Naqshbandiya:
The Naqshbandiya tariqah is named after Hadrat Shah Baha al-Din Naqshband R. A [d.791H / 1389CE] and is a tariqah that is widely active throughout the world today. It is described as the 'Mother of all Tariqah's' by Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi [d.1034H / 1624CE]( R.A). There are hundreds of Spiritual Order's which are all on the correct path but the Naqshbandiya, together with the Qadiriya, Chistiya and Suhrawardiya, are considered as the four main Silsila's of the Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l Jama'at.
The designation of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain has changed from century to century. From the time of Hadrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Hadrat Bayazid al-Bistami radi Allahu ta'ala anhu it was called as-Siddiqiyya. From the time of Bayazid al-Bistami [d.261H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Sayyadina Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani [d.575H] radi Allahu anhu it was called at-Tayfuriyya. From the time of Sayyadina 'Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Hadrat Shah Naqshband radi Allahu ta'ala anhu it was called the Khwajaganiyya.
From the time of Hadrat Shah Naqshband [d.791H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu through the time of Sayyadina Ubaidullah al-Ahrar radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and Sayyidina Ahmad Faruqi [d.1034H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, it was called Naqshbandiyya. Naqshbandiyya means to "tie the Naqsh very well." The Naqsh is the perfect engraving of Allah's Name in the heart of the murid [disciple]. From the time of Sayyadina Ahmad al-Faruqi [d.1034H] radi Allahu anhu to the time of Shaykh Khalid al-Baghdadi [d.1242H] radi Allahu anhu it was called Naqshbandi-Mujaddidiyya. From the time of Sayyidina Khalid al-Baghdadi [d.1242H] radi Allahu anhu until the time of Sayyadina Shaykh Ismail Shirwani radi Allahu anhu it was called the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya.
Qadiriyyah:
Qadiriyyah (also transliterated Kadri, Elkadry, Kadray, Qadiri or Qadri), is one of the oldest Sufi tariqas. It derives its name from Abdul-Qadir Gilani (ra) (also transliterated as "Jil lani" or "Jailani" and "Jilali" in the Maghreb) AH 470 (1077-1166), a native of the Iranian province of Gilan. In 1134 he was made principal of a Sunni Hanbalite school in Baghdad.
His contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism and Sharia was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time, al-Gauth al Azam (the "Supreme Helper" or the "Mightiest Succor"). His writings were similar to those of al-Ghazali in that they dealt with both the fundamentals of Islam and the mystical experience of Sufism.
The Order is the most widespread of the Sufi Orders in the Islamic world and can be found in Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, the Balkans, China, as well as much of the East and West Africa, like Morocco.[citation needed]
There are even small groups in Europe and the Americas. The famous traveller and writer Isabelle Eberhardt also belonged to the Qadiri order.
Chishtiya:
The Chishti Order is a Sufi order within the mystic branches of Islam which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, about 930 C.E. and continues to this day. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness.
The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami (ra) (“the Syrian”) who belonged to Syria introduced the ideas Sufism in the town of Chisht, some 95 miles east of Herat in present-day western Afghanistan. Before returning to Syria Hazrat Shami(ra) initiated, trained and deputized the son of the local Aamir, Abu Ahmad Abdal (ra) (d. 966). Under the leadership of Abu Ahmad’s (ra) descendants, the Chishtiya as they are also known, flourished as a regional mystical order.
The most famous of the Chishti saints is Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti (ra) (popularly known as Gharib Nawaz meaning 'Benefactor of the Poor') who settled in Ajmer, India. He oversaw the growth of the order in the 13th century as Islamic religious laws were canonized. Other famous saints of the Chishti Order are Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (rehmatullah alaih) , Fariduddin Ganjshakar(rehmatullah alaih), Nizamuddin Auliya(rehmatullah alaih), Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari(rehmatullah alaih), Mohammed Badesha Qadri(rehmatullah alaih), and Ashraf Jahangir Semnani(rehmatullah alaih).
The silsila sabiriiya, Nizamiya and Ashrafiya is the branch of Chistiya Silsila.
Chishti master Hazrat Inayat Khan (rehmatullah alaih) (1882–1927) was the first to bring the Sufi path to the West, arriving in America in 1910 and later settling near Paris, France. His approach exemplified the tolerance and openness of the Chishti Order, following a custom began by Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullah alaih) of initiating and training disciples regardless of religious affiliation and which continued through Nizamuddin Auliya (rehmatullah alaih) and Shaykh ul-Masha”ikh Kalimullah Jehanabadi (rehmatullah alaih) (d. 1720). All his teaching was given in English, and 12 volumes of his discourses on topics related to the spiritual path are still available from American, European, and Indian sources. Initiates of his form of Sufi practice now number in the several thousands all over the world.
