Sufism and parasufism

This article critically considers the definition of Sufism as mystic Islam and provides an alternative definition of Sufism as the Tarikat Islam. It points out that Sufi brotherhoods with a tarikat doctrine – the Path to God through ascetism, seclusion, and prayers with rhythmic body motions, have almost disappeared by the 19th century. They were replaced by the brotherhoods that used the Sufi terminology and attributes, but had goals distinct from those of sufi. Such parasufi currents were Muridism (where sheikhs used their disciples as warriors for Islamic ideals), Ishanism (where sheikhs organised communities of their followers as economic corporations) and Dervishism (degraded mystic form of sufism).