Dossier Thread
Sheikh Tariq is well known in his Jaffa neighborhood as the kindly, middle-aged Uncle type who runs a local Teahouse and coffee shop. Aside from delicious drinks and sweets, Tariq is where people go for traditional medicine or a Ruqiya, Islamic exorcism.
Spiritually minded people come to him for his frequent Sufi Dhikr ceremonies, which are well attended affairs. Participants come away with a calm, euphoric feeling, with spiritual and physical pains aliviated. He has a core of assistants who help lead the hours long marathons of prayer, chanting, song, dance, and poetry. Tariq has yet to become famous as a teacher outside of the region, keeping a relatively low profile, though some foreigners do get word of him and travel to meet him.
The Sheikh is a pillar of the community, keeping good relationships with community leaders, but never taking a political role himself.