Islamic Sufism embraces a form of theistic mysticism closely resembling that of the Vedanta. A relatively early development in Islamic history, Sufism focuses on personal union with Allah. Through ascetic and contemplative disciplines, Sufi mystics seek direct union with God achieved through divine favour. The ecstatic language of unity with the Divine with which Sufis describe their experiences, and the positively pantheistic doctrines developed by some, have led to charges of heterodoxy. In 922 the Sufi al-Hallaj, who was accused of having asserted his identity with God was executed in Baghdad. It was left to the 11th-century philosopher al-Ghazali to reconcile Sufism and orthodox Islam. Doctrines of Sufism found their most memorable expression in the symbolic works of the Persian poets Mohammed Shams od-Din, better known as Hafiz, and Jalal-ad-Din Muhammad Din ar-Rumi, and in the writings of the Persian al-Ghazali.
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"Mysticism," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008
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