Definition

1. Noun:

   • A Muslim who represents the mystical dimension of Islam: A Sufi is an adherent of Sufism, the esoteric, mystical tradition within Islam focused on the inward search for God and shunning materialism.
   • A Muslim who seeks direct experience of Allah: A Sufi emphasizes personal spiritual practices, such as meditation and chanting, aiming for a direct, intimate union with the divine.

2. Adjective:

   • Of or relating to the Sufis or to Sufism: This describes anything pertaining to the beliefs, practices, or culture associated with Sufism.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The Sufi spent hours in meditation, seeking a closer connection to God.
  • Rumi, the famous 13th-century poet, was a Sufi.

• Adjective:

  • She was deeply moved by the Sufi poetry she read.
  • The ceremony featured beautiful Sufi music and whirling dancers.

Advanced Usage

• "Sufi order" (Tariqa): A school or lineage within Sufism, led by a spiritual master (sheikh).

  • He was initiated into the Naqshbandi Sufi order.

• "Sufi mystic": Emphasizes the practitioner's pursuit of mystical knowledge and experience.

  • The Sufi mystic spoke of divine love as the ultimate reality.

Variants and Related Words

• Sufism (n): The Islamic mystical tradition; the path followed by Sufis.

  • Sufism teaches that love is a projection of the essence of God to the universe.

• Sufistic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of Sufis or Sufism (less common).

  • The text contained Sufistic interpretations of the Quran.

Synonyms

• Mystic: A person who seeks by contemplation and self-surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity.
• Dervish: Often used synonymously, though technically a dervish is a member of a Sufi ascetic order, known for specific practices like whirling.

Related Phrases

• Sufi whirling: A physically active meditation practice associated with some Sufi orders, notably the Mevlevi.

  • The ritual of Sufi whirling is intended to be a form of remembrance of God.

• Sufi path (Tariqah): The spiritual journey and methodology followed by a Sufi.

  • He dedicated his life to walking the Sufi path under the guidance of his teacher.

Adjective

1. of or relating to the Sufis or to Sufism

Noun

1. a Muslim who represents the mystical dimension of Islam; a Muslim who seeks direct experience of Allah; mainly in Iran