Evolution of Sufism in context of contemporary religious movements
Kenshilik Tyshkhan, مهدیه رحمانیان, Nurlan Kairbekov, Balzhan Kalemshariv
Pharos Journal of Theology July 30, 2026 DOI: 10.46222/pharosjot.107.502 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed-methods study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 210 |
| Population | Believers and Muslims in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan |
| Key points | The authors report that Sufi communities in Central Asia are adapting to digital environments: 64% of the movement's representatives in Kazakhstan use digital platforms for rituals, 44.7% of Muslims in the region use virtual tools to engage with tasawwuf, and 42% use community structures to build social and business capital. In Kyrgyzstan, 45% report constant pressure and competition from fundamentalist religious groups. |
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of the transformation of the mystical tradition in Central Asia. A mixed-methods approach combining a survey of 210 respondents with textual analysis and regional monitoring reports revealed the current state of the movement. Around 32.8% of the believers surveyed in the region practice the tenets of tasawwuf. Furthermore, 52.2% of those who responded to the survey are between the ages of 18 and 35. In Kazakhstan, 64% of the representatives of the mystic movement use digital platforms to perform their rituals. Additionally, 42% of the movement’s followers use its community structures to increase their social and business related capital. In Kyrgyzstan, 45% of the respondents experience constant pressure and competition from the country’s fundamentalist religious groups. Furthermore, the analysis of the data showed that 44.7% of the Muslims in the region use virtual tools to engage with the mystical religious ideas of tasawwuf. The findings demonstrate that Sufi communities are adapting to digital environments, reflecting broader transformations of religious life in the contemporary world. The results of the study demonstrated that the spiritual institutions of the region are successfully adapting to the digital age to fulfill their essential function of mediating between the people and the state. The results of this research could be applied by the authorities of the region that are in charge of the religious affairs of the countries and their analytical.