Sufism
Definition
Sufism is a mystical Islamic belief system in which followers seek to find the truth of divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience with God.
Analogy
Think of Sufism like an intense, immersive movie experience. Just as you might put on 3D glasses to fully immerse yourself in a film, Sufis aim for a deep, personal connection with God that goes beyond traditional religious practices.
Related terms
Mysticism: This refers to the pursuit of communion with or conscious awareness of ultimate reality, the divine, spiritual truth, or God through direct experience or insight.
Dervish: A member of a Muslim (specifically Sufi) religious order who has taken vows of poverty and austerity. Dervishes first appeared in the 12th century; they were noted for their wild or ecstatic rituals and were known as dancing, whirling, or howling dervishes according to the practice of their order.
Tariqa: In Sufism this is the term used for a school or order of spirituality. It's like choosing a specific path on your hike towards reaching the peak - that peak being divine love and knowledge.
"Sufism" appears in:
Practice Questions (2)
- Which empire is known for its deeper connection between Islam and Hinduism leading to popular religious movements such as Sufism and the Bhakti Movement?
- What characteristic did Sufism introduce to Islam during its emergence?
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