tasawwuf

Tasawwuf, often translated as Sufism, is the inner, mystical dimension of Islam focused on purifying the heart and seeking closeness to God. It is not a separate sect but a spiritual current that arose within Islamic civilization between the 8th and 12th centuries and spread across the Muslim world. The term is linked to early ascetic practice, with etymologies varying among scholars.

Practices center on dhikr (remembrance of God), muhasaba (self-scrutiny), muraqabah (meditation), and moral discipline. Sufis often join a tariqa, or order, led by a sheikh, and may gather for communal worship, poetry, or music (sama) in pursuit of spiritual realization.

Historically, tasawwuf drew on Qur'anic reflection and prophetic wisdom, with early figures such as Hasan al-Basri and Rabia al-Adawiyya shaping its ethical tone. It flourished in urban centers like Baghdad and later produced mystics such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Arabi, and al-Hallaj. Major orders—Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiyya, Shadhiliyya—formed networks that spread to Persia, the Ottoman world, South Asia, and Africa.

Scholars disagree about tasawwuf within Islam. Many Muslims regard it as an accepted spiritual dimension compatible with Sunni and Shia Islam, while others criticize certain practices or doctrines as excessive or unorthodox. Debates have concerned music, ecstatic experience, and the balance between inward purification and external law, though Sufi authorities have often urged adherence to sharia alongside inner work.

Today, Sufi orders remain active in many regions, contributing to spiritual life, social welfare, and intercultural exchange. Sufi literature and practice continue to influence poetry, music, and contemporary discussions of Islam's mystical dimensions.