Abstract

The threat of transnational terrorism has created a climate of fear and a sense of helplessness around the world. Unequivocally traumatic in its impact, this crime eludes a simple analysis. The complexity of means adopted by terror groups have exposed the inadequacies of security forces, moral philosophers, psychologists and theologians alike. In the past decade, especially since 9/11, there has been a renewed interest in Sufism/mysticism and its ability to dim the fury of radical Islam around the world. This paper attempts to trace the historical importance of Sufism and the liberal tradition of open mindedness and peaceful coexistence propounded by them. Ideologically inclined to appreciate the spiritual values of life,these mystics made a tremendous contribution in evolving a synthesis of ideas against the arbitrary formalism of religion down the ages. In a more contemporary scenario, where religion is often used as a fuel for the engines of war, an attempt has also been made to assess whether the powerful Sufi resurgence, in a direct response to literalism and spiritual bankruptcy of fundamentalist Islam, has a role to play in the complex geopolitical games of our times.