idries shahs definitive work the sufis completely overturned western misconceptions of sufism revealing a great spiritual and psychological tradition encompassing many of the worlds greatest thinkers rumi omar khayyam ibn elarabi alghazzali saadi attar francis of assisi and many othersthe astonishing impact of sufism on the development of western civilization from the seventh century is traced through the work of roger bacon john of the cross raymond lully chaucer and others many of the greatest traditions ideas and discoveries of the west are traced to the teachings and writings of sufi masters working centuries agobut the sufis is far more than an historical accountin the tradition of the great sufi classics the deeper appeal of this remarkable book is in its ability to function as an active instrument of instruction in a way that is so clearly relevant to our time and culture