---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and…"
description: "\"“Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or even 'Do as I do', but 'Experience and you will know'.”\" — Idries Shah"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/idries-shah-450_experience_sufism-is-therefore-not-do-as-i-say-and_1566799.jpg"
---

#  Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or…

![“Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or even 'Do as I do', but 'Experience and you will know'.” quote by Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/idries-shah-450_experience_sufism-is-therefore-not-do-as-i-say-and_1566799.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/idries-shah-450_experience_sufism-is-therefore-not-do-as-i-say-and_1566799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39e/idries-shah-450_experience_sufism-is-therefore-not-do-as-i-say-and_1566799.jpg)

> ““Sufism is therefore not 'Do as I say and not as I do', or even 'Do as I do', but 'Experience and you will know'.””

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True wisdom comes from personal experience, not mere instruction.

**In simple terms:** Experience teaches more than words.

Key Takeaway

Seek direct experience over dogma.

Themes

spirituality experience learning

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- meditation
- travel
- personal crises

Key Concepts

Sufism inner transformation

Questions to Reflect On

- How have you learned by doing?
- What teachings have you lived?

A Different Perspective

Experience can be misinterpreted without guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Hindu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hindu/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rumi/) [Sufis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufis/) [Sufism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufism/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

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> [It is the message, not the man, which is important to the Sufis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-the-message-not-the-man-which-is-important-to-the-sufis/)

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## More by Idries Shah

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