Sufi
/ˈsuːfi/noun
A member of a mystical Islamic tradition focused on inner spiritual purification and direct experience of God.
Did you know?The term Sufi is traditionally linked to early Muslim ascetics, but its exact origin is debated; one famous explanation connects it to Arabic ṣūf, meaning “wool,” referring to the rough wool garments worn by early mystics.
Etymological Timeline
8th-9th Century
Arabic
ṣūfī
“A Muslim ascetic or mystic associated with spiritual devotion and simplicity”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ṣūf
“Wool”
Medieval Islamic World
Arabic/Persian
ṣūfīya / taṣawwuf
“Sufi identity and the broader mystical practice of Sufism”
Modern English
English
Sufi
“A practitioner of Sufism”