The question is sometimes asked whether Sufism is a religion. Yes, Sufism is the religion, not a religion. As it is the religion, it has always been and will always be. What we call Judaism, Christianity, or Islam is all Sufism in its essence. The question of whether the Sufis have a religion, a form, or a dogma may be answered, "The Sufi is not subject to form or dogma, but the Sufi uses form and dogma as the soul uses a name and a form." The one who questions the importance of a name and form must first come out of his body and then ask, "Why is there a form?" He must become free from the name and form he has. A man carries in his heart his own name, yet he says, "Anything that has a name, I am against it."

In this world of names and forms, it is absurd to say we do not need a name or a form. Therefore what a Sufi does with his realization of the essence of religion is to arrive at the understanding of the use of names and forms. He does not allow names and forms to blind him; he takes names and forms and uses them towards that purpose which he has to accomplish through life.

The Sufi worship is a worship of all scriptures and all religions. But this does not mean that we have a discussion or a debate on comparative religion by this worship. Neither do we believe only in certain scriptures. We do not mean that these scriptures on the altar are the only ones to which we adhere and which we respect, rejecting the other scriptures. By kindling the lights in the name of the great religions of the world, we do not mean that we believe in only these particular religions and we reject the other religions. It is only meant that our religion is what may be called the religion, a religion which embraces all scriptures and all religions, a religion which recognizes the value of wisdom, and a religion the God of which can be found in truth alone.