Her dissertation project, “Journeys to Traditional Sufi Islam in America: Self-transcendence, Tradition, and Social Change in the Contemporary Modern World,” has been supported by the Center for the Study of Religion and Society and Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts at the University of Notre Dame.

Summary of Research:

Journeys to Traditional Sufi Islam in America: Self-transcendence, Tradition, and Social Change in the Contemporary Modern World Feyza Akova’s dissertation focuses on modern Americans’ attraction to traditional Sufism and explores what traditional Sufism offers at the individual, local, and societal levels. More specifically, her dissertation examines the process of self-transcendence rooted in the Sufi philosophy of transcending the nafs (i.e., the lower self or ego) and describes its connection with spiritual transformation, local community services and giving, and broader systemic change. Using in-depth interviews with converts to Sufi Islam and participant observation activities, Feyza’s dissertation reveals the impact of the Sufi idea that meaningful change can come from processes of self-transcendence. In particular, Feyza’s project explores how the concept of transcending the nafs encourages service, generosity, and love and promotes meaningful social change.