Everyday Ethics and Disciplinary Practice

Abstract

I start with this vignette because, among both Muslims and non-Muslims, in the past and present, mention of Sufism often has brought to mind wonders or charismatic acts (keramet) worked by sheikhs or saintly, pious figures.²This was definitely not a major concern for the Naqshbandis I worked with, and indeed, though I myself never brought the topic up, they seemed to be keen to discourage me and other disciples within earshot from attaching any interest to such things.³ Yet there would be moments when they were playfully suggested, like in the instance with the date, and these little “inside jokes” contributed to the ethos of companionship and lightheartedness I noted among many of these Sufis, which is characteristic of a certain kind of attitude and style of life I shall attempt to describe in this chapter.

In the road just below the back gate to the courtyard of the İskender Pasha complex in Fatih, we run into Ahmet. I had been thinking about him recently, especially during my visits to the complex, but was told that he came around rarely these days; running into him like this is quite a coincidence. He smiles, we embrace, and he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a date, saying, “Here you go, a date.” I laugh, and gesture, patting my heart with an open palm, implying, “No, no … thanks.” He smiles, holding up the date insistently. The other guys we are with are talking among themselves, not paying too much attention to us. I take it, and we continue to talk. I notice that he doesn’t give one to anyone else, only to me. It is a little uncomfortable, but everyone is chatting. I’m holding this sticky thing in my fingers, not knowing if I should eat it now or later. In the midst of the banter, I pop it into my mouth, work the pit out and drop it on the ground, and I ask about Yusuf amca (“uncle” Yusuf), how his health is, and how the garden of the tombs at Süleymaniye is shaping up.¹ Ahmet nods, says he’s not bad, that he comes to Süleymaniye nearly every day in the morning, makes ziyaret (a visit) to Mehmed Zahid efendi, and tends the garden and his gravesite. “Actually,” Ahmet says, “he was asking about you today. The date was from him.”