The Idea, Role and Function of the Sheikh in Sufism

Sufism is a philosophy among religions and a religion among philosophies. In the circle of religions, it appears as a philosophy due to the freedom of thought characteristic of Sufism; Among philosophical systems, it seems to be a religion due to the fact that the Sufi worships God and devotes himself to him. A Sufi is a lover of truth, one who, through love and devotion, moves towards truth and perfection, which in reality are the aspirations of all people. Spiritual seekers fol­lowing the Sufi path entrust the process of their spiritual awakening to a sheikh – a spiritual mentor who monitors the spiritual well-being of his students and the implementation of their awakening. The sheikh guides travelers along the path of disappearance of selfhood in God, leading them to eternal life in God. The sheikh’s disciples are murids, that is, people who want to follow the indi­cated path. The Sufi traveled thousands of miles in search of a master, that per­son with whom he could take the first step beyond the boundaries of the known. From the most talented students, the sheikh chose his successor, the one who was to continue studying the tariqa after him or lead the dissemination of Sufi ideas in new regions. The sheikh transferred the right to teach students to his successor and gave his blessing for this.