Sources

Islamic Mysticism: A Short History

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "Islamic Mysticism: A Short History." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/islamic-mysticism-a-short-history.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). Islamic Mysticism: A Short History. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/islamic-mysticism-a-short-history

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-islamic-mysticism-a-short-history,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {Islamic Mysticism: A Short History},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/islamic-mysticism-a-short-history},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

Alexander Knysh's history traces Sufism's documented institutional development from its early formation through later centuries, following named orders, figures and doctrinal debates through the historical record rather than presenting Sufism as a single unchanging current. This record has not independently traced a documented history of scholarly disagreement with Knysh's specific claims. Use it for established historical facts about the development of Islamic mysticism as an institutional and doctrinal tradition; a claim specific to one particular order's own current practice may need a source dedicated to that order.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

Alexander Knysh's history tracing Sufism's documented institutional development from its early formation through later centuries, following named orders, figures and doctrinal debates through the historical record rather than presenting Sufism as one unchanging current.

Notes

Scholarly history of Sufism from its early formation through its later institutional development, covering key figures, orders and doctrinal debates. Use for established historical facts about the development of Islamic mysticism.

Citation

Author

Alexander Knysh

Publisher

Brill

Publication Year

2000

Source Type

academic monograph

Claims Backed By This Source (159 claims)

This source backs 159 claims across the atlas. As facts: 62 well-attested, 6 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 53 holds, 1 critiqued Here. Plus 37 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Religious Orders, 50 claims: 10 well-attested, 32 holds, 8 general references.
Doctrines, 33 claims: 6 well-attested, 4 scholarly debate, 15 holds, 1 critiqued Here, 7 general references.
Articles, 11 claims: 11 well-attested.
Esoteric Texts, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 2 general references.
Practices, 10 claims: 9 well-attested, 1 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 9 claims: 3 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 4 general references.
Historical Figures, 9 claims: 5 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.
Sources, 7 claims: 7 well-attested.
Sacred Sites, 6 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 holds, 2 general references.
Mantras, 5 claims: 1 holds, 4 general references.
Alphabet Letters, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
Denominations, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Rituals, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Hymns & Liturgical Texts, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 1 claims: 1 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 1 claims: 1 general references.