A number of Chishti family members are now living in Pakpattan and Bahawal Nagar, North of Punjab, Pakistan.
Madariya:
Madariyya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra), He is a prominent sufi saint whose tomb is situated in Makanpur, near Kanpur city in the State of Uttar Pradesh in INDIA.
He was born in 242 Hijri, and lived for 576 yrs, When Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra was 14 years of age, he had completed the education and he asked his father Sayed kazi kidwattuddin ali halbi (ra that he wishes to merge in the Jaffariya chain.
That thought also encouraged him to say before his parents that there are two main tasks to be done in his life one is towards the almighty Allah and other is towards the parents. Hence he requested them to let him go into the way of Islam and spread the teachings of Islam amongst others. He was permitted by his parents for the task with the answer that we free you from our rights and let you in the hands of the almighty Allah.
Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar was the Khalifa of Sultanul Arifeen Hazrat Bayjid Bustami (ra) when they met Sultanul Arifeen Hazrat Bayjid Bustami(r) said that Badiuddin, I was waiting for you. I used to see a miraculous light here, but now that I had seen you I believe that the light I had seen is you.
Mureed (Disciple) of Hazrat Sayed Bayazid Bustami Sahib:
Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar (ra) got fame in the region that there is a true follower of Islam here in the people, and that he is sure a wali of Allah, who is an example into himself. When this news reached Hazrat Sayed Bayazid Bustami(ra), he invited Hazrat Shah Madar Sahib(ra) to his place.
In the first meeting he kissed the forehead and eyes of Madar Sahib (ra) and said that in a dream he saw that The Prophet (may peace be upon him) in one gathering has ordered Bustami (ra) that very soon you will meet a man whose name will be Ahmad Badiuddin(ra). So when you meet him you should offer him all the teachings that you have earned, as it is his authority. So I am ready to do so.
After that Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra) was pledged with the Tayfooriya chain and was being said as Silsila-e-Tayfooriya. Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra) accepted the fellowship of the Bayazid(ra), and he continued the journey towards Makkah and performed the Hajj. After that he stayed there for some days. One day when he was doing the Tawa'af of the Kaba shareef when he heard a voice saying that: "Badiuddin, you should leave for Madina. Hearing this it was the extent of his curiosity and he left immediately towards Madina.
Note: Junaid Baghdadi has said in his sayings about Hazrat Afreen Bayazid Bustami((ra) that his status in the walies is the most prominent one. Where all the ways towards the followers of the almighty ends, there starts the beginning of the Bayjid chain.
Hazrat Abu Sayed Al Khair has said that he has seen that the Bayazid is the follower of truth.
Badawiyyah:
The Badawiyyah, Sufi tarika, was founded in the thirteenth century in Egypt by Hazrat Ahmad al-Badawi(ra). Hazrat Ahmad al-Badawi(ra) is one of the 4 main kutub-ul-kutubs of this world who handels the nizam of all the Auliya Allah.
He was born in Fez, Morocco in 596 AH and died in Tanta, Egypt in 675 AH. He was noted for his ascetic behavior, and was also known to perform many miracles.
This silsila was, extremely popular during both the Mamluk and Ottoman periods of Egypt. Mamluk Sultans often supported elaborate 'Mawlids' at the resting place of Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi (ra) in the Nile Delta town of Tanta.
During the Ottoman period, this order spread to Turkey and there were several Tekkes or zawiyas in Istanbul many of which survived until the founding of the Turkish republic.
The Urs of Hazrat Seyyid Badawi (ra) is still celebrated in Egypt every year where the population of Tanta swells to almost double. Tents are placed in the streets around the Mosque of Seyyid Badawi (ra) where Qur'an recitations and sermons by important scholars from al-Azhar are delivered.
Qalandariyah:
Qalandar is a title given to Sufi mystics,
The Qalandariyah, Qalandaris or "kalandars" are wanderering Sufi dervishes. The term covers a variety of sects, not centrally organized. One was founded by Qalandar Yusuf al-Andalusi of Andalusia, Spain.
Starting in the early 12th century, the movement gained popularity in Greater Khorasan and neighbouring regions. The first references are found in 11th century prose text Qalandarname (The Tale of the Kalandar) attributed to Ansari Harawi. The term Qalandariyyat (the Qalandar condition) appears to be first applied by Sanai Ghaznavi (d 1131) in seminal poetic works where diverse practices are described. Particular to the qalandar genre of poetry are terms that refer to gambling, games, intoxicants and Nazar ila'l-murd - themes commonly referred to as kufriyyat or kharabat.
