Sufi Council
Sufi Council
The Sufi Council is an international organization of Sufi Muslim spiritual leaders. It was co-founded by Peer Syed Mudassir Nazar Shah and Dutch economist Johan Witteveen to promote global unity, peace, and the universal message of Sufism[1]. According to its mission statement, the Council “promotes the universal message of Sufism, emphasizing love, tolerance, and brotherhood,” seeking to bridge spiritual traditions and foster peaceful coexistence across communities[2]. Peer Syed Mudassir Nazar Shah serves as chairman and leads “the largest global network of Sufi leaders,” addressing issues like extremism and harmony[3].
History
The Sufi Council was established by Peer Syed Mudassir Shah together with Dr. H. J. Witteveen[4]. Witteveen (1921–2019), a former Managing Director of the IMF and longtime Sufi scholar, helped found the Council to apply Sufi wisdom to modern challenges[5]. Under their leadership, the Council grew from a small initiative into a global network of spiritual guides. Its members now span multiple continents, with affiliated Sufi Pirs and Imams in countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas. It organizes its leadership regionally – for example, appointing coordinators in Japan, East Africa, the United States, and parts of India – reflecting its international presence. (The title Pir denotes a Sufi spiritual guide, while Imam is an Islamic community prayer leader. The Council also includes female Sufi scholars known as Shaykhas.)
Mission and Objectives
The Council’s stated objectives center on reviving and applying Sufi values in the modern world. Its official mission is to “transcend boundaries” by promoting mutual respect, moral values, and a positive understanding of Islam through Sufism. The organization emphasizes the Sufi principles of love, mercy and universal brotherhood, and explicitly seeks to counteract extremism and injustice. It aims to build “centers of excellence” for studying Sufi thought and to champion causes such as peacebuilding, interfaith harmony, cultural heritage, and even climate justice (it cites “addressing issues like climate change” in its outreach). By uniting diverse voices around Sufi teachings, the Council works toward global cooperation and social justice in line with its spiritual ethos.
Organizational Structure
The Sufi Council is organized as a loose network rather than a formal hierarchy. Its membership includes spiritual leaders (Pirs), mosque Imams, and other Sufi figures. According to its leadership, it is the largest such network of Sufi leaders worldwide. In practice, the Council designates regional coordinators to support its activities in different areas; for example, the official website lists coordinators for Japan, East Africa, the USA, and various Indian provinces. The Council’s website and statements indicate an inclusive membership: for instance, it defines “Shaykha” as a female Sufi scholar and “Imam” as a mosque leader, reflecting its aim to involve both male and female spiritual authorities in promoting its mission.
Leadership
Peer Syed Mudassir Nazar Shah, the Sufi Council’s founder and Chairman , is a prominent Sufi scholar and author. Peer Syed Mudassir Nazar Shah (also styled Peer Mudassir Shah) is the Council’s chairman and driving force. He is a Sajjada nashin (hereditary custodian) of the Saroba Sharif shrine in Pakistan and holds an advanced degree in political science. Under his leadership, the Council addresses issues of peace and extremism worldwide. In profiles by third parties he is described as a “prominent spiritual leader” who “heads a community of 300,000 followers” and as someone whose work “transcends borders.” He has founded related initiatives (such as the SACH Institute for Sufism and Culture) and has engaged in faith-based diplomacy in many countries – in the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, Gulf states and beyond. In all his activities, Peer Mudassir Shah emphasizes traditional Sufi values of tolerance and dialogue.
Activities
The Sufi Council undertakes interfaith and peace-building activities. One high-profile example was in January 2025, when Chairman Peer Mudassir Shah visited Israel. This marked the first known visit by a senior Pakistani Sufi leader to Israel. There he joined Jewish and Muslim leaders in roundtable discussions on countering extremism, and advocated Jewish-Muslim solidarity. Participants reported that the talks focused on “countering radicalism, strengthening academic and cultural ties, and promoting interfaith collaboration.” Peer Mudassir Shah notably declared that “Pakistan and Israel are on the same side in the fight against extremism”. Organizers from the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and the Ohr Torah Stone interfaith center announced plans to formalize cooperation with the Sufi Council (envisioning a memorandum of understanding).
The Council also issues public statements on current events. For example, in February 2025 it released a fatwa (Islamic legal opinion) condemning Hamas’s retention of the body of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin. The fatwa declared the act “unequivocally un-Islamic” and a violation of human dignity under Islamic law. Similarly, the Chairman has publicly condemned terrorist attacks against civilians. The Council’s website lists denunciations of incidents such as the Jaffar Express train massacre and other violence in Pakistan. Through such declarations, the Council consistently reaffirms its commitment to peace and to the Sufi ideal that “violence in the name of religion is a betrayal of faith”.
The Council also organizes conferences and cultural events to promote its goals. For example, it has held thematic seminars on Sufism’s role in modern issues (such as a “Sufi Conference on Climate Change” in 2023). Peer Mudassir Shah has written on Sufi heritage – including authoring Whispers in the Stones: A Sufi’s Quest Through Time, launched in Islamabad and Jerusalem, and often appears in media interviews advocating moderation and interfaith dialogue.
Partnerships and Recognition
Although relatively young, the Sufi Council has engaged with international partners in its work. Its collaborations in Israel (with the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and Ohr Torah Stone) are examples of its outreach beyond Pakistan. The Council’s efforts have been noted in regional media and interfaith forums. (During the 2025 Israel visit, Israeli officials publicly acknowledged Peer Mudassir Shah’s visit and expressed intent to deepen ties with Pakistani Sufi leaders.) In Pakistan, the Council aspires to rebrand the country as a center of Sufi peace, a theme also echoed in Pakistani academic and media initiatives on Sufism. Overall, while the Sufi Council operates on the margins of formal politics, it has gained attention as a voice for pluralism in South Asia and has been commended by interlocutors for fostering dialogue across religious divides.
References
- ↑ "Endeavors - Peer Mudassir". 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ↑ "About - Sufi Council". Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ↑ "Peer Mudassir - Founder, Community and Interfaith Leader - Chairman, Sufi Council | Founder & President, SACH Institute". www.prohumanfoundation.org. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ↑ "Endeavors - Peer Mudassir". 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ↑ "Endeavors - Peer Mudassir". 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
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