The present study intends to shed some light on a binomial, Sufism and Fundamentalism, which
appears somehow ambiguous. Fundamentalism is not just a historical phenomenon, namely the
Protestant movement that developed at the beginning of the XXth c. Fundamentalism connotes
a spiritual attitude common to many religions, in which a rigid conservative approach to religious
tradition prevails, with a literal reading of the sacred texts and sometimes a coercing action to
impose it on others. Fundamentalism is shaped by its own religious tradition, and may develop
into extremism and violence.
Sufism represents the spiritual dimension of the Islamic tradition, developed over history into
many currents and experiences. Between the two, Sufism and Fundamentalism, some connections
exist, based on the nature of Islam which is a religion with a strong legal emphasis. Moreover,
in Islam religion and politics are strictly connected. Thus, many Sufi orders in Islamic history
were involved in political affairs, even in wars and trade of slaves. Modern extremist Islamic
movements have taken some traits from the Sufi orders: the inner organization and a kind of
spiritual atmosphere etc. Al-Qa’ida is an outstanding example of this. Hence, one should strive
for an inner development of Islam towards pluralism and democracy. Sufism could help in such
a process.
