The thesis first summarises the history and main ideas of Sufism. It then examines the reception, mainly favourable, of Shah's representation of Sufism particulary in the West, and, finally, attempts to analyse and explain his methodology. It is not the aim of this thesis to examine the complete works of Idries Shah. Rather, by studying a number of his texts I have endeavoured to emphasise Shah's role as a pontifex between Islam and the West. As well as placing Shah within the complicated realm of Sufi thought, I have examined in some detail the methods by which he has played this role. The aspect of Shah that I have focused upon is that of the populariser and explicator of Sufism. For Shah the subject of Sufism is not one confined to academic study. It is a way of knowing related to everyday life and particularly relevant to the needs of the West at a time when the Western world is experiencing emotional and spiritual bankruptcy. Shah resembles the deconstructionist theorists in that he sees the limits of the language on which the West has relied for so long. But, even though his method is similar to theirs, he differs from them in that for him there is another realm of knowledge beyond language. I have quoted extensively from the stories Shah uses in order to demonstrate the ideas and images he thinks are relevant to an understanding of Sufism for the West, and I have used reviews and comments from audiences in both East and West in order to demonstrate what those audiences think of what Shah is attempting to do. This thesis examines the pedagogical techniques employed in this process. The applicablity of deconstruction theory to Sufi teaching is considered.