---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that Sufism fits all over the…"
description: "\"I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png"
---

#  I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept…

![“I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal.” quote by Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png)

> “I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal.”

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker suggests Sufism transcends cultural boundaries, not fitting Western frameworks, and is deeply intertwined with local culture, music, and religion, especially in Senegal.

**In simple terms:** Sufism is a cultural and spiritual practice linked to music and religion.

Key Takeaway

Explore Sufism beyond Western labels.

Themes

spirituality culture music global perspectives religion

Mood

reflective inquisitive

Type

cultural spiritual

When to use this quote

- traveling musicians
- cultural festivals
- interfaith dialogues
- academic studies on mysticism

Key Concepts

Sufism as cultural expression musical devotion regional religious practices

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of Sufism resonate universally?
- How does music shape spiritual experience?

A Different Perspective

Sufism may be interpreted differently across societies, challenging a single definition.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Hindu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hindu/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sufism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufism/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Western](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/western/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [I never went to church a day in my life. The dominant religion (influence) in my family was my grandfather who was a Scientologist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-jones/i-never-went-to-church-a-day-in-my-life-the-dominant-religion/)

[Jason Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-jones/)

> [A dominant religion is never ascetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-dominant-religion-is-never-ascetic/)

[Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/)

> [Environmentalism, apocalyptic environmentalism in particular, has become the dominant religion of supposedly secular people in the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/environmentalism-apocalyptic-environmentalism-in-particular-has/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [The Sufi is One who does not care when something is taken from him, but who does not cease to seek for what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-sufi-is-one-who-does-not-care-when-something-is-taken-from-him/)

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

> [“People talk of the Sufi way. Wrong. If there is a way, it’s not Sufism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/people-talk-of-the-sufi-way-wrong-if-there-is-a-way-it-s-not-sufism/)

[Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/)

> [Sufism is not a religion or a philosophy, it is neither deism nor atheism, nor is it a moral, nor a special kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/sufism-is-not-a-religion-or-a-philosophy-it-is-neither-deism-nor/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [The sufis believe that they can experience something more complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-sufis-believe-that-they-can-experience-something-more-complete/)

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

> [“The Sufi teacher’s mission is to be in the service of those who can learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/the-sufi-teacher-s-mission-is-to-be-in-the-service-of-those-who-can/)

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

> [If anybody asks what Sufism is, what kind of religion is it, the answer is that Sufism is the religion of the heart, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/if-anybody-asks-what-sufism-is-what-kind-of-religion-is-it-the-answer/)

[Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/)

> [“It is a Sufi contention that truth is not discovered or maintained by the mere repetition of teachings. It can only be kept understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-a-sufi-contention-that-truth-is-not-discovered-or-maintained-by/)

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

> [Sufism states that deep within, everyone is the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aparna-sen/sufism-states-that-deep-within-everyone-is-the-same/)

[Aparna Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aparna-sen/)

> [We view Sufism not as an ideology that molds people to the right way of belief or action, but as an art or science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/we-view-sufism-not-as-an-ideology-that-molds-people-to-the-right-way/)

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

> [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/)

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

> [“Sufism is transmitted by means of the human exemplar, the teacher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/sufism-is-transmitted-by-means-of-the-human-exemplar-the-teacher/)

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

> [“To be a Sufi is to detach from fixed ideas and from preconceptions; and not to try to avoid what is your lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/to-be-a-sufi-is-to-detach-from-fixed-ideas-and-from-preconceptions/)

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

## More by Youssou N'Dour

> [I have to protect my family and have a life with them that is completely private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-have-to-protect-my-family-and-have-a-life-with-them-that-is/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [I don't want to see that two-tier Senegal, that two-tier Africa, when you have those at the top and those at the bottom, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-don-t-want-to-see-that-two-tier-senegal-that-two-tier-africa-when/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [I really want to bring the message of love that is Islam to people; bring something new to that familiar face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-really-want-to-bring-the-message-of-love-that-is-islam-to-people/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [I grew up with reggae music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-grew-up-with-reggae-music/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Music is a language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/music-is-a-language/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Islam is a peaceful religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/islam-is-a-peaceful-religion/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Politics is politics; art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/politics-is-politics-art-is-art-if-you-play-a-political-role-you-have/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Malaria kills and its main victims are children and women. We can stop this scourge so people can live with dignity and go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/malaria-kills-and-its-main-victims-are-children-and-women-we-can-stop/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [People need to see that, far from being an obstacle, the world's diversity of languages, religions and traditions is a great treasure, affording us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/people-need-to-see-that-far-from-being-an-obstacle-the-world-s/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [I don't really see myself as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-don-t-really-see-myself-as-an-actor/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Africa is the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/africa-is-the-future/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [If you come from Africa with your economic poverty and your cultural riches, and you meet someone like Peter Gabriel or a person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/if-you-come-from-africa-with-your-economic-poverty-and-your-cultural/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Western record companies haven't always dealt with African musicians in the best way. Giving them a lot of money and telling them they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/western-record-companies-haven-t-always-dealt-with-african-musicians/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [Senegal needs a renaissance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/senegal-needs-a-renaissance/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

> [When I'm in Senegal, I can't just sit in isolation making music. People need my help. And the Senegalese people helped create my music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/when-i-m-in-senegal-i-can-t-just-sit-in-isolation-making-music-people/)

[Youssou N'Dour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

[Explore all 37 Youssou N'Dour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/)

## More Culture quotes

> [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/)

[Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/)

[Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/)

> [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/)

[Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/)

> [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/)

[Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/)

> [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/)

[Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/)

> [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/)

[Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/)

[Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/)

> [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/)

[Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/)

> [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/)

[Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/)

> [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/)

[Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/)

> [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/)

[David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/)

> [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

[Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas - it's always related to culture, to music, to religion. It is a dominant religion in Senegal.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Youssou N'Dour"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-world-the-concept-is-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Culture"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-world-the-concept-is-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc3/youssou-n-dour-17420_culture_i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-wo_649688.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think that Sufism fits all over the world. The concept is not anything that fits standard Western ideas…” — Youssou N'Dour",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Youssou N'Dour",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/youssou-n-dour/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think that Sufism fits all...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-world-the-concept-is-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/youssou-n-dour/i-think-that-sufism-fits-all-over-the-world-the-concept-is-not/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
