This book investigates the enduring presence and social function of Sufi shrines in South Asia to challenge the narrative that Sufism is a declining religious tradition. Authors Helene Basu and Pnina Werbner, both established scholars in anthropology and sociology, utilize extensive ethnographic fieldwork from India and Bangladesh to argue that Sufi practices remain a dynamic, embodied reality. By examining how these cults navigate modern economic and political shifts, the authors provide a framework for understanding the intersection of traditional religious movements and contemporary urban life.

Scholars in the field of religious studies identify this work as a significant contribution to the understanding of modern Islamic practice in South Asia. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and researchers of anthropology and sociology.