How is Sufism related to Islam?

Summary

This video explores the complex relationship between Sufism and Islam. Historically, Sufism, often referred to as Islamic mysticism, has been a central part of Islamic practice. However, it has also been portrayed as separate from Islam, influenced by various external factors. The video discusses the evolution of Sufism, its practices, and the diverse ways it is perceived today, including its adaptation in the West and its incorporation into new religious movements.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Sufism is often perceived differently by various individuals, making it challenging to define precisely.
• 📚 The portrayal of Sufism frequently emphasizes its metaphysical and philosophical aspects, sometimes neglecting its practical and lived experiences.
• 🔄 Sufism's relationship with Islam is complex; it's considered Islamic mysticism but is sometimes viewed as separate or distinct from mainstream Islam.
• 🕋 Historically, Sufism has been a central part of Islamic practice, but there are contemporary arguments that attempt to separate it from Islam.
• 👤 Sufism is seen by some as predating Islam, being an ancient spiritual wisdom incorporated into the Islamic tradition.
• 🧙‍♂️ Early Sufis considered themselves Muslims and developed practices to deepen their relationship with God, such as Dhikr and Sama.
• 🌟 Sufism's origins are believed by some to go back to the Prophet Muhammad or even Adam, with connections to the Ahl al-Suffa.
• 🌏 Influences from outside Islam, such as Christian monasticism, have shaped the development of Sufism.
• 📉 The role of Sufism within Islam has diminished due to modernist reforms and fundamentalist opposition within the Islamic world.
• 🌉 In the West, Sufism has been incorporated into various esoteric and new religious movements, sometimes presenting it as a universal spirituality.

Q & A

What is Sufism and why is it difficult to define?

Sufism is often referred to as Islamic mysticism and has been a central part of Islamic practice throughout history. It is difficult to define because different people conceive of it in very different ways, and discussions about Sufism are often colored by the speaker's perspective or portrayal they wish to put forth.

How has Sufism been portrayed in various contexts?

Sufism has been portrayed in many different ways over the last century, including by academics and scholars. A common tendency has been to highlight its metaphysical and philosophical aspects, often at the expense of its actual lived and practiced realities.

What is the relationship between Sufism and Islam?

Historically, Sufism is a part of Islam and is often referred to as Islamic mysticism. However, it is sometimes seen as somewhat separated from Islam in certain contexts, despite the strong connection between the two.

When and where did Sufism first appear?

Sufism, known as tasawaf in Arabic, first appeared in the 8th century in places like Baghdad and Basra, generally across the newly formed Islamic empire.

What practices did early Sufis develop?

Early Sufis developed practices like dhikr, the repetitious recital of God's names or the Islamic proclamation of faith, as well as sama or spiritual audition, involving things like music and dance.

How do Sufis view their tradition in relation to the Prophet Muhammad?

Sufis often say that their tradition goes back directly to the Prophet Muhammad or even all the way back to Adam, the first prophet. They also connect this to a group of the Prophet's companions known as the ahl al-suffa, who are sometimes considered the forebearers of the Sufis.

What influence did the conquests of the early Islamic empire have on Sufism?

As the Arabs conquered vast areas, they came into contact with many different religious and intellectual traditions, which had an effect on the developing traditions within Islam, including Sufism.

How did the 19th and 20th-century reform movements affect Sufism?

Reform movements in the 19th and 20th centuries, influenced by modernist ideologies, started to question certain aspects of the Islamic tradition, including Sufism. This led to a serious decline in the role of Sufism in the Islamic world over the last century.

What is the claim that Sufism predates Islam, and is it true?

While Sufism as we know it emerged within an Islamic framework, there are aspects of Sufism that existed before the emergence of Islam. However, when considering Sufism as a historical phenomenon and analytical category, it is intimately connected to Islam.

How has Sufism evolved in the West?

In the West, Sufism has become a significant presence, not just due to increased migration of Muslims but also because it has been incorporated into various esoteric movements and new religious movements. There are both universalist and more orthodox or conservative Sufism practices present in the West.

What are the different perspectives on who is and isn't a Sufi today?

With the evolution of Sufism and its broader acceptance in various forms, there are different perspectives on who is a Sufi. Some see it as strictly connected to Islam, while others have a more universal approach, and there are all kinds of variations in between.

