What Is Sufism?

by Shaykh Ibrahim Spiegel

As the Koran was being transmitted to Mohammed, Mohammed was teaching the inner essence of Islam to his companions. These oral instructions were passed on, generation by generation thru diverse cultures, places, societies, empires, kingdoms. The vehicles of transmission were the Sufis, using stories, music, books, discussions, humor, and many other forms. What did they teach? What is Sufism? What is a Sufi? In this brief introduction to Sufism, we will attempt to answer these questions.

Sufism, as a path to Allah, exists today in America in a number of different Tariqats - or schools. Some are the Naqshbandi, Qadari-Rifai, Chishti, Mevlevi, and Jerahi. Each of these orders has a Shaykh who traces his or her teaching lineage back to Mohammed.

To be a Sufi, one's priority shifts from concern about one's self to one's relationship with the essence of Allah. Allah is neither male or female. It is that which is, which was, and which will be. It exists in all worlds, all things, all beings. Allah's manifestations are everything you see, hear, taste, feel, touch. Allah's essence is that which is behind the manifestions. All the manifestations are a reflection of the essence of Allah. How to get to that essence of Allah is the goal of the Sufi.

A Sufi must first be admitted to one of the Tariqats to be able to receive instruction from a Shaykh. Part of this instruction concerns learning about Adab (proper behavior) rabita (connection with one's Shaykh), and how to fight against one's nafs - the ego matrix which interferes with knowing Allah's essence. Thru Zikr ( ceremony of remembrance), Sohbet (spiritual discussion), experiences in life, reading and studying the Koran and Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Mohammed), Sufi poets like Yunus Emre, Rumi, and the writings of other Shaykhs, the Sufi moves along a well-defined path that is, at the same time, tailor made for that individual. The path leads toward ever closer union with Allah.