Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:

"Sufism, Mystical movement within Islam that seeks to find divine love and knowledge through direct personal experience of God. It consists of a variety of mystical paths that are designed to ascertain the nature of mankind and God and to facilitate the experience of divine love and wisdom in the world."

(Source: https://www.britannica.com/summary/Sufism)

(a) Where did Sufism originate, and how did it spread to India?

(b) What does Sufism regard as necessary for gaining the knowledge of God?

(a) Sufism was a reform movement of Islam, which actually started in Persia and later on penetrated into India.

(b) Sufism regards direct personal experience of God, inner purity, self-discipline, and free thinking as necessary for gaining the knowledge of God.