“The route of the Sufis leads to the same ending as the route of the scholars, and the route of the scholars leads to the same ending as that of the Sufis. The hardships the scholars encounter during their endeavours are the same hardships the Sufis face on their route. The Tariqah (Sufi order) is the same as the rules of the Religion and the rules of the Religion are the same as the Tariqah. The difference between them is that of terminology– however their content, meaning, and result is the same. I only see the Sufi as misguided if he denies the route of the scholar; and the scholar as deprived of much goodness if he denies the route of the Sufi”

- Sidi Ahmad ar-Rifa'i, the founder of the Rifa'i Tariqah.