Don't really understand Sufism

[ronki23]

I read that Sufis can be Sunni, Shia, Ibadi or Ahmadiyya? But why are the classified as a separate forum on here?

Do Sufis pray 5x a day and have 5 pillars? Is it just their prayer method that is different? What country has the most Sufis? Do mainstream Sunnis and Shias get along with them? Especially the likes of Al Qaeda,Taliban and ISIS? What about in Iran where it's a Shia majority?

 

[Abu Fauzi]

I wish to refer to ronki 23 post above and respond/contribute and say that Yes, Indeed Sufis do pray 5 times a day and are bonafide Muslims.
Sufism or what others call Tasawwuf is non other than the INNER, SPIRITUAL dimension of Islam... in Sufism you meet/see/ issues that assist you to keep the heart clean from all expectations from people but rely only on God Almighty; cultivate spiritual attributes and the like. Sufism is to keep us on our toes when it comes to preparing for the ultimate Journey to the Final Day... the Day of Judgement.

2. I will invite Ronki's attention and others who may be interested to the attached booklet titled: 'SUFISM: A PATH TOWARDS THE INTERNALIZATION OF FAITH', by Sheikh Osman Nuri Topbas. It explains Sufism in details... find the time to examine it, you will be glad you did as far as the subject of Sufism is concerned.

3. Best Regards.

 

[Firemorphic]

I read that Sufis can be Sunni, Shia, Ibadi or Ahmadiyya? But why are the classified as a separate forum on here?

I think it's just a convenience having it as a separate sub-dir. A Sufi is basically just a Mystic within the religion of Islam, everything else comes down to the individual's own schools of thought (and if they're in a Sufi order).
But yeah, mystical states of consciousness, absolute love/devotion for Allah, Veneration of Muhammad (PBUH) and his family, esoteric exploration of the Qur'an. Compared to the mainstream versions of Islam, Sufism favors the subjective experience, like any occult tradition. Experience ahead of belief itself but Sufi's are, outside of this, Muslims like anyone else who practice and believe the Five Pillars.

 

[Gandalf]

I know this post is old but I just wish to add this on record.

Tassawuf'iyya otherwise known as Sufism is best described as a localized dump for all current creeds of Islam today. Shia Islam which I for the most part ascribe to has its own mystical direction for the most part and Sufism is deemed comparable to Shia Islam often in regards to the usage of Saints (awliya) in comparison to the imamah (12 Imams) according to Shia Islam. With the advent of Salafism and Wahabism being the most preached strains of Islam currently you will notice that all madhabs and even Shia in retaliations against current Sunni fundamentalism are now trying to purge Sufism in all forms and make Islam so rigid, complicated yet at the same time stripped bare; that it is essentially alien to its original origins.

Sufism went hand in hand with Sunni Islam and orthodoxy for over a thousand years till it got out of hand and reduced itself down to a popular aspect amongst the poor. Sufism lost it's elitism and the heart of its complexity over the simplicity of Islam.