Book Review: Communication in Sufism: A Qualitative Study on Meaning, Method, and Practices

Abstract

Sufi studies have increasingly become a field that makes effective use of the conceptual frameworks of the social sciences. The work under review seeks to engage the classical heritage of Sufism in dialogue with concepts drawn from psychology, sociology, and communication studies, with particular emphasis on processes of inner human transformation. Mustafa Uzgur’s book, Communication in Sufism: A Qualitative Study on Meaning, Method, and Practices, is an original work adapted from his doctoral dissertation and stands out as a scholarly contribution that exemplifies this interdisciplinary tendency. Born in Istanbul in 1993, Mustafa Uzgur’s academic trajectory reflects a strong orientation toward interdisciplinary research. After graduating from the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University, he completed his master’s degree at the same institution and earned his doctoral degree in the field of Sufism from Ankara University in 2024. The study brings together the author’s expertise in Sufi history, communication theories, and contemporary religious experience within a unified analytical framework. In doing so, it offers a renewed perspective on Sufi studies through the lens of modern communication theories and contributes an interdisciplinary dimension to the field. The book constitutes a valuable resource not only for specialists but also for readers interested in examining Sufism through the psychological and social dimensions of communication.

Highlights

• A holistic analysis of Sufism through key concepts of communication studies.
• The murshid–murīd (mentor–disciple) relationship interpreted as a communicative model.
• Examination of the decisive role of verbal, nonverbal, and symbolic communication in Sufi experiences.
• Maqāms, states, rabita, prayer, and dreams analyzed within the context of communication processes.
• An interdisciplinary interpretation of Sufism using modern communication theories.