Hi LoveroftheBeloved,
This is a very old post, but I thought I'd give my two-cents
Sufism is more of a word for mysticism in Islam - in that sense many people have claimed certain historical figures to be Sufis. For example: Mawlana Rumi, Hafiz, Saadi, and many other poets - some people claim that they are "Sufis".
However, this may be true in one sense and not true in another. For instance, these were very spiritual men who had the ability to pull out some of the most precious gems from the Qur'an. As the hadith goes:
"Treasures lie hidden beneath the throne of God; the key to those treasures is the tongue of poets."
So, in the sense that they were very spiritual men, they could be said to be Sufis -
but really this is what Muhammad had encouraged
all Muslims to do.
In another sense, Sufis can be defined as those who belong to a Sufi "order" or follow "Sufi doctrine". This development can somewhat be seen as a sect of Islam in that there is a certain doctrine that the followers of a Sufi order follow and that there is also a hierarchy as well as a system of pedagogy (Shaykhs etc...).
However, it becomes difficult when the lines between a school of mystical or philosophical thought and a full-fledged order with separate doctrine, laws, and hierarchy begin to blur.
Moreover, there is great variation amongst those who claim to follow "Sufi doctrine". Some of the most evil figures in history have been "Sufis", but also some of the most pure and good hearted souls have at one time or another been or lived as Sufis.
So, all in all, it's veery difficult to have a fixed definition of who is a Sufi
Hope that answers your question a bit!
However, it is really best for people of all faiths to try and overcome the dichotomy between the mystical and the practical and realize that they are both interconnected and, in fact, complimentary. Take the lives of the Prophets of God as the best example
!
Best wishes,
Greg
