Sufism is the inner, mystical dimension of Islam that focuses on purifying the heart and achieving unity with God. It involves practices like meditation, music, dance, and recitation of verses from the Quran to help followers overcome their lower selves and desires in order to become pious and noble. Traditional Sufism requires adhering to Islamic law, while neo-Sufism is more universal and does not necessitate following Muslim rules. A key practice in Sufism is "jihad bil-nafs," which is the struggle against one's own desires and ego through constantly suppressing inner feelings and prioritizing Islamic principles, in order to achieve inner peace. Sufism benefits societies by increasing virt

1. Topic:
Sufism is not meant only for a specific community, but for a person who is
pious and noble.
Main Contents:
Definitions:
1- Sufism and Sufi
2- The classical and traditional definitions of Sufism
Meaning of the word “Sufism”:
1- Origin and literal meanings
History:
1- Basic idea
2- Islamic and Non-Muslim Sufism
Belief:
1- What are the Beliefs of Sufis and their believers?
2- Outer and inner laws of Sufism
3- Zikr
Neo-Sufism:
1- What is Neo-Sufism?
2- Basic difference in Neo-Sufism and Traditional Sufism.
What it takes to be a Sufi?
1- Killing lower self
2- Only follow the principles of Islam
Jihad Bil-Nafs:
1- What are Nafs, Qalb and Rooh?
2- What is Jihad Bil-Nafs, exception with Jihad Bil-Maal and Jihad Bil-Saif, how Jihad Bil-Nafs is
essential for being pious and noble?
Conclusion

2. Sufism is not meant only for a specific community, but for a person who
is pious and noble.
Definitions:
“Sufism is the inner mystical state of Islam but some say that it is a perennial philosophy of existence
that pre-dated the religion and then later came into the religion Islam.” And the one who follows Sufism
is called the Sufi.
Some Muslim and Mainstream Scholars say that Sufism is simply the inner dimension of Islam that
follows the practices of Islam i.e. Islamic Laws, in this review it is obligatory for a Muslim to a Sufi, but
contrary to it, the world renowned Sufi philosopher Idries Shah who claimed that Sufi philosophy is a
natural phenomena, said that Sufism isn’t only for Muslims but its roots are penetrated in the pre-dates
of rise of Islam and Christianity.
Classical Sufi scholars have defined the Sufi as the science of turning one’s heart to Allah but the Sufi
teachers has defined it as the science of purifying one’s heart filth and decorating it with praiseworthy
traits.
Sufism can also be characterized as science of lowering self ego.
Meaning of the term “Sufism”:
The origin of the word Sufism is thought to be from many languages. The origin from Arabic word “sufu”
show the meaning of Purity, and in Arabic Language the term “suf” means Wool. Thus simply defining
the Sufi as “the one who wears wool on purity.” This refers to the simplicity of Sufis.
Others has described the word to be originated from the Arabic word “Ahl-Saff” which the group of
companions of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) who used to held gatherings.
Al-Beruni rejected all these theories and gave the term “Sufism” a broader sense. He claimed the word
to be originated from the Greek word “Sofia” which means Wisdom.
History:
Some eminent Sufis like Al-Hijveri trace the original aspect of Sufism from the “Prophet Muhammad
(S.A.W)”, through his cousin and son-in-law “Ali-ibn-Abi-Talib” later on Junaid-Al-Baghdadi regarded “Aliibn-Abi-Talib” as the “Sheikh of principles and practices of Sufism”, while the naqshbandi order with the
notable exception who trace their origin from the “first Caliph Hazrat Abu Bakar”. Orders include
Naqshbandi, Chisti, Rafi’a Sarwari and the Owaisia.

3. But some philosophers think that wisdom men in pre-dated history (before the arrival of Islam and
Christianity) should also be regarded by the title of Sufism. They nominate the Aristotle, Pluto, and
Rumi. As according to the modern definition of Sufism, a man of extraordinary wisdom who has inner
peace is a Sufi.
Typically Sufism was taught in closed cells in mosques, the extent to which Sufism was influenced by the
Buddhists, Hindus and the Christian monks, who taught selfness, purity of heart and preventing from the
sins and the divine unity.
But the Muslim Sufis think that the “Sufism” phenomenon was actually formed by early Muslims who
used to recite the verses of Holy Quran again and again for cramming. So with the advent of Islam, this
Sufism was brought to Africa, through Turkey in Central Asia by invading Muslim Commanders.
Belief:
Sufis believe that they are doing worship of Allah in same way that Gabriel told to Hazrat Muhammad
(S.A.W). The main of Sufism is to closer themselves to their divine creator Allah Almighty; the chief aim
also includes pleasing Allah by working in the ways told by Allah Almighty. They believe that they are on
the way that doesn’t defy Allah Almighty. The single motivation of Sufis is to love God and to realize self
and the Divine unity.
What he has found who has lost Allah?
What he has lost, who has found Allah?
(Sufi Bhullay Shah)
Another great aspect of Sufism is the repetition of the names of Allah which they usually do after each
prayer in the day. The repetition of the names of Allah is the source of making a way to come closer to
Him and defying the world happiness and pleasures for sake of Divine unity. This is also known as “Zikr”
originally expressing their belief in Arabic. Zikr is a multidimensional term for Sufism as it includes songs,
qwallies, instrumental music, dances, reciting of Holy Quran and repeating the divine names, meditation
and Sufi-whirling. But typical Sufis has urged on keeping the term “Zikr” limited to only reciting,
repeating names and remembrance of Allah Almighty.
The Sufis prevail a strange sense of Presence of Divine Allah Almighty upon themselves, and they feel
that God is present everywhere in this world, saying that God is present in each and every particle of
universe and they see beautiful aspects and facets of Allah Almighty in every view of earth. They hence
claim that they love each form of nature. Moreover they say that Sufism is the only to be closer to
Divine Allah Almighty. They lose themselves and claim to find the clue of Divine Unity hidden in this
universe.