Outlines

00:00

🧩 The Complexity of Understanding Sufism

Sufism is difficult to define as it is often viewed differently depending on the individual. Scholars like Alexander Knysh note that Sufism has been portrayed in a variety of ways, frequently emphasizing its metaphysical and philosophical aspects while overlooking its practical realities. Another debated aspect is its relationship with Islam, with some seeing it as intertwined, while others perceive it as separate. This video aims to explore these portrayals and how Sufism has functioned historically.

05:01

🤝 Sufism’s Roots in Islam

Historically, Sufism has always been an integral part of Islam, despite modern perceptions of separation. Early Sufis, influenced by the Quran and Hadith, developed ascetic practices to purify the soul and deepen one’s relationship with God. Figures such as Rabia al-Adawiyah and Junaid are seen as foundational in this movement. Sufism was not originally seen as a separate branch of Islam but rather as a deeper spiritual path within the faith.

10:04

📜 Historical and External Influences on Sufism

While Sufism developed within the Islamic framework, it was also influenced by external traditions like Christian monasticism and Neoplatonism. Some argue that elements of Sufism existed before Islam, though most scholars maintain that Sufism, as it is recognized today, is a product of Islamic teachings. Many Sufis themselves trace the origins of Sufism back to the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, linking it to the very roots of Islam.

15:05

⏳ Sufism’s Decline and Separation from Islam

Sufism was once a central part of Islamic life, but by the 19th century, modernizing reforms and movements like Salafism and Wahhabism criticized Sufism as superstitious or heretical. Western scholars also began to portray Sufism as separate from Islam, focusing on its universal spiritual aspects. These perspectives contributed to the current view of Sufism as something distinct from mainstream Islam, though this was not the case historically.

20:06

🌍 Sufism’s Evolution in the Modern World

In the 20th century, Sufism adapted to new contexts, especially in Europe and North America. Some orders, like Inayat Khan's, presented Sufism as a universal spirituality accessible to non-Muslims. This trend aligns with broader movements seeking a common spiritual core among religions. While some forms of Sufism have become separated from Islam in the minds of practitioners and outsiders, traditional Sufi orders remain closely tied to Islamic beliefs and practices.

Keywords

💡Sufism

Sufism, also known as Tasawuf, is often described as Islamic mysticism or spiritual practice within Islam. The video explains that Sufism has been integral to Islamic practice throughout history but has often been portrayed differently in modern contexts. Some view it as part of Islam, while others, especially contemporary movements, treat it as separate or transcendent.

💡Islamic Mysticism

Islamic Mysticism refers to spiritual practices within Islam aimed at deepening one's connection with God. In the video, Sufism is frequently called Islamic mysticism, emphasizing its role in guiding Muslims to lead spiritually enriched lives. This term highlights the focus on metaphysical and experiential aspects of Islam.

💡Tasawuf

Tasawuf is the Arabic term for Sufism, representing the spiritual path of seeking closeness to God. The video highlights that historically, Tasawuf has been considered a core part of Islam and not a separate branch. Early Sufi practices, such as Dhikr (remembrance of God), were deeply rooted in Islamic teachings.

💡Metaphysical and Philosophical Aspects

This refers to the tendency of scholars to emphasize the deeper, more abstract aspects of Sufism, like its metaphysical and philosophical elements, over its practical and lived experiences. The video criticizes this approach for overshadowing the lived realities of Sufism as practiced by individuals throughout Islamic history.

💡Dhikr

Dhikr is the spiritual practice of remembering God through repeated recitations of His names or Islamic phrases. The video mentions Dhikr as one of the key practices developed by early Sufis to deepen their spiritual connection. It exemplifies how Sufism integrates spiritual devotion with Islamic ritual.

💡Ascetical and Renunciant Practices

These practices involve abstaining from worldly pleasures to purify the soul and bring oneself closer to God. In the video, these ascetical practices are described as an important part of early Sufism, where figures like Rabia al-Adawiya emphasized detachment from worldly attachments in pursuit of divine love.

💡Islamic Reform Movements

Islamic reform movements, especially those from the 19th and 20th centuries, sought to modernize Islam and often criticized Sufism. The video explains that thinkers like Muhammad Abduh and movements like Salafism viewed Sufism as outdated or superstitious, contributing to its decline in some Islamic regions.

💡Salafism

Salafism is a fundamentalist Islamic movement that advocates a return to what it views as the pure and original form of Islam. The video describes how Salafists see Sufism as an innovation or deviation from authentic Islam, and they often oppose Sufi practices as un-Islamic.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism played a major role in reshaping perceptions of Sufism in both the Islamic world and the West. The video discusses how colonial scholars viewed Sufism as separate from Islam, emphasizing its 'universal' or 'transcendent' qualities, which led to its portrayal as distinct from mainstream Islam.

