating the role of Sufism and the challenges facing the Muslim Umma.

Now we are in preparations for the Second International Sufi Conference that will be held soon. We hope that the Conference shall devise new ways for Sufism to proceed in light of the contemporary world.