Sufism

Paper Summary:

This paper describes and compares Islam and Sufism. It begins by discussing the history and development of Sufism. It then describes the relationship between Islam and Sufism and compares how they are similar and how they differ. The paper also looks at the disagreements that arise among scholars, the faithful followers and others in their opinion of this relationship.

From the Paper:

"It is however understandable that Western influences may be the reason for the extreme and negative feelings of the orthodoxy against Sufism. Indeed, these influences detract from the original Islam to a point where Sufism becomes unrecognizable as originating from Islam. One can therefore understand that the orthodoxy would wish to preserve the purity of Islam by separating themselves completely from this form of Sufism."
"However, as Keller also points out, this tends towards a very narrow viewpoint, in which the orthodoxy does not allow for Sufism in any form. Keller affirms that such critics should instead adhere to what is good about Sufism, rather than discarding both the good and the bad by rejecting the direction of worship altogether."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carlson, Royce. Sufism: Mystical Islam. Feb 6, 2000. http://www.zenzibar.com/articles/ed-2-6.htm
• Keller, Nuh Ha Mim. Sufism is not Bid'a. 1995 http://sunnah.org/tasawwuf/sufisnk.htm
• Murad, Abdal-Hakim. Islamic Spirituality: the forgotten revolution. 2007 http://web.archive.org/web/20021020001038/http://66.34.131.5/ISLAM/ahm/fgtnrevo.htm
• Tabari, A.A. The Other Side of Sufism. 2007 http://www.qss.org/articles/sufism/toc.html

More papers on Sufism:

• Essay # 137764 : "Debated Origins - Sufism & the Prophet Muhammad."
• Analytical Essay # 136225 : "Divine Unity" in Sufism"
• Essay # 71547 : "Sufism"

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