The Vision of Spiritual Perfection in Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri and Post-Tariqa Sufism in Western Europe

Abstract This article explores the vision of human perfection and spiritual individualism in Western Sufism, focusing on Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri’s literary works and teachings. It argues that, despite some similarities with New Age concepts that imply minimal transcendence, Shaykh Fadhlalla’s teachings are deeply rooted in the classical Sufi tradition and based on otherworldly transcendence, but articulated through the lens of reflexive spirituality. While contemporary Sufi communities in Western Europe navigate the opposing trends of “re-Islamisation” and the development of “post- tariqa ” Sufism, this article posits that Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri’s vision of post- tariqa Sufism is shaped by his ideas on human perfection and the ways to attain it.