The term remains in popular culture. Sufi qawwali singers the Sabri brothers and international Qawwali star Nustrat Fateh Ali Khan favoured the chant dam a dam masta qalandar (Oh go, go, crazy Qalandar!),
Some famous Sufis called Qalandar include Dada Hayat Qalandar, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander and Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Hazrat Zhul Al Nun Misri, Rabia Basri Qalandar.
Today, the term qalanders in South Asia often refers to roaming Muslim teachers who may be spiritually associated with the above mentioned saints.
Rifaiya:
The Founder of this silsila is Hazrath Syedna Ahmed Kabir Rifayee Ra
His full name was Abdul Abbas Mohiuddin Syed Ahmed Kabir Rifayee (Ra). One of his forefather's name was 'Rifaah' and so he became very popular with the name of Rifayee. Having born as 15th descendant of Hazrath Syedna Imam Hussain R.A, he was called 'Hussaini'. He belonged to the 'Shaafayee' Maslak. Even before his birth itself Huzur Akram Sallallahu Alaih Wasallam prophesied about him to his maternal uncle Hazrath Baz'as'hab Mansoor Bataahi (R.A.). He asked him to name the boy Ahmed. He said that he would be the leader of saints (Auliya Allah) and advised him to send the boy to Shaik Ali Qadiri Wasthi (R.A.) for education and training.
The order has a marked presence in Syria and Egypt and plays a noticeable role in Kosovo and Albania. The Rifa'i Tariqa has a notable tendency to blend worship styles or ideas with those of other orders that predominate in the local area. For example, the group established by Ken'an Rifa'i in Istanbul reflects elements of the Mevlevi Order, while more rural Turkish Rifa'is have sometimes absorbed significant influence from the Alevi/Bektashi tradition.
The order spread into Anatolia during the 14th and 15th Centuries and ibn Battuta makes note of Rifa'i 'tekkes' in central Anatolia. The order however, began to make ground in Turkey during the 17th to 19th centuries when tekkes began to be found in Istanbul the imperial capital of the Ottoman Empire, from here the order spread into the Balkans (especially Bosnia (where they are still present), modern day Albania and Kosovo. During the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II the Rifa'i order gained even more popularity in Istanbul ranking alongside the Khalwati, Qadiri and Naqshbandi orders as 'orthodox' Sufi orders.
Current manifestations of the order in the United States include the tekkes (lodges) in Staten Island and Toronto that were under the guidance of the late Shaykh Xhemali Shehu (d.2004) of Prizren, Kosovo. Each of these orders is ultimately Turkish in origin.
Shadhili:
The Shazhili order takes its name from Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili (1196/1197 - 1258 CE). He was born in Ghumara, near Cueta in northern Morocco into a family of peasant labourers. He studied the principles of Islamic Law (fiqh) at the Qarawiyyin University in Fez. He subsequently traveled to many countries. In Iraq he met the Sufi Hazrat Shaykh Wasiti (RA) who told him to return to his country where he could find Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam Ibn Mashish (RA), the great Moroccan spiritual master. He did so, and became the close follower of this spiritual master who initiated him in the way of remembrance of Allah. When he met Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam (RA), after ritually washing himself, he said, 'O Allah, I have been washed of my knowledge and action so that I do not possess knowledge or action except what comes to me from this Shaykh.'
Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili traveled from Morocco to Spain and finally settled down in Alexandria in Egypt. Later on in life, when asked who his spiritual master was, he used to reply, 'I used to be the close follower (murid) of Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam Ibn Mashish(RA), but I am no more the murid of any human master.'
Hazrat Shaykh Abu'l-Abbas al-Mursi (d. 1288), who succeeded Hazrat Shaykh ash-Shazhili (RA) as the next spiritual master of the Order, was asked about the knowledge of his spiritual master and replied, 'He gave me forty sciences. He was an ocean without a shore.'
Hazrat Shaykh ash-Shazhili (RA) had hundreds of close followers in both Alexandria and Cairo, not only from among the common people but also from among the ruling classes. He taught his close followers to lead a life of contemplation and remembrance of Allah while performing the normal everyday activities of the world. He disliked initiating any would-be follower unless that person already had a profession. His admonition to his close followers was to apply the teachings of Islam in their own lives in the world and to transform their existence.
Among the many writings attributed to Hazrat Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili is famous litany "Hizb al-Bahar".
Shattari :
Shattari is a Sufi mystical order (tariqah) originating in Persia in the fifteenth century A.D. and later taken to India. The word Shattar means "speed", "rapidness" or "fast-goer and is a system of spiritual practices which lead quickly to a state of annihilation of the ego in God (fana) and subsistence through God (baqa).
