The meaning of the term Sufi
Sufism
(tasawwuf)
is the name given to mysticism in Islam.The term Sufism
embraces the philosophy and practices which aim at direct communion
between God and man, and those who practice Sufism are called Sufis.
Scholars differ as to the derivation of the term Sufi, for it is not mentioned
in the Qur’an or the books of
hadith
, nor does it figure in the standard Arab
dictionaries that were compiled as late as the 8
th
century A.D. According to
Qushayri (d. 465/1074), author of
al Risala
, the word Sufi was used as a
generic term to describe individuals adopting a particular religious attitude
based on austerity and spirituality, and came into usage only at the beginning
of the 9
th
century. This he explains simply: ‘After the Prophet Muhammad,
sahabi
(companion) was the only title given to the Muslims of that period.
This was the highest title for them, and they therefore required no other title
for their piety and religiosity. The next generation that received religious
education directly from the
sahaba
was called
tabiin
(followers of the
companions), while the title
taba tabiin
(followers of the followers of the
companions) was the title given to those who had received religious training
from the
tabiin
.’ According to Khaliq Ahmad Nizami
1
, those who devoted
their lives to religious studies and religious devotion after the times of the
tabii
were called
zahid
– ‘the pious’ - and
abid
– ‘the servant (of Allah)’. It is
1
See Nizami, A.K.
1
The Origin and Evolution of Sufism
