Basic Principles of Sufism in Islam

Contents: Preface. 1. Mysticism in Islam. 2. Schools of mysticism: origin and evolution. 3. Sufism in Islam and practices of the prophet. 4. Sufi tendencies among the companions of the prophet. 5. The chief Tariqa lines. 6. Tariqah and Shari’ah. 7. The formation of Ta’ifas. 8. Nineteenth-century revival movements. 9. The Sufism and theosophy of the orders. 10. Organization of the Sufi orders. 11. Ritual and ceremonial. 12. Role of the orders in the life of Islamic society. 13. Orders in the contemporary Islamic world. 14. Development of present Sufi doctrines. Bibliography. Index. "Muslim ascetics clothed in coarse garments of wool were first known as Sufis. Sufism is a comprehensive term which embraces those tendencies in Islam which aim at direct communion between God and man. Sufism has passed through many stages. The central ideal of ABSOLUTE and ABSTRACT Unity of God forms a sort of nucleus to the doctrines of Islamic Sufism. This book concentrates on basic principles of Sufism in Islam. The entire information is gathered under fourteen chapters. All the major aspects of Sufism are given elaborate and competent treatment. Academics as well as layperson will be immensely benefited by the contents of this volume.