Mystic Peace and Resistance: Evaluating the Role of Sufi Shrines in Preventing Extremism and Terrorism in Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

This study aimed at discussing the way in which the Sufi shrines in Faisalabad help to foster peace, tolerance, and opposition to extremist ideologies using ritual activities, spiritual events, and interaction with the community. This study used qualitative research design. The theoretical foundation of the shrine activities on the behaviour and emotional reactions was determined by Ritual Theory and Social Cohesion Theory. The data was gathered by field observation of one year, attending Urs, langar, qawwali, dhikr sessions, and semi-structured interview with the 40 participants, 10 participants each of the 4 shrines. Observations were recorded in the form of field notes to observe emotional responses, social bonding and patterns of behaviour in the shrines. Thematic analysis was employed in the interpretation of the collected data. The results indicate that everybody feels less angry, less stressed, creates inner peace, and constructs love-based thinking at the shrine rituals. The shared food and other practices eliminate social distance and enhance dignity among poor, women and neutral gender persons. Qawwali and dhikr are emotional curing devices which substitute frustration with composedness. The community meetings build trust and a sense of belonging and thus it is hard to manipulate local individuals by the extremist groups. The research finds that Sufi shrines serve as centers of peace where spiritual love, healing and unity undermine radical imaginaries and enhance resiliencies among communities. This study is important as it connects the culture of shrines to counter-extremism, demonstrating viable roles of emotional healing and social integration in Faisalabad to decrease the attraction of extremists.