In the quest for bāṭinī peace: Forms of everyday piety in a khanqāh in Kashmir

This paper explores how Sufi shrines in Kashmir act as sanctuaries of solace and spaces for ethical transformation, particularly for women navigating political turmoil. Focusing on the khanqāh of Shaykh Ḥamzah Makhdūm (1494–1576), a pivotal figure in the Suhrawardīyya tradition, it examines how embodied rituals—such as dhikr (remembrance), supplications, and votive offerings—serve as spiritual refuge and foster an inner (bāṭinī) sense of justice where outer (ẓāhirī) justice remains inaccessible. Drawing on Talal Asad’s (1986) concept of “discursive tradition” and Saba Mahmood’s (2004) insights into embodied piety, the paper argues that embodied devotion is not just ritual: it actively shapes women’s moral agency, fosters communal solidarity, and redefines justice. By focusing on women’s experiences, this study underscores how shrines provide spaces of spiritual autonomy, belonging, and resilience, where care, dignity, and resistance are central to ethical self-making.