Salik is a term for a follower of
Sufism. Its root is the verb
salaka which means to travel or follow. It is related to
suluk "pathway".
Suluk here specifically refers to a spiritual path, i.e. the combination of the two "paths" that can be followed in religion, the exoteric path or
shariah, and the esoteric path or
haqiqa. The "path" metaphor is derived from the Qur'an: see
sura 16, (An-Nahl, The Bees), ayat 69:
- fasluki subula rabbiki dhululan "and follow the ways of your Lord made easy [for you]", which uses the imperative of the verb salaka which means to follow or to travel
