The majority of undereducated
Arab Muslims are under the impression that
Sufi means wearing
wool or has something to do with wool, since Sufi sounds like Soof which translates to wool, it is not true. According to Sufi sources the word Sufi is derived from the 3 letter Arabic root verb S'F'A, meaning to purify. Purifying the heart and soul is all over Sufi teaching. It is also worth mentioning that a huge number of hot shot philosophers in Muslim ruled Spain upgraded them selves to Sufisim in their later lives. According to Islamic history Sufis were hugely responsible for spreading Islam so fast and so far in
Africa and
Asia during the 10th century. Sufis have a huge popularity in East
Asia, especially
Indonesia and
India, breaking the age old belief that Islam was spread by the sword.
Sufis follow the teachings of
Mohammed and perform the
5 pillars. There is nothing mystical about it, except for their philosophical stories that are told to children at an early age. Modern day scholars consider these stories to be heretical, especially if the fictional story has anything to do with having a conversation with god in judgement day. Want a famous Sufi Philosopher? how about
Al Ghazali.