A Call to Organize the Sufis from Alia

1 April 2025

Dear friends—

Twenty-five years ago, there was a calling. My own, personal keynote revealed itself—I was meant to “organize the Sufis.” The guidance was clear and undeniable—I was in my twenties and could fix everything.

My guide encouraged me toward leadership. At the time I ran nonprofits in Baltimore. Relatedly, I had some relevant skills and offered them at summer camps, weekend retreats, and eventually as a member of the board. 

At one meeting, the board chair looked over to me and suggested that I help with the publishing effort, at the time called Omega Publications, now Suluk Press. I drove to the Abode and stayed there for 15 years. 

During this time, I ran the bookstore, then Seven Pillars House of Wisdom, and then became executive director of the Sufis themselves. It happened! My keynote realized itself! 

Gradually I learned that organizational work is a very specific spiritual path. That it is as important as inner practice and possibly a quicker path to fana—ego annihilation. It became clear that organizational work is inner work. It can be demanding and most humbling. Also, it is one of the greatest joys to live, work, and grow each day with spiritual friends together, aiming toward a shared purpose. 

Over the last year my keynote has been shifting. I’m in my fifties and no longer need to organize anything. It is time to take a break, reflect, and integrate. It is time to read, write, and go to the pool. It is time to pass the sacred task of executive directing on to the next person who feels deeply called to serve. We hope that this person is one of you. 

Later this week, Nazish Riaz, our wonderful new board chair, will invite us to crowdsource the next executive director of the Inayatiyya for North America & Oceania. Please help us evoke organizationally-oriented candidates from within the Inayatiyya community. Who among us should know about this very cool and unusual opportunity? Our intention is to have someone newly in the position by this summer.

My greatest gratitude to our silsila, to our teachers and guides, to the organizational workers, to friends near and far, and to all of us devoted to what we call the Message. It is a high honor to be part of our mystical, magical ecosystem. 

With love always,
Jennifer Alia Wittman
Executive Director