The short answer
Sufism, tasawwuf in Arabic, is the tradition within Islam concerned with the inner life: sincerity, purification of the heart, love of God, and constant remembrance of Him, dhikr. Sufis typically learn under a teacher within an order, tariqah, and practise additional devotions alongside the ordinary obligations of prayer and fasting.
A little more context
Sufism is not a separate sect; most Sufis are Sunni or Shia Muslims who hold ordinary beliefs. It has produced much of Islam’s greatest poetry, including Rumi and Hafez, and was central to the spread of Islam in Africa and Asia. Some Muslims criticise particular Sufi practices, such as veneration at saints’ tombs; others regard Sufism as the heart of the faith.
Sources & further reading
- Qur’an 13:28 Hearts find rest in the remembrance of God.
- Qur’an 33:41 Remember God with much remembrance.
- Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi, 2 Ihsan: to worship God as though you see Him.
Original introductory summary, not a direct scripture translation. Prepared 21 October 2026. Qualified human religious review is pending. About our editorial approach.