ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects on the Sufi approach for legitimating the Sufi outlook as a third social force contributing to the Muslim–Christian dialogue. Sufism comes into its own as a social and political entity that establishes an identifiable measure of power and influence within the realm of religious legitimation. The main argument of the chapter is that Sufism successfully promotes a mystical alternative to religious understanding with real social and political ramifications that impact on ‘orthodox’ appreciation of religion.
