how much islam adapted to local pre-islamic relgious tradtions creating a colorful
local identity?
Sufi saints created mass appeal through their merging with pre-existing faiths of the region and their ability to align themselves with popular interests
Re: Pakistan’s mystical Islam thrives
Mystics in Pakistan and Bharat are the followers of Sufis from Iraq and not some Brahmini Munshi from Banaras.
Sh. Abdul Qadir Jilani, and Rabiya Basri set the standards for Sufis and propagated the message of peace and harmony all over the world.
Re: Pakistan’s mystical Islam thrives
Sufis usually started as Muslims but later they invented from themselves, adopted and assimilated from other religions (including Hinduism and Christianity)… and soon they had broke the shackles of organised religion and their spirituality took them above any one creed (not all were able to admit this), that’s ‘Sufism proper’ for you.
Whilst Sufis may revere the Koran, their reverence isn’t specific to any one book or religion, they respect all but don’t strictly adhere to or have complete faith in any. In Sufism it’s just you and your conscience to guide you on the path to God.
There are some Islamic sects, who are heavily influenced by Sufism and therefore may claim to be Sufi but they are not ‘Sufi proper’.
Now if you would excuse me I’d better resume my spinning… :rotato: 
Re: Pakistan's mystical Islam thrives
It is a valid part of Islam. All faiths have an inner manifestation, such as this sufism, and an outer manifestation (following the sharia). I am not a sufi, but I have no issues with them.
They have great love for our deen in my experience.
Re: Pakistan's mystical Islam thrives
There are many non-Muslim Sufis, don’t be mislead by their occasional Arabic chants, Sufism is not a sect within Islam because it is separate from any religion, it’s an independent spiritual path, however Sufi thought heavily influences some Islamic sects such as Naqshbandi and Qaadri etc.