Sufi orders have chapters all over Egypt, which organise festivals on saints days, hold chanting events, and engage in community work. Several chapters offer free-of-charge funerary service and some organise accommodation for visitors. Sufi sheikhs, or grand masters, have a reputation for austerity and wisdom and areheld in great veneration by their murids, or disciples. The murids come from a crosssection of society, and many hold high-status posts as academics, officers, doctors,and journalists. Sheikh Alaa Abu Al-Azayem, the grand master of the Al-Azimiya order, says thatmany Sufi orders were formed by immigrants who had arrived in Egypt from otherparts of the Islamic world centuries ago, which explains the different in approach andstyle from one order to another. Abu Al-Azayem adds that the Egyptian Sufism is known for its moderation andeasygoing manners. Researcher Abul Fadl Al-Isnawi says that the most important of Egyptian Sufi ordersis the Al-Rifa'iya, founded by Ahmad Al-Rifa'i Ibn Saleh Ibn Abbas (b. 512 hegira),who refused to accept any disciples who have no known profession, as he didn't wanthis order to be filled with people who have no desire to work and be part of society. Another major order is the Al-Badawiya, founded in Tanta by Al-Sayyed Ahmad al-Badawi in Tanta, who taught his disciples to be at peace with themselves and theworld. Sheikh Abdel Rahim Al-Qenawi, who founded the Al-Qenawiya order in Qena, alsoordered his disciples to remain fully involved in daily life while seeking spiritualevolvement. Sheikh Abul Hasan al-Shazli Al-Hoseini ibn Abdallah, founder of Al-Shazliya order,emphasised seclusion and self-control as a path for salvation. Al-Shazliya has servedas a role model for several other orders in the country. In every geographical area, some orders have gained more popularity than others.For example, the Al-Borhamiya and Al-Saadiya are widespread in Cairo; while the Al-Naqshabandiya, Al-Khodariya, Al-Hashemiya, Al-Sharnubia Al-Burhamiya arepredominant in Alexandria. In Al-Gharbiya, the leading orders are the Al-Qasabiya Al-Khelwatiya, Al-Shennawiya Al-Ahmadiya, and Al-Marwaniya. In Al-Menoufiya, the most popular orders are the Al-Zahidiya. Al-Ahmadiya and Al-Mosaylihiya Al-Khelwatiya. In all, the members of Sufi orders outnumber the members of Egyptian politicalparties. Some researchers estimate membership of Sufi orders at 10 million in bothrural and urban areas. Over time, every order developed its own paraphernalia, including flags, insignia,music, and ritualised celebrations. Despite their rivalry, in the sense of seeking to recruit more followers, Sufi orders areremarkably cooperative and hospitable to one another. In various festivals, Sufi ordersinvite each other and help organise accommodation for visitors, which adds to theirvisibility and boosts their collective popularity. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/55160.aspx
