Sufism on the Silver Screen: Indonesian Innovations in Islamic Televangelism

Abstract

As a carrier of Islam’s esoteric tradition, Sufism would seem to be an unlikely candidate for promoting Islamic piety in the popular mass media in Muslim majority societies of the 21st century. It is thus remarkable that several of the most sensationally popular of Indonesia’s new breed of 21st century televangelists have promoted Islam by modelling ‘Sufistik’ forms of intensified piety. This article examines the electronically-mediated mass predication programs of two of Indonesia’s best known televangelists, Abdullah Gymnastiar and M. Arifin Ilham. Both are recognised by the viewing public as ‘Sufistik’. The article identifies the elements of the Sufi tradition upon which the preachers draw. It also examines how those elements can be projected effectively on the silver screen to convey the intense spiritual intimacy with God which Muslims seek through Sufi devotions.