Sufism is one of the most essential yet misunderstood aspects of Islam. Before I took a class with Sheikh Habib Ali Al-Jifri and Sheikh Abdul-Kareem Yahya, I did not view Sufism as a legitimate aspect of Islam for Sufism is often portrayed as simply the way of the mystics. Nonetheless, Sufism has its roots in the tradition of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Sufism is to penetrate towards the inside, to understand Allah, ourselves, and the purpose of our existence. According to Muslim philosophers, the Sharia helps us to navigate towards the Truth (Haqeeqah) while Sufism is the road to the Truth or the Center of Light, Allah. Hence, understanding Sufism helps us realize how to increase our nearness to Allah.

SunniPath offers many courses related to Sufism and Tasawwuf including “Introduction to Spirituality” and “The Journey to Allah,” which will be offered in the Fall 2007 semester. Furthermore, Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller’s article “The Place of Tasawwuf in Islam” offers a good discussion of Sufism. Here’s the link: http://www.sunnipath.com/library/Articles/AR00000144.aspx