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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · Mysticism and Spirituality

Sufism

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈsuːfɪzəm/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, Sufism means: The mystical tradition of Islam, which seeks closeness to God through love, remembrance of God (dhikr), spiritual discipline and the guidance of a master.

In Turkish: tasavvuf, sufizm

How it is used

A follower is a Sufi. Sufis are organized in orders (tariqa), such as the Mevlevi, Naqshbandi and Qadiri, led by a sheikh with disciples (murid). Sufi poetry, from Rumi to Yunus Emre, is a major research field. Academic English prefers Sufism; Turkish texts usually say tasavvuf.

Example sentences

  1. Rumi's followers founded the Mevlevi order, one of the best-known Sufi orders.

  2. Sufism spread across Anatolia through lodges, poets and wandering dervishes.

Common collocations

  • Sufi order
  • Sufi poetry
  • Sufi master
  • Sufi lodge
  • Sufi tradition
  • mysticismThe pursuit of direct, personal experience of God or ultimate reality, often through prayer, contemplation and spiritual discipline, found in many religious traditions.
  • IslamA monotheistic religion that began in seventh-century Arabia with the Prophet Muhammad; Muslims regard the Qur'an as God's word and follow practices such as the Five Pillars.
  • asceticismA way of life of strict self-discipline in which a person gives up comfort, pleasure or possessions in pursuit of religious or spiritual goals.
  • meditationA practice of training attention and awareness, for example by focusing on the breath, a word or an image, used in many religions for spiritual growth.

More terms: Mysticism and Spirituality

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