💡Universalist Sufi Groups

These groups present Sufism as a universal spiritual tradition, not confined to Islam. In the video, it is noted that many contemporary Sufi groups, especially in the West, adopt a more universal approach, making Sufism accessible to non-Muslims and connecting it with other spiritual traditions like Hinduism.

Highlights

Sufism is a complex topic, often viewed differently depending on the speaker's perspective and portrayal, making it hard to pin down.

A common portrayal of Sufism is that it emphasizes its metaphysical and philosophical aspects, often neglecting its lived practices.

Sufism is frequently described as Islamic mysticism, though some view it as separate from Islam, as seen in bookshops where Islam and Sufism are categorized distinctly.

Historically, Sufism is deeply rooted in Islam and considered a central part of Islamic practice, emerging in the 8th century in places like Baghdad and Basra.

Early Sufis, such as Rabi'a al-Adawiyya and Junayd, practiced asceticism to purify their souls, viewing it as a deeper, purer way to live as Muslims.

Many Sufis trace their practices back to the Prophet Muhammad and even to earlier prophets like Adam, indicating its integration within Islamic traditions.

Influences on early Sufis may have included Christian monasticism and Neoplatonism, but they developed within the Islamic context, emphasizing a deeper connection to God.

From the 12th century onwards, Sufism became widespread and mainstream in the Islamic world, organizing into orders (tariqahs) that shaped Islamic practices for centuries.

Sufism’s prominence declined in the 19th century, influenced by reform movements and modernizing ideologies in the Islamic world.

There has been significant opposition to Sufism from movements like Wahhabism, which views Sufi practices as foreign innovations that stray from true Islam.

Western scholars and colonialists often separated Sufism from Islam, viewing it as a more enlightened or universal wisdom distinct from what they saw as a fundamentalist religion.

In the 20th century, some Sufis themselves, like Inayat Khan, presented Sufism as a universal spirituality, open to non-Muslims, leading to movements that diverged from traditional Islamic frameworks.

Sufism today exists in various forms, from orthodox orders closely tied to Islam to more esoteric or universalist groups, particularly in Europe and North America.

The video explores the tension between traditional and modern forms of Sufism, highlighting that the tradition has evolved significantly while maintaining its Islamic roots for most practitioners.

Modern-day Sufism’s connection to Islam is often debated, with both supporters and critics shaping narratives around its identity and place within or outside of Islam.

Transcripts

sufism can be a hard topic to cover for

various reasons

different people will often conceive of

it in very different ways which makes it

very difficult to pin down

as with any topic the discussion will

always be colored by the person

talking and the particular perspective

or portrayal

that that person wants to put forth

about a certain subject like sufism for

example

as alexander knows points out in his

excellent recent book called

sufism sufism has been portrayed in many

different

ways over the last century including by

academics and scholars

and a very common tendency in the

portrayal of sufism has been to

highlight its

metaphysical and philosophical aspects

often at the expense

of its actual lived and practiced

realities

another aspect of sufism that is often

portrayed in very different ways

is its relationship with islam while it

is often called islamic mysticism

sufism is sometimes in certain contexts

seen as something that is somehow a bit

separated from islam

we can see this for example that if we

walk into a bookshop or a library

we often see a category labeled as islam

and sufism clearly a common idea is that

there is some kind of difference between

the two

even if they are strongly connected but

is this the way that sufisms function

historically

and what differences are there in the

way that sufism is conceived of and

practiced

[Music]

[Applause]

today

[Music]

