Since much of the historical development of Sufism has been in parts of the world where Islam is the predominant form of religious practice, most Sufis worldwide are Muslim. However, the Sufi Order International is an inheritor of a stream of “universal” Sufism that began in India over 700 years ago, affirming the common ideal of all religious faiths. We do not require acceptance of any specific religious or philosophical beliefs, nor do we seek to convert anyone from one faith to another. We feel that real development can only take place if people work with what is meaningful for them. We create a safe environment where people can feel free to be spiritually open to discover their own inner truths for themselves.
The great Sufi Ibn ‘Arabi (1165–1240), from the Islamic tradition but without its boundaries, wrote this about Sufism:
The Love Religion
The inner space inside
that we call the heart
has become many different
living scenes and stories.A pasture for sleek gazelles,
a monastery for Christian monks,
a temple with Shiva dancing,
a kaaba for pilgrimage.The tablets of Moses are there,
the Qur’an, the Vedas,
the sutras, and the gospels.Love is the religion in me.
Whichever way love’s camel goes,
that way becomes my faith,
the source of beauty, and a light
of sacredness over everything.(Trans. Coleman Barks)