sufis

Sufis are practitioners of Sufism, a mystical dimension of Islam that seeks direct experience of the divine through the purification of the heart and love for God. Sufism emphasizes inner knowledge (ma'rifa) over outward ritual, though practice varies by order.

Origins are debated, with elements appearing in early Islam among ascetic currents in Basra and Khorasan. Sufism later developed into organized streams called tariqas, each centered on a spiritual guide and a lineage of teachers.

Core concepts include dhikr (remembrance of God), muraqabah (meditation), and the spiritual journey from purification (tazkiyah) to fana (annihilation of the self) and baqa (subsistence in God). The goal is near-ness to God and a transformed heart, rather than public displays alone.

Most Sufis join a tariqa, led by a sheikh, with initiates (murids) progressing through spiritual stations. Well-known orders include the Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiyya, Mevlevi (Whirling Dervishes), Shadhili, and Rifai, among others. These orders have diverse practices, such as devotional chanting, music, and ritual dancing in some contexts.

Sufi influence on culture is substantial: celebrated poetry and prose by Rumi, Hafiz, Attar, and Ibn Arabi; music, ritual dance, and architecture across the Muslim world. Sufi conceptions of divine love and the hierarchy of spiritual states have shaped liturgy, education, and popular devotion.

Scholarly and political reception has varied. Some rulers and theologians embraced Sufism for its emphasis on inner devotion, while others opposed it as heterodox. In modern times, Sufism faces critique from certain reform movements, but maintains a large following in many regions, including the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Africa.

Note: Sufism is not a separate sect but a broad mystical tradition within Islam, shared by Muslims of diverse denominations.