Exploring a Sufi Tradition of Islamic Teaching: Educational and Cultural Values Among the Sy Tijāniyya of Tivaouane (Senegal)

The author examines the philosophy and practice of Muslim education in the tradition of the Sy family of Tivaouane (Senegal). The focus is on formal educational institutions such as the dahira, or Sufi circles of worship, and the daara, Kur’anic school, which play a major role in the system of educa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social compass 2011-03, Vol.58 (1), p.27-41
Main Author: Diallo, El Hadji Samba Amadou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African studies
Cultural Values
Educational Systems
Family
Islam
Marriage and Family Education
Muslims
Mysticism
Religious education
Schools
Senegal
Spirituality
Teaching
Worship
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Summary:The author examines the philosophy and practice of Muslim education in the tradition of the Sy family of Tivaouane (Senegal). The focus is on formal educational institutions such as the dahira, or Sufi circles of worship, and the daara, Kur’anic school, which play a major role in the system of education pioneered by the Sy branch of the Tijāniyya. He also examines a third institution, khalifa, or spiritual authority, which continues to play a central role in the Muslim brotherhoods as transmitter of the teachings of the Shaykh. The author shows how these three institutions work together and constantly reshape Sy Tijāniyya (Syèen si in Wolof), how changes in Senegalese society influence and transform the branch, and how the continuous development of neo-Sufi organizations increases the importance of Tijāniyya in a globalized world. L’auteur analyse les pratiques culturelles dans la Tijāniyya des Sy de Tivaouane (Sénégal). À cette fin, il explore les institutions éducatives, telles que les daara (communément appelées écoles coraniques ou écoles maraboutiques), et associatives, telles que les dahira (cercles religieux). Elles jouent, en effet, un rôle majeur dans l’expansion de cette branche confrérique. L’auteur examine une troisième institution, l’autorité religieuse (ou Khalifa), qui continue de jouer un rôle central de transmission des enseignements du Shaykh dans les confréries musulmanes. L’auteur finit par montrer comment ces trois institutions, par leurs aspects culturels, travaillent et refaçonnent la Tijāniyya des Sy (Syèen si en Wolof), comment la modélisation de cette branche confrérique se fait en rapport avec les changements dans la société sénégalaise qui, en retour, la transforment, et comment le développement des organisations néo-sufis accroît l’importance de la Tijāniyya dans un monde globalisé.
ISSN:0037-7686
1461-7404
DOI:10.1177/0037768610392727