Using “ism” to describe practices or ideologies can sometimes carry negative connotations because it often denotes rigid doctrines or ideologies. In the context of “Sufism” versus “Tasawwuf,” the concern is that labeling Tasawwuf as an “ism” could imply it’s merely one of many ideological systems, potentially stripping it of its profound, experiential, and deeply spiritual essence rooted in Islamic practice. This reduction might overlook the dynamic, lived experience of Tasawwuf as an integral path within Islam, rather than a separate or fixed ideology.