The roots of the cultural deviation of Sufism in the ancient Turkic nomadic culture

Akaidar Kurmanbek¹Almasbek Shagyrbay²Kudaibergen Bagasharov³Maxat Mussabekov¹Bekzhan D. Kossalbayev^4*

• ¹Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ²Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religion, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• ³Suleyman Demirel University, Kaskelen, Kazakhstan
• ⁴Satbayev University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

This study explores the multifaceted integration of Sufism into ancient Turkic nomadic culture, examining how Sufi rituals, charismatic authority, and cultural capital redefined social structures and collective identity on the medieval steppe. Employing Émile Durkheim's concept of collective effervescence, the analysis shows how communal dhikr ceremonies and whirling dances generated powerful emotional unity, facilitating a seamless transition from indigenous shamanic practices to an "Islamo-Sufi" framework among Turkic tribes. Through Max Weber's theory of charismatic authority, the role of Sufi saints -whose perceived miracles and moral prestige transcended tribal loyalties -is highlighted as a key driver of peaceful Islamization and the formation of neutral pilgrimage sites (mazars). Pierre Bourdieu's notion of cultural capital illustrates how Qurʾānic literacy, mastery of Sufi poetry, and affiliation with established Sufi lineages elevated individuals and clans within a stratifying society. Comparative cases from South Asia, Anatolia, and North Africa demonstrate a broader pattern in which Sufism acts as a cultural mediator, enabling local traditions to be reframed within Islam without eroding preexisting cosmologies. Finally, the paper situates these historical processes within a modern context by contrasting Sufi ethical principles with contemporary forms of cultural deviation, such as cyberbullying, thereby underscoring Sufism's enduring relevance as a normative framework for communal cohesion and moral conduct 1.The arrival of Sufism among Turkic nomads triggered significant cultural and societal shifts