Independent writer & journalist. Assistant professor of political science. Wrote extensively on the comparative politics of the Middle East. Areas of interest include political Islam, Sufism, comparative religions, gender writing & photography.
I’m from the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi order in the United States. I was wondering how to find the Sufi orders of Cairo, any advice on if there is Dikhr or services happening or how to locate the orders in Cairo would be fantastic.
Salaam dear Flamur,
I am very sorry for the late reply. There is a Mevlevi tekke in Cairo not very far from Ibn Tulun, Sultan Hassan and Rifa’i mosques. https://egymonuments.gov.eg/ar/monuments/the-takeyya-mawlawiyya
Check it out in the ink above. I am not sure where do the Qadiris hold their Zikr, but you may want to attend the Zikr after Friday prayers in the Rifa’i Mosque and over there you can get more information.
All the best!
Omneya
Hello – if you could please send me details about your mailing list, I would appreciate it. I’ve read a number of your articles (also on BBC Monitoring) and found them to be most interesting. Thank you very much. With kind regards
I read you article on Egyptian Streets and thought I might reach out directly! I am currently staying living the Sinai region and will
be receiving a sufi friend from the US here in October. She is keen to attend some Sufi gatherings that especially incorporate the body and movement. Would you be able to recommend some groups or locations that where these sorts of ceremonies take place? I see the recommendations provided above and have made note of those, but also wanted to inquire more specifically about events that fit the sort of style my friend is looking for. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
I would recommend that your friend attend the hadra or dhikr right after the Friday prayers in al-Rifa’i Mosque near the citadel.
If your friend is into inshad, the troupe al-Hadra is one of the best and they chant beautiful poetry by Sufi masters as well as songs from the Egyptian folklore that celebrate Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his descendants – some of whom lived and were buried in Egypt.
Omneya El Naggar 
Salaam,
I’m from the Nur Ashki Jerrahi Sufi order in the United States. I was wondering how to find the Sufi orders of Cairo, any advice on if there is Dikhr or services happening or how to locate the orders in Cairo would be fantastic.
Thank you so much
Sarah
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Salaam dear Sarah,
Ramadan Kareem! there are so many Sufi orders in Egypt. There are Dhikrs in Al-Rifa’i Mosque (Al-Rifa’iyyah), in Al-Hussayn Mosque (Al-Shadhiliyya order) usually after Friday prayers. These are two of the largest orders in Egypt.
I think the article attached can give you an overview (http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/32/99/53675/Folk/Special-Files/Sufi-orders-and-their-origins.aspx)
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Salaam, do you have any info on the Mevlevi, Naqshbandi and Qadiri tariqas in cairo ?
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Salaam dear Flamur,
I am very sorry for the late reply. There is a Mevlevi tekke in Cairo not very far from Ibn Tulun, Sultan Hassan and Rifa’i mosques.
https://egymonuments.gov.eg/ar/monuments/the-takeyya-mawlawiyya
Check it out in the ink above. I am not sure where do the Qadiris hold their Zikr, but you may want to attend the Zikr after Friday prayers in the Rifa’i Mosque and over there you can get more information.
All the best!
Omneya
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Hello – if you could please send me details about your mailing list, I would appreciate it. I’ve read a number of your articles (also on BBC Monitoring) and found them to be most interesting. Thank you very much. With kind regards
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Thank you so much Dr. Hellyer! I replied to your email attached here.
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السلام عليكم ،
I read you article on Egyptian Streets and thought I might reach out directly! I am currently staying living the Sinai region and will
be receiving a sufi friend from the US here in October. She is keen to attend some Sufi gatherings that especially incorporate the body and movement. Would you be able to recommend some groups or locations that where these sorts of ceremonies take place? I see the recommendations provided above and have made note of those, but also wanted to inquire more specifically about events that fit the sort of style my friend is looking for. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Best,
Isa
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وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
I would recommend that your friend attend the hadra or dhikr right after the Friday prayers in al-Rifa’i Mosque near the citadel.
If your friend is into inshad, the troupe al-Hadra is one of the best and they chant beautiful poetry by Sufi masters as well as songs from the Egyptian folklore that celebrate Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his descendants – some of whom lived and were buried in Egypt.
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