Sufism conceives of itself as a mystical quest for the Truth and all its practices serve this end. The journey along the Path to the One is an arduous one and requires many resources. Meditation in the form of dhikr or remembering God and rnuraqabba or contemplation of mystery of Being and Creation are but devices to help along the Way. But ultimately it is Allah who in an act of grace unveils Himself to the traveller and no spiritual exercise can even attempt to equal His compassion. “A saint saw Junaid after his death in a dream and asked him how God dealt with him. He said, ‘He forgave me out of His mercy and not due to my spiritual practices. EXCEPT FOR THE TWO-RAKA ‘T NAMAZ that I offered at midnight to My Lord, none served any good purpose for me here.”
Islam and Sufism Islam and Spirituality (Group of Gothers)