CORRECTION of careless mistake on my part: Towards the end of the video when I talk about Sufism "arriving in Europe and North America", I mean specifically North/Western Europe. Indeed, Sufism and Islam has already existed in Europe for many centuries and in various places on the continent. I always try to be very careful not to contribute to the "West/(Middle)East" dichotomy, but here we are. So just keep that in mind throughout the video.

Thank you to Angela for this wonderful collaboration! Check out her video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEYQpFU0SiQ
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I’m a muslim and an Arab, and I find your videos on my religion more informative and easier to follow than Arabic sources. It’s really difficult to find unbiased material about Sufism; its supporters praise it while its opponents oppose it. Thank you very much for helping me finding my guidance and path. Love from Saudi.

Literally any ancient mystical religious tradition: *exists

New Age hipsters: "It's free real estate."

My father was a prominent Sufi Shaykh here in the United States, but he raised us more in line with traditional Sunni teaching/practices. He was heavily involved before I was born and when I was mostly too young to remember.  I regret not asking him more on the subject.

I was fortunate enough to encounter Dhikr within a Tariqa in Istanbul it opened my heart. I wept like a orphan  being returned home. I was ignorant of so much, still so. I had been shown the gift that  such a jewel sat within Islam. I struggled to resist this reality  for three years faced with my own misconceptions and prejudices. If honest I worried about what my family would think. However Allah had offered me the straight path so my whole being was drawn like a moth to the lamps flame. 6 years ago I embraced Islam  alhamdulillah. It was because of Sufism. As you allude to so much is hidden.
JazaakAllah Khayran.
I really value this channel. You  in your part are shining a light into corners less illumunated.

My late grandma learned sufism. My grandma called it "Ilmu mengenal Tuhan (The knowledge of knowing God)" .

Personally I prefer the term “dimension”: Sufism is a dimension of Islam, that focuses on intimate and immediate relationship between muslim and God, in which the practitioner of this approach developed various spiritual and esoteric practices that aim to achieve said relationship.

When I first learned English and expand the resources I can consume, it was so shocking to see that there are many different kinds of approaches in and towards sufism. Growing up in Turkey, it was very usual watching sema and circular zikr, listening to sufi music and going full spiritual even as a child lol. In Anatolian understanding, Islam embraces Sufism and eventhough the tariqas and their reputation are weaker in today's society, old sufi traditions and figures are highly respected by religious folks here.
Then oneday I was blaimed for being a "sufi heretic" by another muslim on the internet and went "(•o•)"

Man, I'm not sure how you did it but your Arabic pronunciation is superb

I am a proud convert To Sunni Sufi Islam, and I love all religions Simultaneously but I love my sweet Muhammad (May Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so much  ❤️

People like you make me fall in love with spiritual studies in a totally new way. Thank you

I was always interested in Sufism. As a Muslim myself, I had many  misinformation about Sufism,  Your video helped to know more truth about Sufism, Tnx dude!

The thing about the question “did it exist before” is that every idea has a history.

What a fantastic video, Filip! Thank you for doing this collaboration, I truly enjoyed working with you. :-)

👍 wow! ... As someone from a traditional Sufi background, lived and grew up in the West seeing it there, and have lived in countries like Saudi Arabia, very anti-Sufi, and Sudan, very pro-Sufi, AND someone who is very educated on this topic as both insider practioner and academically inclined and well-read ... this video is spot on. Very well done. As I listened in my mind would enter some aspect to this question, only for you to address it a min or two later. 👏 👏 👏

Wow from someone who always does Dhikr , I didn't know that it originated from Sufism! Nice to know!

Due to the ease of access to information and the availability of classical texts, and the general rise in literacy, you're also starting to see the rise of what is called "Individual Sufism" so to speak. Instead of adhering to a specific Tariqa and practicing it in a communal way, people are reading the classic Sufi texts like Ghazali, Junayd, and Al-Nawawi on their own and trying to implement it in their lives. In light of the general individualistic trends of the modern age, Sufism is starting to be adapted to become more individualistic as well.

What a video! Thanks for the research. Salaam from Bangladesh <3

Oh man you showed Shaykh Ahmed Al Alawi. I’m a mureed from the Shaykhs tarika but took the tarika from someone else in his chain. The Shadhili tarika. “Tarika tul shukr” as Shadhili’s call it. The tarika of thankfulness.  

By the way I’m extremely impressed with your research. Well done.

You need to have your own show on tv.  This is such good research and it is explained quite accurately in my opinion