ICSE Class 9 Answered

Similarities between bhaktism and Sufism were:

• The Bhakti and Sufi movements showed the people that the existence of God could be experienced under the guidance of a guru. Priests or ulemas are not required to feel the presence of God. Thus, many people began to question the authority and domination of their religion by religious authorities.
• The Bhakti and the Sufi saints criticised the existence of rituals in the Indian society.
• Both Sufi and Bhakti movements emphasised on the feeling of universal brotherhood and religious tolerance. As a result, an environment of mutual love and respect was created among different sections of society.
• The Bhakti and Sufi saints preached their teachings in the local language. This led to the development of the local and vernacular languages.

Some major differences between sufism and bhakti movement were:

• While the Bhakti movement was largely followed by the Hindus, Sufism influenced the Muslims.
• While the saints of the Bhakti Movement sang bhajans to worship Gods and Goddesses, Sufi saints sang Qawwalis- a form of music to inspire religious devotion and instruction.
• The development of the Bhakti cult first began in South India in the 7th-8th century in order to bridge the gulf between the Shaivas and the Vaishnavas. On the other hand, following the entrance of Islam in the early 8th century, Sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the Delhi Sultanate.