Hundreds of Sufis reached Tanta Thursday evening to celebrate the birthday of revered Sufi al-Sayyid Ahmad al-Badawī. They staged marches throughout the city and some distributed leaflets attacking Salafis and calling them the enemies of Islam. One of the marches started from the Sidi Ezz al-Din al-Regal Mosque, passed the headquarters of Dr. Mohamed Kamal al-Bahey, the last successor of al-Badawi, as Sufis call him, and ended in the mosque of al-Badawi where they organized zikr circles. They held colored flags and banners that read the name of their tariqah (method). Followers of al-Bakriyah method held wooden sticks wrapped with what they said was Prophet Mohamed's shirt. Dozens of Sufis distributed leaflets entitled "Who are Salafis?" that described the movement as "an Islamic hard-line group" and said there are Salafi groups that include mercenaries who are the most dangerous enemies of Islam. The two groups have had heated arguments about visiting the shrines of religious figures. Salafis believe the practice is a form of polytheism that violates Islamic law. Sufis have called for seminars to explain Sufism and familiarize people with their practices. But as other religious groups, including Salafis, increasingly engage the public and get involved in politics, Sheikh Abdel Hady al-Qasaby, chairman of the Supreme Council of Sufism, has told Sufi sheikhs to stay away from politics. He said during a conference that Sufis do not aspire to rule and that they only seek to please God. Al-Qasaby pointed out that there have been some telephone calls between Sufi and Salafi sheikhs to improve relations between them. He said that Sufi sheikhs asked the Interior Minister protect their shrines, after many were reportedly attacked by Salafis. Sheikh Tarek al-Refa'y, sheikh of the Refaeya method, said a party would be announced on Wednesday that will include Muslims and Copts and promote religious tolerance.
