Spiritual Leadership and Political Controversy: Reassessing the Role of Sufi Shaykhs during Mamluk Formation through the Lens of Islamic Religious Authority

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the Mamluks’ formation on their relationship with the Egyptian society, particularly with the Sufis. Both Mamluks and Sufis emerged in Egyptian society during the Ayyubid period. In less than a century, the Mamluks gained control of Egypt and the Levant, establishing a rule lasting over two and a half centuries. During this time, Sufis played a crucial role in Egyptian society, reaching their peak influence under Mamluk rule. One of the key roles of Sufi Shaykhs was to serve as intermediaries between the Mamluk rulers and their subjects. Sufi Shaykhs frequently went beyond spiritual guidance, developing ties with sultans and emirs that exceeded traditional roles. This paper explores the distinctive relationship between certain sultans, emirs, and popular Sufi shaykhs during the Mamluk era. Unlike previous studies focusing on mutual benefit, this analysis investigates the psychosocial dynamics underlying the Mamluks’ formation to uncover the deeper motivations behind these relationships. The unique social identity cultivated by the Mamluks and the sense of otherness (alterity) formed during their early years significantly shaped their relations with various groups in Egyptian society, particularly with Sufi Shaykhs.

Keywords: Mamluk history; Sufi shaykhs; military elites; Islamic religious authority; Mamluk’s social identity; medieval Islamic society