Islamic mysticism is called taṣawwuf (literally "dressing in wool") in Arabic, but it has been called Sufism in Western languages since the early 1800s. An abstract word, Sufism derives from the Arabic term for a mystic, ṣūfī, which in turn is derived from ṣūf, "wool", plausibly a reference to the wool garment of the early Islamic ascetics. Sufis are also generally known as "the poor", fuqarāʾ, plural of Arabic faqīr, in Persian darvīsh, whence the English words fakir and dervish.
Although the roots of Islamic mysticism were previously supposed to come from various non-Islamic sources in ancient Europe and even in India, it now seems established that the movement grew out of early Islamic asceticism that developed as a counterweight to the increasing worldliness of expansion. Muslim community; only later were foreign elements adopted that were compatible with theology and mystical practices and made to conform to Islam.
By educating the masses and deepening the spiritual concerns of Muslims, Sufism has played an important role in shaping Muslim society. Opposed to the dry casuistry of divine advocates, mystics scrupulously observed the commandments of divine law. Sufis have been most responsible for large-scale missionary activity worldwide, which is still ongoing. Sufis have crafted the image of the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, and have greatly influenced Muslim piety for their mysticism of Muhammad. Sufi vocabulary is important in Persian and related literature, such as Turkish, Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto, and Punjabi. Through the poetry of these literatures, mystical ideas spread widely among Muslims. In some countries, Sufi leaders were also politically active.