Spiritual and Professional Motivation of Indonesian Academics Entering the Shaṭṭāriyah Sufi Order

Shaṭṭāriyah is one of the 46 ṭarīqa (Sufi order) in Indonesia that are mu'tabarah (Ṣahīh, straight, valid), which attracts academics from major cities, including Bandung. Questions such as (1) Why interested joining this Sufism? (2) Are they only motivated spiritually? and (3) Does professional development conflict with concept zuhud uzlah? have remained unanswered. Therefore, study aims to explore spiritual motivations Indonesian entering Shaṭṭāriyah. This qualitative research data collected five lecturers Bandung through observation in-depth interviews May 2021 April 2022. The results showed respondents interpreted religion being submissive Wasiṭah, a Shaykh who successor Prophet Muhammad PBUH is. Spirituality mujāhadah under guidance Wasiṭah by combining goodness shari'a haqīqa. All had reached mutawasiṭ (intermediate) spirituality level, muṭmainnah, radhiyah stages, levels far above most citizens. Furthermore, terms motivation, possessed uzlah, high professionalism.
 
 Received: 10 July 2022 / Accepted: 26 August Published: 2 September