The basic faith of Muslim religion is same, i.e. to believe in one God Allah and His prophets as messengers. Different Muslim sects evolve from followers of different Imams. Though basic teachings of Islam are same but with time different groups and denominations were formed. Theologically they are same but the only difference is in different practices adopted. There are 90% of Sunni and 10% Shias. Sufism and Kharijites are minor groups and a mystical inflection of Islam. They are not distinct schools.
Muslim world and their values are very different from Western stereotypes. There is no concept of discrimination due to color, cast and creed. Arabs Muslims believe in unity, hospitality, respect to others, loyalty, good character, good manners and have very hostile attitude towards foreigners. Love for children, family and friend is unconditional. They enjoy collectivist cultures in Middle East, Asia and Africa and believe in respecting all religions (Emery, 2008).
Sufism is mystical form of Islam developing direct experience of love with God and leading a simple life. It’s tolerant and peace-loving. News stories and television has cast wrong image of Islam. Sufis have spread the word via music, art and poetry, though they have been opposed by puritans and orthodox. Sufis has been criticized for their music and poetry. Several argue that music is prohibited in Islam; hence, their music has been condemned. It is difficult to say when and how Sufism originated but some consider it as direct continuity of Christianity. According to the basic Muslim believes Allah is approached by following His commands and praying Him in Mosque. There is no other alteration of approaching Allah through Music. Allah is not reached through an intermittent saint. Several traditions in Sufism have been criticized by Muslims, like shrines and making them ibadat gaah (worshipping). Only Mosque is the place of worship. No saint or person can be worshipped nor does his shrine can be made the place of worship.
After the conquest of Syria they dwelled the city. Sufis were initially from hermits but later they came in Muslim cities after establishment of Muslim government. In Syria there are hundreds of Sufis found in streets.
Many Muslim scholars and orthodox Muslims do not consider Sufis as true Muslims and Sufism as true vision of Islam. Islam defines Sufism as full devotion to Allah and for His cause to love His people and spread His word to all. Thus it means that everything is done for the sake of Allah and His happiness and not for worldly desires.
“The Sufi orders were portrayed by their reformist adversaries as at best irrelevant to social change and at worst as responsible for the backwardness of Muslim society. Criticism of customs and ceremonies in popular Islam, especially the cult of saints—denounced as a deviation from Islam—also had nationalist overtones: these rituals were attacked for fostering national passivity and a detachment from reality, in addition to eliciting ridicule by foreigners. Religious reform was thus interwoven with the quest for national pride and power.” (Hatina, 2007)
Media has destroyed the images of Islam and depicted it as terrorist and wicked religion but in reality it is just the opposite (Tessler, 2004). According to William PTC, “Rumi has always been the most universal of Muslim thinkers. In all his writings you have this idea that as God is located in the human heart, you don’t need ritual to get to him, that he’s as accessible to Christians and Jews as he is to Muslims.” (The Mystic Music of Islam)
References
Dalrymple, W. & Broughton, S. Sufi Soul. The Mystic Music of Islam. A documentary for Channel 4 Presented by William Dalrymple and directed by Simon Broughton.
Emery, J. (2008) Arab Culture And Muslim Stereotypes. Web.
Hatina, M. (2007) Where East Meets West: Sufism, Cultural Rapprochement, And Politics International Journal of Middle East Studies (2007), 39:3:389-409 Cambridge University Press Copyright © 2007 Cambridge University Press.
Tessler, M. (2004) Arab and Muslim Political Attitudes: Stereotypes and Evidence from Survey Research. Web.