Building Sufi Authority

This chapter examines the pilgrimage to the tomb of Sheh Ali Çoban in Çaja as a site for constructing religious authority. Drawing on Weber’s concept of charisma, it explores how Sheh Rustemi and his son Zaimir, as descendants of Ali Çoban, employ discursive and ritual strategies to legitimise their roles as Sufi leaders. Their authority emerges through entangled interactions with Albania’s post-socialist religious field, shaped by nationalist narratives, socialist legacies, and religious individualisation. These dynamics define a competitive Sufi arena in which Rustemi and Zaimir strategically carve out a space for spiritual leadership and recognition.