Idries Shah(RA), writing in The Sufis, states that the Shattari technique or "the Rapidness" originated with the Naqshbandi Sufi Order and that after the early nineteenth century it returned to "the custody" of that "parent school".
The Shattari succession or chain of transmission (silsilah) is said to ultimately go back to Sheikh Bayazid Taifur Bustami(ra),whilst the order itself, which uses the Shattari techniques, is a branch of the Tayfuri Khanwada and was reputedly founded by Sheikh Sirajuddin Abdullah Shattar(RA) (d. 1406 CE), a descendent of Sheikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi(ra) Shattar was deputized and given the honorific "Shattar" by his teacher Sheikh Muhammad Taifur (ra) in recognition of the austerities he faced in achieving this station (maqaam).
The book Jawahir-i khams, (The Five Jewels).
Originating in Persia, the order and its teachings were later brought to India by Sheikh Abdullah Shattar.(RA) According to Idries Shah(RA), "Hazrat Shattar (RA) visited India in the fifteenth century, wandering from one monastery to another, and made known the method. His procedure was to approach the chief of a Sufi group and say, 'Teach me your method, share it with me. If you will not, I invite you to share mine.'"
Hazrat Shattar's(ra) successor was Shah Wajih ad-Din (RA) (d. 1018 AH / 1609 CE), a "great saint" who wrote many books and founded an educational institution (madrasa).[6]
One of the order's notable masters was the 16th century Sufi saint and musician, Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth (RA) (d. 1562/3 CE), who developed the Shattari more fully into a "distinctive order"; taught the Mughal Emperor Humayun,] and wrote the book Jawahir-i khams, (The Five Jewels). The influence of the Shattari Order grew strong during Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) leadership and spread through South Asia.
Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) was also a tutor of the Mughal emperor Akbar's favorite musician, Tansen. It is uncertain whether Tansen was tutored in Sufism, in music or in both, but Tansen was familiar with Sufism. Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) tomb in Gwalior is a well-known tourist attraction, and regarded as an excellent example of Mughal Architecture. Tansen was buried in Ghawth's tomb complex
Suhrawardiyya:
Suhrawardiyya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Iranian Sufi Diya al-din Abu 'n-Najib as-Suhrawardi (RA) (1097 – 1168).
He was a murid of Ahmad al-Ghazali(RA), who was a brother of Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali.c. 545 A.H. he was teaching Shafi'i fiqh at Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad Academy. His surviving work is called Kitab Adab Al-Muridin.
Many Sufis from all over the Islamic world joined the order under the founder's nephew Hazrat Shihab ad-din Abu Hafs 'Umar(RA) (1145-1234), who was sent as emissary to the court of Khwarezm Shah in Bukhara by the Khalifa in Baghdad. His son is buried in Tashkent. Later the Order spread into India through Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari(RA) and Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya(RA).
The principal role in the formation of a conservative ‘new piety’ and in the initiation of urban commercial and vocational groups into mysticism was played by the Suhrawardiyya silsila. Suhrawardiyya originated in Iraq but succeeded only in India to take shape as a fraternity with its infrastructure, internal hierarchy of members and cloisters and a single centre in Multan and Uchch. The Suhrawardiyya is a strictly Sunni order, guided by Shafi`i madhab. The Suhrawardiyya trace their spiritual genealogy to Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S.)through Junayd Baghdadi and al-Ghazali(RDA).
Shaikh Shihab ad-din Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi(RA), took recourse to active life, renounced reclusion and excessive fasting, maintained close contacts with the authorities, and undertook diplomatic missions and political settlement of conflicts. His luxurious cloister in Baghdad, with gardens and bath houses, was specially built for him by Caliph an-Nasir, on whose behalf Abu Hafs travelled as an ambassador to the Ayyubid Sultan Malik al-Adil I of Egypt, to Khwarezm-Shah Muhammad of Bukhara and to Kaiqubad I, the Seljuk ruler of Konya.
Shaikh Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi(RDA), the author of “Awarif al-Ma’arif”, directed his disciples Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari & Shaikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya of Multan (1182-1262 AD) to make Multan the center of his activity. Iltutmish appointed him as "Shaikhul Islam" after the invasion of Multan and topple its ruler, Qabacha. During the Mongol invasion he became the peace negotiotor between invaders and muslim army.
Another Suharwardi, Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) buried at Konya, Turkey, received formal initiation into the Sufi way under Shaykh Baha'uddin Zakariya (RA), Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) lived in Multan for 25 years as one of the Suhrawardis, composing poetry. As Shaykh Baha'uddin(RA) was dying, he named Hazrat Fakhruddin 'Iraqi (RA ) to be his successor.
