Colonialism Quote by Graham Fuller
““One of the outstanding sources of resistance to imperial power in the Muslim world came from Sufi groups. While Sufi brotherhoods are generally known for a more quietist and mystic approach to Islam, they traditionally rank among the best organized and most coherent groupings in society. They constitute ready-made organizations - social-based NGOs, if you will - for maintaining Islamic culture and practices under periods of extreme oppression and for fomenting resistance and guerrilla warfare against foreign occupation. The history of Sufi participation in dozens of liberation struggles is long and widespread across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Sufi groups were prominent in the anti-Soviet resistance, and later against the American in Afghanistan and against US occupation forces in Iraq.””
About This Quote
Sufi groups act as organized NGOs preserving Islamic culture and leading resistance under oppression.
In simple terms: Sufis preserve culture and resist oppression.
Key Takeaway
Support resilient community structures.
Themes
resistance
culture
organization
religion
history
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- human rights work
- community building
Key Concepts
Sufism
social movements
political activism
Questions to Reflect On
- How to protect cultural groups?
- What role do NGOs play?
A Different Perspective
Sufis may face repression.
![“[The Middle East conflict ] just kind of ran its course for me. For a long time I could justify doing it to myself, no matter how irrational it was. It was important to me and my work. And I just don't feel it in the same way any more. When it comes up and it's important to me, I'll do it, but…” quote by Peter van Agtmael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ba7/peter-van-agtmael-25908_bigs_the-middle-east-conflict-just-kind-of-ra_2760410.jpg)
![“Vietnam is a jungle. You had jungle warfare. Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, you have sand. [There is no need to worry about a protracted war because] from a historical basis, Middle East conflicts do not last a long time.” quote by Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e30/dan-quayle-1780_arabia_vietnam-is-a-jungle-you-had-jungle-warfa_997662.jpg)
