Summary: Many religions have a mystical branch and Islam is no different ndash; in Islam, the Sufis are the mystics. Named after the course wool garment worn by the first Sufis, these mystics attempt to discipline both the mind and body in order to directly experience God. Although, unlike mystics of other religions, Sufis do not think they must withdraw from the world in order to find God. For them, their struggle is one that takes place firmly in the ldquo;realrdquo; world. Sufism began in the 7th Century as a movement to reform Islam. There were some who felt that, with the expansion of the Islamic empire, the faith was being diluted and was focused too much on material things. Sufis wanted to refocus Islam on the internal struggle to become closer to God ndash; the struggle to be deserving of Godrsquo;s love. This is not to say there is any one way to be a Sufi ndash; there are many different sects who emphasize a different path toward knowing Allah. Some sects have even sprung up in the Westhellip;outside of what is traditionally considered the Muslim world.
