Violence and the Feminine in Islam: a case study of the Zikris, in Women and Religion: Seeds of Violence Vol. III,

Ahmed, D.
by Heinrich Boll Foundation Turkey November, p.p. 11-35, 1998 (International)

In recent years the issue of violence against women in the name of Islam has gained considerable attention and a lot has been written on it. This article takes the case study of the Zikris and attempts to present an analysis of why this phenomenon has increased over a period of time. The argument therein is that the interface between customary practices and Islam not only maintain but also strengthen patriarchy. In essence no religion is violent, the main issue is how Islam is 'interpreted'. For this purpose the author combines a Jungian psycholanalytic perspective with a sociological one to argue that there are archetypes within the Zikri philosophy and rituals. After a detailed outline of her theoretical premise the author then explains the historical background and beliefs and rituals of the Zikris. She argues that a closer look at the regional and national politics clearly indicates that since the Zikri doctrine supports liberal and secular politics they pose a threat to the majority. She then outlines the Zikri rituals stepwise and compares it to the historico-cultural and religious roots of the sub continent. She then draws out the archetypes from within the Zikri rituals on the basis of which she distinguishes the male and female 'archetype styles' in religious expression. Her argument is that within religion these nuances can only be articulated if the broad gender differentials are clear. Nevertheless the important point is that when masculine orthodoxy is confronted by the feminine mysticism, it can frequently prove dangerous for the latter. The author is of the opinion that Sufism as the 'feminine' expression of religion is overwhelmingly present in the Zikri. Given the socio-political context this appears a threat to the male orthodox 'norms' and needs to be punished for deviating. Thus the more feminine a religious perspective, greater is the chance of it being marginalized and obliterated. Using the case of Zikris the author concludes that to the extent that women embody these symbolic truths, violence directed against them in the name of Islam flows from these psychodynamics.

Key Words: Archetypes, Religion, Masculine, Feminine, Interpretation, doctrine.