He began seeking religion for himself in his mid-20s and came across Sufism through self-help spirituality books and a healing therapist.

Buddhism, Catholicism, Sufism, Hinduism — in countless belief systems, religious beads keep track of the rhythmic repetitions of prayers, chants or devotions.

Proponents of folk Sufism attracted a significant following along the lower classes, which perceived them as more genuine, altruistic, austere and generous than the jurists.