The Haqqa Movement: from Heterodox Sufism, to Socio-Political Struggle and Back
The Haqqa Movement: from Heterodox Sufism, to Socio-Political Struggle and Back

Author(s): Lana Askari
Subject(s): Politics, Geography, Regional studies, Recent History (1900 till today), Islam studies, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Politics and Identity, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Iraq; Haqqa Movement; Heterodox Sufism; socio-political struggle; Kalkasmaq; Shadala;
Summary/Abstract: One day I told my mother, I am going to join the Mama Razayeti [Haqqa movement under Sheikh Mama Raza]. She told me, your father is going to kill you. I said no, even if he would kill me I will go and convert anyway. I left and ran to the takiye (dervish lodge) and told them I wanted to convert. They quickly heated up some water and shaved my head, leaving only a little bit of hair on the top. This [taking off his cap and pointing to the small patch of long hair] has not been cut for over 50 years, it is still the same do you hear! During the time of the prophet, people had their hair like this. Our greeting ‘ya karim, ya raza’, this is also from the time of the prophet. When I went back home I told my father I had joined Mama Raza and received a beating. However, after four nights, four brothers of the order came to our house and talked to my father. After a long discussion, they also converted my father. I was the first in my family in Sergalu village to convert. I came to the Haqqa with a clean conscious and therefore I am still part of it and still live in the khanaqa [rest- and guesthouse].

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