Subjective Sacralising

This chapter explores the complex and often contradictory responses of two Naqshbandi Sufi shaikhs in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the growing neo-Ottoman influence in the region, offering a rare grassroots perspective on how religious authority and sacred meaning are constructed in lived Islam. Through ethnographic fieldwork, the study contrasts Shaikh Faruki’s inward, apolitical stance with Shaikh Hulusi’s outward, politically engaged approach, illustrating how subjective sacralisation allows leaders to define tradition on their own terms. Readers gain insight into the fluidity of lived Islam, the interplay between spirituality and politics, and the role of charismatic leadership in shaping religious practice. This nuanced perspective challenges essentialist views and highlights the complexity of Sufism in post-Ottoman European contexts.