4. The Sufism can be described by two basic laws, outer laws regarding our actions like marriage rules,
criminal and judicial rules, transactions rule and many others similarly the inner laws of Sufism include
preventing oneself from sin and doing more and more virtuous, pious noble and good deeds.
Sufism is even opposed by some Muslim orders like the Wahabi and the Salafist Muslims.
Neo-Sufism:
Neo-Sufism is also called the universal Sufism according to which that for being a Sufi, one don’t need to
follow the Muslim rules. Many Sufism philosophers had urged on this type of Sufism. These philosophers
include Rumi, Idries Shah and the Inayat Khan influenced by Meher Baba. Although this type of Sufism
may differ from the traditional Sufism style in many ways as they don’t need to follow “Shariah” and
“the Holy Quran”. The basic difference is the “mix gender meetings” which are strictly prohibited in the
Islamic Sufism.
What it takes to be a Sufi?
The only main art of Sufism is that they had defeated the lower self and their heart and soul are at peace
and they feel themselves in the presence of Divine unity. They suppress their inner feeling about
anything and prefer the principles of Islam and Hadis over them. They almost kill their lower self and
they only follow what Islam and Shariah asks them to do.
Jihad Bil-Nafs:
The lower self which creates greediness, lust, jealousy and need in person is called his Nafs. The spiritual
intuition in mankind is called Qalb (heart). And similarly the spirit or soul of one is called Rooh.
Hence the inner war against the lower self-Nafs, that one’s Qalb (heart) stops one’s Rooh (soul) and
oneself from sins is called Jihad Bil-Nafs.
Jihad Bil-Nafs is very necessary for being a Sufi as it is the first thing in Sufism to prefer others oneself.
And it is regarded as the Jihad-e-Akbar. The Arabic term Jihad-e-Akbar means “greatest jihad”. It is
notably different from other types of Jihads like the Jihad Bil-Saif is against non-Muslims with swords
and other weapons, Jihad Bil-Maal is by spending money, but Jihad Bil-Nafs is against the one’s own Soul
and lower self so it is very difficult for one to suppress one’s feeling and always allow the Sufism to win
over their personal desires. The other aspects of Jihad as described formerly may continue for a specific
duration of time, that could be either long or short, but Jihad Bil-Nafs is the only Jihad that continues in
person through all his life, this is also called as “Zameer” (inner self) in Islam. The one which is suffering
from the war against oneself could be a trustworthy person, as his inner self will not allow oneself to do
sins.
Hence the Jihad Bil-Nafs is very essential and necessary for being pious and noble, as the inner self does
not allow the lower self to do sins. The basic aim of inner self is to make the one noble and virtuous. As
Jihad Bil-Nafs suppress the manly desires of one and ask him to help mankind and other living organisms
as they see the reflection of God in everything.

5. Conclusion:
All the Sufis in the history were very noble and were in the pathway of virtue. Bu-Ali Sinna, Abdullah-IbnMuhammad-Ibn-Abu-Hanfiya, Jaffir-Ibn-Bakir both the Iman of Shias and the Sufi-alim of all Muslim
sects and Hazrat Ali Hijveri, Bhullay Shah, Meher Baba, Abu-Al-hakeem, Saki Sarwar Shah, Saki Shahbaz
Lal Qaladar, and many more were the most famous of all Sufis in the history. And Rumi, Al-Beruni,
Aristotle, and Pluto were non-Muslim Sufis. Hence we can say that Sufism is not meant for a specific
community but for a person who is pious and noble.
Basically we can say that Sufism is very necessary for Both Islamic and non-Islamic Societies. Sufism is
actually the living style of a person who has won the Jihad Bil-Nafs and he does not care for his own
desires and prefer others over to himself and he is honest with his work and job as his inner self always
build a wall between him and sins. Sufism is also very necessary for Islamic societies as Islam demands
to be pious, as Islam demands inner peace. The more the number of Sufis in a society, the more the
pious and noble people will be in that society. Hence Sufism is very necessary for proper working of any
community.