Sufism, which can be described as ‘Islamic mysticism’, is primarily concerned with the internal life of a believer and how one can achieve closeness to God through certain spiritual and physical practices. In his text Deliverance from Error, Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali, a well-known Sufi scholar, stated “I knew that the complete Sufi ‘way’ includes both intellectual belief and practical activity”. Therefore, to achieve spiritual elevation Sufism embodies a combination of intellectual belief through understanding what Islam is, whilst maintaining a practical approach that enables the cultivation of internal orientation towards God.

There are several well-known Sufi philosophers who used various literary forms to express their spiritual devotion. This includes the likes of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (Rumi), who has produced highly influential devotional poetry. One of Rumi’s renowned works includes his Masnavi text which has been described by many as ‘The Quran in Persian’. Another key Sufi mystic figure includes 'Abū 'Abdillāh Muḥammad ibn 'Alī ibn Muḥammad ibn `Arabī (Ibn al Arabi), who produced some of the greatest philosophical works of his time. Similar to Rumi, the works of Ibn Arabi have become key foundational texts within Sufism. One of his major works includes Al-Futūḥāt al-Makkiyyah also known as The Meccan Revelations which is estimated to fill around 15,000 pages in its modern edition. This indicates why this comprehensive text is ascribed to as a 'spiritual encyclopaedia'.

Despite the differences between poetical and philosophical literature, these Sufi texts share similarities through the mystical approach they undertake alongside the notion that they were produced as an act of spiritual devotion. This highlights the variety of approaches that can be taken towards attaining a closer connection to Allah in Islam, with art and literature acting as key components within the Sufi branch.