The mystics are called Sufis. However, Sufis have rarely been evangelists and are much more similar to monks. The peaceful spreaders of Islam have typically been diplomats, merchants, and qadis (Islamic Judges).
The scholars, preachers, jurists, traders, tourists, and spiritual scholars (Called Sufis) spread Islam.
This is a false dichotomy. There are Sunnis who are Sufis and there are Sufis who are Sunnis. There are Sunnis who are not Sufis and there are Sufis who are not Sunnis. Being a Sunni means to follow the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his blessed sunnah. Being a Sufi means to be even more strict in following this sunnah in an effort to rectify yourself spiritually. Many people claiming to be Sufis are in fact, NOT Sufis if they deviate from the sunnah. Many popular scholars from the past and present have been Sufis. Ibn Taymiyyah, Imam Ghazali, etc. have all been Sufis and Sunnis.
Islam spread in India through the religious scholars and saints (Sufis) who entered India along with the Pathan and Mughal invaders.
Sufi is a word associated with the Muslim religion. It is defined by its adherents as the inner mystical dimension of Islam. It acts as a science through which one can only know how to travel into the presence of the divine.
Islam
Sufism is part of Islam . All true sufis practice Islam and shariah . Hence they have no other view , their view is same as is islamic view . Women have rights as mentioned in Qu'ran and Hadith .
Markus Dressler has written: 'Sufis in Western Society' 'Die alevitische Religion' -- subject(s): Bektashi, Islam, Islam and politics, Islamic sects, Nosairians
Islam.
The Whirling Dervishes are an order of Sufis and Sufism is a sect of Islam. Therefore, the Whirling Dervishes are both Sufi and Islamic.
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who were the sufis