this video is a collaboration with my

friend dr angela puka

from the channel angelus symposium

angela is a religious studies phd and a

university lecturer

whose youtube channel specializes in the

academic study of religious movements

that incorporate magical practices of

different sorts

so please make sure to check out her

video on sufism in western euterracism

the companion video to this one

and to subscribe to her channel and i

will link all of that in the

description and in a card which you can

click above

the topic of this video is partly

inspired by a question i got for a

patron only q a that i did a few weeks

ago

where i was asked about sufism's

relationship to islam

whether it predates islam or if it's

somehow

something different from islam basically

and this can be a complicated topic that

is often

influenced or is often colored by

subjective

opinion and bias but let's try to get as

broad of a picture of this topic as

possible

so to start off with a very simple and

general question

is sufism a part of islam

and from a historical objective opinion

without taking

normative theology into account yes

it definitely is sufism as i mentioned

is often referred to

as islamic mysticism and has served as a

central part of islamic practice

throughout history

that much we can be certain about but

today we often hear arguments that

sufism is somehow separated from islam

and this kind of argument comes from all

kinds of directions both hostile and

friendly

contemporary new religious movements

that incorporate aspects of sufism

often presented as a universal or

ancient wisdom

that transcends the religion of islam

and many

universalist sufi groups today actually

make the same kind of argument

but we also see similar statements from

groups that are very hostile to sufism

within islam

groups like these salafists or the

wahhabis or muslim reform movements in

general who see sufism as

you know superstitious foreign-inspired

innovations that has nothing to do with

quote-unquote

real islam we also often hear

contemporary persian or

iranian nationalist groups who want to

claim that sufism somehow predates islam

and is part of some kind of

ancient persian heritage that only

entered the religion of islam

with the influence of persian culture

but is any of this true

the thing is it's pretty complicated and

sometimes it depends on the perspective

you choose to view it from

but scholars who study sufism or islamic

history

mostly agree that sufism is an islamic

phenomenon that appears in an islamic

context

sufism as we know it which is known as

tasawaf in arabic

appears for the first time in the 8th

century in places like baghdad

and basra and generally across the newly

formed islamic empire

or civilization the so-called sufis

although they weren't universally called

this name at this point

took the islamic religion and its

sources the quran and hadith

as its starting point and then developed

ascetical and renunciant

practices that was aimed to deepen the

person's relationship with god

and to purify the soul from worldliness

and sin

famous figures like mohasebi nun

al-misri

rabia al-adawiyah junaid

and many others are some examples of

these early so-called sufis

they developed practices like vikkur the

repetitious recital of god's names or

the islamic proclamation of faith as

well as sama or spiritual audition

involving things like music and dance it

is no doubt that these early renuncians

and mystics consider themselves

muslims who practice the religion of

islam

to them the practices that we call

sufism was simply the deeper and more

pure way to live

as a muslim and follow the quran and

sunnah of the prophet muhammad

sufis themselves will often say that the

tradition goes back directly to the

prophet muhammad or even all the way

back to adam the first prophet

and man they also connect this to a

group of the prophet's companions

known as the ahled sufa the people of

the bench

which is a kind of spiritual elite who

lived in a section of the prophet's

mosque in medina

and who are sometimes considered to be

the kind of forebearers of the sufis

but of course influence was taken from

outside as well

as the arabs conquered vast areas in the

middle east and north africa and all the

way to

india they came into contact with many

different religious and intellectual

traditions which all of course had an

effect

on the developing traditions within

islam including

sufism many scholars today will argue

that one of the primary

inspirations for the early proto-sufis

or renuncians

were the christian monastics who lived

in the middle east at the time

but nonetheless what is important to

remember is that for these so-called

sufis both in this early period and for

most of history

sufism was not considered its own branch

of islam or something separated from

islam

at all sufism or tasawolf simply denoted

a certain

aspect or tendency within islam we call

we could call it a spiritual aspect of

islam

now a few centuries later from the 12th

century onwards

sufism became so widespread and popular

that it was the mainstream

basically the movement had started to

formulate some of its basic systematic

teachings and practices and perhaps most

importantly

had started to organize themselves into

orders tariqta

or turoq in plural these

these orders were founded around certain

sufi saints and teachers

and would have an enormous influence in

all of the islamic world

sufism has in fact been a central part

of mainstream islam

from the middle ages and right up until

the

well the 19th century really when

certain

reform movements sort of modernizing

reform movements as well as other

factors played into sufism's

eventual decline you could say really

most

muslims in history at least before the

19th century

have been connected to sufism and its

different orders

in some way it really has been that

significant

but today however it is often portrayed

and presented as something

like a fringe sect and a small branch or

small sect within islam something that

definitely is not

reflected in history so that's point

number one

for most of its history sufism and islam

