Since their beginnings in the ninth century, the shrines, brotherhoods and doctrines of the Sufis held vast influence in almost every corner of the Muslim world. Offering the first truly global account of the history of Sufism, this illuminating book traces the gradual spread and influence of Sufi Islam through the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and ultimately into Europe and the United States.An ideal introduction to Sufism, requiring no background knowledge of Islamic history or thoughtOffers the first history of Sufism as a "global" phenomenon, exploring its movement and adaptation from the Middle East, through Asia and Africa, to Europe and the United States of AmericaCovers the entire historical period of Sufism, from its ninth century origins to the end of the twentieth centuryDevotes equal coverage to the political, cultural, and social dimensions of Sufism as it does to its theology and ritualDismantles the stereotypes of Sufis as otherworldly 'mystics', by anchoring Sufi Muslims in the real lives of their communitiesFeatures the most up-to-date research on Sufism available