SUFISM
SUFISM
- Sufis are deeply devoted mystics who believed in the basic doctrine of ‘Wahadat-ul Wujud’ or the ‘Unity of the Being’ – between the creator & the created.
- The term ‘Sufi’ is derived form ‘Suf’ or Coarse wool
- ‘Khanqah’ was the auspice where the ‘Pir’ or preceptor lived.
- They believed in religious music called ‘Sama’ where they experienced an ecstasy & trance.
- They came to India before the Turkish rule but got established only after Turks stsrted ruling here.
- The Sufis had to pass through ten stages of spiritual development some of which were
‘Tauba’ - Repentance
‘Wara’ - Abstinence
‘Sabr’ - Patience
‘Tawakkul’ – Contentment
‘Riza - Submission to divine will.
- The Sufis, according to Abul Fazl, were divided into 14 ‘Silsilahs’or Orders, which were again divided into ‘ba - share’ (those who followed the Islamic law) & ‘be – shara’ (those who were not bound by it).
Chisti Order :
-Founder – Sheikh Muin-ud-din Chisti in India
- He was born in Sijistan & settled in Ajmer.
-Other famous Chistis Saints-
i. Hamid-ud-din Nagauri
ii. Qutb-ub-din Bhaktiyar Kaki – after whom the Qutub Minar is named
iii. Nizam-ud-din Auliya, who had problems with Mubarak Khaliji & Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.
He was given the popular title, ‘Mahbub-i-ilahi’, Which meant beloved of the God’.
His tomb at Delhi was constructed by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
iv. Farid-ud-din Mahmud whose disciple Zia Naqshaki translated the ‘Sukha Sptati’ as ‘Tutinama’.
v. Shaikh Nasir-ud-din Mahmud ‘Chirag-i-Delhi’ was a Charismatic Saint.
vi. Syed Muhmmad ‘ Gesu Daraz’ established the Chishti order in Gulbarga, Karnataka.
- He earned the title, ‘Bandanawag’ (Benefactor of God’s Creatures)
- They believed in Simplicity & propriety, non-possession of property & charity & inexcessive austerities or self – mortification.
Suhrawardi Order :
- Founder – Shaikh Shibab-ud-din Suhrawardi.
- In India it was Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria of Multan.
- Rukn-ud-din abdul Fath-another prominent Saint.
- Establilshed themselves in the North – West
- Unilike the chistis, the Suhrawardis mingled with the Muslim aristocracy & tool active part in politics, holding important postc especially in the ecclesiastical department.
Qadiri Order :
- Founder – Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghbad.
- In India – Shaikh Nizamat aullah.
- The most famous – Nasir-ud-din Muhammad Jilani.
- Prominent in Sind & Lahore.
- Dara Shikov belonged to this order & a follower of Mullah Shah Badakshahi.
Naqshabandi Order:
- Introduced in India by Khwaja Baqi Billah Shaikh, Ahmad Sarhindi was the most prominent, who was a contemporary of Akbar & Jahangir.
- Sarhindi led the Jaghallab movement & he supported imposition of Jaziya, cow slaughter & was against the Shias.
- Mirza Mazhar & Knwaja Mir Dard revived the Naqshbandi order.
- They tried to harmonise the doctrines of mysticism with the teachings of orthodox Islam.
Other Seets:
- Rishi Order (Kashmir) – Shaikh Nuruddin Rishi influenced by Lall
Ded of Kashmir.
- Kubrawiya Order (Kashmir) – Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani
- Mahadawi Movement (Jaunpur) – Muhammad Madhi
- Raushniya Sect (Jullunder) – Bayazid Ansari
- Shattari Order – Abdullah Shattari