has basically been one and the same

thing

tasawolf has simply been a certain

theoretical and practical tendency

within the religion

alongside things like jurisprudence or

kalam

theology sufism should not be seen as

its own branch of islam like

shia and sunni instead sufism is a

certain

tendency or a certain aspect within

islam a certain practical

and sometimes theoretical tendency but

does this mean that we can't somehow

separate between the categories of

islam and sufism today

well not necessarily as we saw earlier

there are many today who will hold that

sufism is somehow separated from more

different from islam

and that even some sufis today hold this

position so

clearly even though this was not the

case in historically

clearly something is a bit different

today we can start by addressing the

often stated claim

that sufism somehow predates islam

that sufism is some kind of ancient

spiritual wisdom

that was only appropriated by the

islamic religion but that really

in a large historical sense transcends

it you hear this

argument from many different peoples

including

indeed by some sufis themselves today so

is this claim true then

well i would say yes and no while as i

said earlier sufism as we know it

definitely emerges in an islamic

framework

certainly there are also aspects of

sufism that existed before the emergence

of islam

we already talked about the fact that

the early proto-sufis were most likely

influenced by things like christian

monasticism

as well as other traditions from the

ancient world including neoplatonism

and maybe hermeticism it would be very

hard to deny that

some aspects of what we call sufism

today did exist in some form

before the mission of the prophet

muhammad but when we talk about sufism

as an analytical category and historical

phenomenon

it is intimately connected to the

religion of islam and the context

shortly after its emergence

another important aspect to take into

consideration here is that the sufis or

muslims themselves

wouldn't necessarily disagree indeed one

of the primary tenets of islamic belief

is that the religion existed since

before muhammad

muslims believe that god has sent the

same message to various prophets across

history

including prophets like moses and jesus

and that any similarity that we find

between

islam and other religions can be

explained by this fact

the teachings of islam and thus sufism

existed before muhammad

and all the way back to adam himself so

the argument that sufism existed before

islam

is often countered from within the

islamic religion itself

in this way of course it existed since

before muhammad

because islam itself did so in the end

it really depends on how you look at it

from one perspective certain aspects of

what we call sufism

did exist before islam at least as

defined as the

religion brought by the prophet muhammad

but if we don't want to make the term

sufism so broad that it ceases to have

any meaning because it can mean anything

then we should we should recognize the

fact that

sufism as we know it the particular

movement and tradition that we call

sufism

does emerge in an islamic framework and

as a particular

aspect of the religion of islam but

things today can look

quite a bit different while we have seen

that for most of history

sufism or tasawaf was an integral and

very central aspect of islamic belief

and practices on a mainstream level for

most of history

this is not necessarily the case today

instead sufism today is often seen as

something that is somehow separated from

islam

and defined as a category of its own and

there are a lot of reasons for this

sufism's relationship with islam has

really been attacked

from several fronts over the last

centuries

one important factor in this development

is as always colonialism

with the influx of modernist ideologies

into the middle east

muslim reformists in the 19th and early

20th century

started to question certain aspects of

the islamic tradition

the middle east wanted to quote unquote

catch up to the modernization in europe

and many attempts were made to reform

the religion

in this movement intellectuals like

muhammad abdul

rashid riddha and even thinkers like

ahmed khan and muhammad iqbal who while

he was a fan of rumi saw sufism as

problematic

sufism represented irrational

superstition that created idol and

apathetic muslims

instead of active participants in the

political changes that were to take

place

and many of these reform movements of

the 19th and 20th centuries

have become so widespread and so

successful

that the role of sufism in the islamic

world has been

seriously diminished over the last

century at the same time

many western colonialist thinkers as

well as academics and intellectuals

took an interest in sufi writings around

the turn of the 20th century

they started translating sufi poetry and

so on

in a quite well racist and bigoted way

they couldn't possibly reconcile the

beautiful expressions of sufi writings

with what they consider to be a religion

that was fundamentalist by nature

intolerant and shallow and so on in

other words to the colonialist scholars

sufism must be something other than

islam

it must be something that exists in

spite of islam not because of it

so not only did colonialism indirectly

lead to developments in the islamic

intellectual context where sufism

started to be looked at with

skepticism and and and critique

the colonialist thinkers and economics

themselves started to

use rhetoric and talk about sufism in a

way that seemed to separate it from

islam but another very important factor

in this

is the rise of what we call

fundamentalist

movements within islam groups like the

wahhabis who appears in the 18th

century and who were very openly and and

strictly against all forms of sufism

started to gain a lot of traction in

arabia

and connected to this the so-called

salafis who emerged

partly as a result of the reform

movements that i mentioned earlier

also became a significant player and

significant force

in the 20th century and even up until

today

these groups have often actively opposed

sufism

and often see it as a heretical

innovation

