This paper examinesthe practice of veneratingthe Prophet of Islam, a practicewidespread among Sufis of variousmystical brotherhoods in late medieval Transoxiana. This practice has a long history in Sufism. It is shown that, drawing on hadith literature, Sufis sought to emulate the Prophet in their daily lives or to align their actions with his. It concludes that, through their acts of veneration, Muslim mystics not only expressed unquestioning respect for the Prophet, but also sought to refine and renew their piety and holiness.
