In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay\u27s first paragraph.
Sufism is the esoteric aspect of Islam. The aim of Sufis is to gain direct knowledge of the eternal, in this life, as opposed to the exoteric, or traditionalist, aspect of Islam which focuses on achieving a state of blessedness after death by way of carrying out divinely prescribed works. The history of Sufism is a long one, some tracing it directly back to The Prophet Muhammad
