WHAT IS “PERSIAN” SUFISM?

I use the above quote to open this chapter because it sums up the experience of Sufism as a quest within the self, but the quote is also reflective of the overall journey of this book and its aim to excavate the Iranian religious consciousness. In many ways, this book has been about an exploration of Persianate identity, which covers themes from the wider spectrum of events that have unfolded throughout the history of greater Iran, and which are brought together in the amalgamation of what appears to constitute a typical Persian identity. The extent of the influence of Persian culture upon those nations under the sway of this once mighty empire is plain and obvious. And it is the extent of the cultural products of Persian elements like language, literature and art that presents itself in even the most basic study of Middle Eastern traditions. Weaved within this grand project of writing a macrohistory of Iran is found the distinct brand of Sufism, commonly referred to as “Persian Sufism” “Persian Sufism” is not only a predominant brand of Sufism, one which is localized within Iran, but is one whose cultural products have far-reaching effects on other Sufi cultures throughout the East and North Africa, and even other places.