Sufi Orders in Islam

Spencer Trimingham’s The Sufi Orders in Islam stands as a landmark contribution to the study of Islamic mysticism, offering a comprehensive exploration of the institutional and historical dimensions of Sufi brotherhoods.

Published in 1971, the book was among the first Western academic efforts to systematically examine the organizational structures, spiritual practices, and sociopolitical roles of Sufi orders—known as ṭarīqahs—across the Islamic world. Trimingham’s work remains influential, not only for its breadth of coverage but also for its attempt to contextualize Sufism within the broader currents of Islamic history and society.