What is Sufism?
The word “Sufism” is thought to come from the Arabic word suf (wool). In the centuries after Islam’s revelation, Muslims who chose to adopt the ascetic lifestyle of a sufi (one who espouses the views and practices of Sufism) often preferred rough woolen clothing in symbolic rejection of worldly matters and materials. Essentially, Sufism may be defined as an approach, within an Islamic framework, by which believers desire to achieve communion with God. Sufis are typically organized in groups or orders known as tariqahs, usually named after the historical founder. For example, the Naqshbandi order was founded by Baha ud-Din an-Naqshabandi (d. 1389 C.E.) and the Mevlevi order was founded by Jalal ud-Din Rumi (d. 1273 C.E.) Leaders of Sufi orders are usually titled Shaykh (leader or chief), and new initiates are given the title murid. The tariqahs have developed various supererogatory prayers and rituals designed to exalt God and enable individual sufis to feel subsumed into the “light” of
The word “Sufism” is thought to come from the Arabic word suf (wool). In the centuries after Islam’s revelation, Muslims who chose to adopt the ascetic lifestyle of a Sufi (one who espouses the views and practices of Sufism) often preferred rough woolen clothing in symbolic rejection of worldly matters and materials. Essentially, Sufism may be defined as an approach, within an Islamic framework, by which believers desire to achieve communion with God. Sufis are typically organized in groups or orders known as tariqas, usually named after the historical founder. For example, the Naqshbandi order was founded by Baha ud-Din an Naqshabandi (d.1389 C.E.) and the Mevlevi order was founded by Jalal ud-Din Rumi (d.1273 C.E.). Leaders of Sufi orders are usually titled Shaykh (leader or chief), and new initiates are given the title murid. The tariqahs have developed various supererogatory prayers and rituals to exalt God and enable individual Sufis to feel subsumed into the “light” of God. Ferve
Inayat Khan says: “If one asks what Sufism is, what kind of ‘religion’ it is, the answer is that Sufism is the religion of the heart, the religion in which the thing of primary importance is to seek God in the heart of humanity. There are three ways of seeking God in the human heart. The first way is to recognize the divine in everyone and to be considerate toward every person with whom we come in contact, in our thought, speech and action. Human personality is very delicate. The more living the heart, the more sensitive it is; but that which causes sensitiveness is the love element in the heart, and love is God. The person whose heart is not sensitive is without feeling. Their heart is not living; it is dead. In that case the Divine Spirit is buried in their heart. The one who takes notice of the feeling of another person with whom s/he comes in contact practices the first essential moral of Sufism. The next way of practicing this religion is to think of the feeling of someone who is
Sufism and Islam Sufism Outside of Islam Tenants of Sufism The Sufi Way Sufism in the West Sufism in your Life Sufism has come to mean a wide range of beliefs that center on the quest for personal enlightenment in the union with God. Sufis are sometimes described as the mystics of Islam, but Sufism fits awkwardly in the categories of religions. Technically Sufism is a denomination of Islam, however there are many Sufis that are not Muslims and there are many Muslims that are reluctant to consider Sufism part of Islam. One of the few concepts that Sufis seem to agree on is that all religions offer a path to salvation or enlightenment and that true God realization, no matter how it is achieved, transcends the limitations and classification of any religion. Basically, a saint in any religion is equal to a saint in any other religion because they are inspired by the same Divine source. Initially the term Sufi referred only to those who had achieved God realization, but it has since come to
Sufism is a path followed by Sufis (adherents of Islamic mysticism) to reach the Truth—God. While the term Sufism usually expresses the theoretical or philosophical aspect of this search, its practical aspect is usually referred to as “being a dervish.” Sufism has been defined in many ways. Some see it as God’s annihilating the individual’s ego, will, and self-centeredness, and then reviving him spiritually with the lights of His Essence so that he may live according to His will. Others view it as a continuous striving to cleanse one’s self of that which is bad or evil in order to acquire virtue. There are some who describe Sufism as seeing behind the outer or surface appearance of things and events and interpreting whatever happens in the world in relation to God. This means that a person regards every act of God as a window through which to “see” Him, that they live their life as a continuous effort to view or see Him with a profound, spiritual “seeing” indescribable in physical term
