Representations of Jihad in Sufi Hagiography and Poetry

Abstract

This chapter examines the spiritual and martial jihad as portrayed in Sufi hagiography and Sufi poetry. It emphasizes the didactic role of Sufi hagiography and to a lesser degree, poetry, for a Sufi as a well as a non-Sufi audience of ordinary Muslims (i.e. not learned in Islamic scripture and religious sciences). It concludes that both Sufi hagiography and poetry agree with learned Sufi texts in their portrayal of the spiritual and martial aspects of jihad, including consistent use of mujahada to designate the spiritual jihad and jihad to designate the martial jihad.