to the what they conceive of as the true

nature of islam so we have an attack on

sufism's relationship with islam from

multiple directions

from modernist muslims who see it as old

superstition

to salafis and wahhabis who see it as

innovation and heresy

and even western scholars and academics

who wanted to portray sufism

as a category that could stand on its

own without necessary connections to

islam

finally and connected to all of this

certain

tendencies and developments within

sufism itself

has also led in this kind of direction

with the increased communication between

different peoples around the world and

different cultures and

and the increased communication

generally

many sufis at the start of the 20th

century for example

started to formulate their tradition

in more universal ways in the early 20th

century as the first sufi teachers

started to reach

europe they sometimes adapted to the

cultures and circumstances on the

continent

a prime example of this is the shishti

master inayat

khan who traveled widely across europe

and north america to spread his sufi

message

before his death in 1927 he gradually

developed a sufism that was open to

non-muslims

and presented as a more universal

spirituality with affinities to other

spiritual traditions like hinduism

his order currently called inayatiya is

still alive and popular and is led by

his grandson

pierre zia inayat khan and this is just

one example of a

wider development within sufism

especially as it has reached europe and

north america

there is also symptomatic of an even

wider

movement in development in in

spirituality and

religion generally where

by the turn of the 20th century many

movements started to appear that wanted

to find the

kind of common core to all religions

this included the theosophical society

for example led by

helena blavatsky as well as the

perennial school or traditional school

that also started to appear at around

this time this was a general

tendency at this time to find a kind of

universal

universal spirituality and sufism became

often a

important part in that mission or in

that development

and for the rest of the 20th century and

up until today

sufism has become a significant presence

in

europe and north america not just

because of the fact that

there has been an increased migration of

muslims into these

continents but also the fact that sufism

has been incorporated

into various esoteric movements and new

religious movements

in in europe and north america today

that have taken certain

uh features of sufism and incorporated

it into their own practices and beliefs

in the 1960s and the surrounding period

with the increased interest in eastern

wisdoms and spirituality

sufism was one of these traditions that

many people were

or became interested in it never became

as

famous or popular as various forms of

hinduism and buddhism

but it nonetheless was part of this

wider culture and this cultural change

and this situation very much remains

until today

sufism can be found in many different

varieties and in different expressions

in the so-called western world

as i said with the increased migration

of muslims

into europe and into north america

the more you say traditional forms of

sufism that is

so intimately connected to the religion

of islam

has also come to have a strong presence

now

in in in the west so we have sufi

movements who have a

very universalist approach practicing a

form of sufism

divorced from its islamic aspects but we

also have traditional sufi orders to

have a much more

you could say orthodox or conservative

perspective on the situation

and all kinds of variations in between

these two

and with this in mind who are we to say

who is and who isn't

a sufi as with all religious traditions

sufism is constantly evolving and

changing adapting to new situations and

contexts

while sufism historically has been

basically a part of islam

today sufism has in a way become

something broader

and there are sections of the tradition

which has become separated from islam

at least in the minds of some of its

practitioners or

or even from some outsiders as we talked

about in the beginning

everyone wants to frame sufism according

to their own narratives

but as with any religious tradition like

this things are always a lot more

complex

sufism can be and has partly become a

lot of different things

for most practitioners in the world it

is still synonymous with islam

but we have also seen that others have a

different approach to it

and this is the reality that we find

ourselves in today

in the west sufism or certain aspects of

sufism

is often incorporated into various

esoteric communities or traditions

this is not necessarily something new

this kind of thing has been going on for

centuries

but it's perhaps even more so today than

it has ever been

and this is a topic that my friend

angela puka will be discussing in her

companion video

so again i'll remind you please check

out her video

right after you have seen this one i'll

leave a link to that in the description

and the in the comments as well

i hope this video cleared up some

questions when it comes to the

relationship between

sufism and islam and then it gave you a

few things to think about when it comes

to the

complexity and depth of a question or

discussion like this

there is a lot more to be said and there

are aspects this that i haven't been

able to cover in this

relatively short video but inevitably

this will be an ongoing

conversation and i look forward to

seeing what you have to say in the

comments

i'll see you next time as always this

video was sponsored by our patrons

including two of the new saints

nadim sabik and nasir zaok thank you

both so much and thank you to all of my

patrons you are really the reason that i

can keep making these

scholarly and academic videos if anyone

else wants to become a patron i will

leave a link to my patreon page in the

description or you can leave a one-time

donation through paypal

and all that will be available in the

comments and

probably also in the description see in

the next video

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