South Asian Sufis

Often described asthe soul of Islam, Sufism is one of the most interesting yet least known facetof this global religion. Sufism is the softer more inclusive and mystical formof Islam. Although militant Islamists dominate the headlines, the Sufi ideal hascaptured the imagination of many. Nowhere in the world is the handprint ofSufism more observable than South Asia, which has the largest Muslim populationof the world, but also the greatest concentration of Sufis. This book examinesactive Sufi communities in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh that shed light onthe devotion, and deviation, and destiny of Sufism in South Asia.Drawn from extensivework by indigenous and international scholars, this ethnographical study exploresthe impact of Iran on the development of Sufi thought and practice furthereast, and also discusses Sufism in diaspora in such contexts as the UK andNorth America and Iran’s influence on South Asian Sufism.