Sufism, in the meaning of the word, is wisdom; wisdom is a knowledge acquired from both within and without. Sufism is not only an intuitive knowledge, nor is it only knowledge acquired from life in the world outside. Sufism in itself is no religion, nor even a cult as a distinct or definite doctrine. No better explanation of Sufism can be given than by saying that any person who has a knowledge of life outside and within is a Sufi. Therefore there has not been, in any period of the world's history, a founder, or an exponent, of Sufism; yet Sufism has existed all the time.