While hundreds of sub-branches exist, Trimingham and other historians highlight four "mother" orders that shaped Islamic society across the globe: Go to product viewer dialog for this item. The Sufi Orders in Islam
Early period of individual mystics and loose-knit ascetic circles. While hundreds of sub-branches exist, Trimingham and other
The search query points specifically to the classic academic work (Russian title: "Суфийские ордены в исламе" ) by the British scholar J. Spencer Trimingham . First published in 1971, this book remains a foundational text for understanding the historical development and organizational structure of Sufi brotherhoods ( tariqas ). Overview of the Work Spencer Trimingham
Trimingham’s study shifts the focus from Sufi philosophy and individual mysticism to the of the movement. He categorizes the history of Sufism into three distinct stages: He categorizes the history of Sufism into three
Development of specific spiritual "paths" or systems of discipline under a master ( sheikh ).
The formalization of hereditary orders and the cult of saints. The Four Major Orders