What is Sufism?

Introduction

According to Egger (2003), Sufism developed in the regions of Kufa and Basra in the late seventh and early eighth centuries. It is a form of Islamic piety in which believers abandon all forms of worldly pleasures in an attempt to be nearer to God. The word “Sufism” derives from “Suf”, or wool. Wool had been the garment of choice for ascetics and thus the sect got its name based on appearance. Asceticism, mystical worship and purely ethical ideals are the foundations of the sect. Sufis are set apart from early Hadith collectors because of their varying degrees of ...