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In the roots of sufi philosophy there are influences of neoplatonist and other philosophies.

Many of the practices of Orthodox Christian hermits and desert-dwellers were imitated in Sufism's growth in the center of the former-Christian lands of the Middle East.

Ascetic practices within the sufi philosophy were also associated with Buddhism.

The notion of purification ( cleaning one's soul from all evil things and trying to reach Nirvana and to become immortal in Nirvana ) plays an important role in Buddhism.

The same idea shows itself in the belief of " fanaa " ( union with God ) in Sufi philosophy .< ref >" The Neoplatonist Roots of Sufi Philosophy " by Kamuran Godelek, 20th World Congress of Philosophy, < sup ></ sup ></ ref >