Fariduddin Attar's 'Mantiq al-Tayr' uses the journey through the seven valleys as a detailed metaphor for the soul's progression from a state of seeking to the final realization of Divine Unity.

Abu Sa'id was the one who handed over the administration of his madrasa and his spiritual mantle to Gilani. Under Gilani's leadership, the center in Baghdad became the most famous spiritual institution of its time.

The Bektashis were instrumental in the Islamization of the Balkans. Their inclusive and folk-oriented practices allowed them to bridge the gap between the Ottoman rulers and the local Christian populations.

'Sirr' literally means secret. In Sufi literature, it refers to the innermost core of the human heart where the most intimate connection with Allah takes place and where spiritual mysteries are experienced.

Under the leadership of Baha-ud-din Zakariya, Multan became the Suhrawardi capital of India. The order's emphasis on organized administration and its cooperative relationship with the state helped it thrive in the region.

While Ghazali's 'Ihya' was in Arabic for scholars, he wrote 'Kimya-e-Saadat' (The Alchemy of Happiness) in Persian to reach a wider audience of laypeople in the eastern Islamic lands.

Ahmad Sirhindi (1564–1624) was a Naqshbandi master in India. He is famous for his resistance to Akbar's Din-i-Ilahi and his work in restoring pure Islamic practices and theology during a period of perceived religious decline.

Barakah is the divine grace that flows through a saint due to their proximity to Allah. It is believed to benefit those who associate with the saint, visit their shrine, or follow their spiritual discipline.

Junaid of Baghdad argued that the seeker should not remain in a state of ecstasy but should return to 'sobriety' to fulfill their duties to God and society. His balanced approach became the standard for 'orthopath' Sufism.

Bayazid is the most famous representative of the 'ecstatic' (Sukr) school of Sufism. He is remembered for his 'Shat'hiyyat' (ecstatic utterances) that described his overwhelming experience of the Divine presence.