Charismatic Leadership in Islam

To understand Islam, one must understand the people who practice their faith.  Consequently, this book is a detailed ethnographic study of two contemporary Sufi communities.  It explores the perplexing range of theological and ritual variation, arguing for a direct correlation between Sufi multiformity and the Agency of the spiritual leader, the Shaikh.  He is principally responsible for shaping the community under his leadership.

This work gives fascinating close-up pictures of the roles of two Sufi leaders.  It is arresting both for the two stories themselves, and for the stark differences between them.