Sufism-ugc

Sufism-ugc

1-Those saints among the Muslims who advocated a life of purity and renunciation were called Sufis. Another view is that the word Sufi came out of the word Sooph meaning wool.

2-Sufism sprang from the doctrine of Wahadat-ul wajud or unity of being. This doctrine was propounded by lbn-

Ul-Arabi(1165-1240AD).

3-One of the earliest Sufis was a woman saint Rabia of Basra who laid great emphasis on love as bond between

god and individual soul

4-The Sufis were organized in 12 order or Sitsilas. The silsilas were generally led by a prominent mystic who

lived in Khanqah along with his disciples.

5-The link between the teacher or Pir and his disciple or Murid was a vital part-of Sufi system. Every Pir

nominated a successor or Walt to carry out work.

6-The Sufi orders are widely divided into two - Ba-sahara that is those who followed the Islamic law and Be-Sahara that is those, who were not bound by it. 01 the Be-sahara movement only two acquired significant

influence. These were the Chisti and Suharwardi

Silsilahs.

Chisti Silsila

The Chisti order was founded by Khwaja Abdal Chisti in Herat, it was brought to India by Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti (1141- 1236). He arrived at Lahore in 1161 AD and settled at Ajmer about 1206 AD. However, the most famous of Chisti saints were Nizamitddin Auliya and Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Delhi. Auliya was generally known as Mahbub-i-llahi (beloved of God). They made themselves popular by adopting musical recitation called Sama to create mood of nearness to god.

Suhrawardi Silsila

It was founded by Shaikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi. The credit of organising it goes to Shaikh Bahauddin

Zakariya. Its main centre was Multan. Saints of this order had big Jagirs and had close contact with state.

Firdausi Silsila

Slunk Badruddin of Samark first established it in Delhi, but later on it moved to Bihar and became the most influential mystic older. Its most distinguished saint was Shaikh Shamasuddin Yahya Munair who believed in Pantheistic monoism.

Shattari Silsila

It was founded in India by Shah Abdullah Shattari. However it gained in popularity under Shaik

Muhammad Ghauth of Gwalior. Among his disciple were the famous musician Tansen. The Shattari saints sought to synthesize Hindu and mystical Muslim thoughts to practice.

Qadiri Silsila

Shah Niamatullah Qadri was probably the first notable saint of this order to enter India but it was Syed Muhammad Jilaui who organised it on affective basis. Dara Shikoh. the eldest son of Shah Jahan was follower of this order.

Naqshbandi Silsila

This Silsila was introduced in India by Khwaja Baqi Billah during the later years of Akhar’s reign.

It attained a position of great importance in India under the leadership of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. He was opposed to pantheistic philosophy wahadat-ul-wujud and propounded the theory of wahadal-ul- shudud.

Mahdawi Movement

It was initiated by Syed Muhammad Mahadi of Jaunpur He concentrated his energies on

regeneration of people.

Raushaniyah Movement

The movement owed its origin to Miyan Bayazid Ansari a native of Jalandhar. He emphasised inter organisation of religious riles and inspired his followers with the ideal of ascetic self-denial.