When it became known that Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) had been named head of the Suhrawardi Order, some in the order became jealous and denounced him to the Sultan who sought to have 'Iraqi arrested.
Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) fled the area with a few close companions, and they eventually made their way to Makkah and Medina. Later they moved north to Konya in Turkey. This was Konya at the time of Rumi. 'Iraqi often listened to Rumi teach and recite poetry, and later attended Rumi's funeral.
Although Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) was nominally the head (in exile) of a large and respected Sufi order, he humbly became the disciple of another Sufi master—Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA), who also lived in Konya at the time. Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) was the son-in-law of the recently deceased Sufi philosopher Shaikh Ibn 'Arabi(RA). Although less known in the West today Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) was perhaps the pre-eminent Sufi teacher in Konya at the time, even better known than his neighbor Rumi.
Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) was deeply devoted Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) and to the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi(RA). It was a series of speeches Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) delivered on the esoteric meaning of Ibn 'Arabi's great works that inspired Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) to compose his own masterpiece of commentary and poetry named the Lama'at or Divine Flashes.
When Fakhruddin 'Iraqi died he was buried near Ibn 'Arabi's (RA)tomb.
Baha-ud-din Zakariya’s(RA) successor then was his son Shaikh Sadruddin ‘Arif(RA). His disciple, Amir Husayn(RA)., the author of “Zad- al-Musafirin”, wrote several works on the doctrine Wahdat al-Wujud. Shaikh Arif’s(RA). son and caliph, Shaikh Ruknuddin (RA). was highly respected by the Delhi Sultans from ‘Alauddin Khilji to Muhammad Ibn Tughlaq.
After the death of Shaikh Ruknuddin(RA) the Suhrawardiyya silsila declined in Multan but became popular in other provinces like Uch, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir and even Delhi. Suharawardiyya order of Sufism became popular in Bengal (Contemporary Relevance of Sufism, 1993, published by Indian Council for Cultural relations).
It was popularised and revitalized by Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari(RA) known as Makhdum Jahaniyan, the world traveler. He was puritan and strongly objected the Hindu influences to Muslim social and religious practices.
Another contemporary mystic who is worthy of mention was Shaikh Sharfuddin Yahya Manairi (RA). (d. 1380 AD). He belonged to the Firdausia order, a branch of Suhrawardiyya. He compiled several books, i.e. “Fawaid al-Muridin”, “Irshadat al-Talibin”,”Rahat al-Qulub”, etc.
Owaisiya:
Owaisiya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Hazrat Owais Qarni (ra)
Hazrat Owais Qarni(ra) was born in the village of "Qaran" in Yemen. River "showor" flowed through the city of Zubaida.
The family was so poor that there was no money to send him to Maktab or a teacher. The miracle here is that Hazrat Rasule Karim (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) became the spiritual guardian of this child and though they never met, Hazrat Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) guided him at all times - such was their bondage. This is the reason why Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) would often look toward Yemen, and say : "I am getting the beautiful fragrance Allah's blessings in the breeze. It is for Owais Qarni." Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) could never meet Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam), primarily because he used to take care of his sick mother. She would not allow him to go anywhere. After the battle of Uhud, when Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) came to know that the Prophet had lost a few teeth during the encounter, he broke all his teeth one by one till none was left - as he did not know exactly how many or which ones were lost by the prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). Such was the bondage of divine love between the two men, who never met each other. Once he went to Madina but failed to meet his most loved guardian. It is on record that on that day the Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) suddenly left home to say prayers in the mosque, leaving hurried instructions that a great saint was coming to visit him shortly and that it was predestined that they shall never meet in this world Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) knocked the Prophet's door minutes after the Prophet had left. When he was told that the Prophet had just left for a nearby mosque, he only smiled, cried for a while and then left. Years after the Prophet's demise, on repeated requests from Khalifa Hazrat Umar (radi Allah anhu), Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) visited Madina where his most admired lay buried. He asked Umar (radi Allah anhu) to come just outside the border of Madina to meet him. Umar (radi Allah anhu) did what the great saint had bid, but asked why he ordered him to meet him outside Madina? Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) said, "Omar, how can you walk so close over the soil under which lay buried the body of Muhammad (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) I cannot even set my foot on the city where he lies buried." Such was the depth of his love for the Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). At last, only after the passing away of his mother, he could pay respects to Rasullullah's (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) holy grave. Such was pre-ordained for the greatest lover of Allah and his Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). But it illustrated the pedestal of mothers. Serving them would take precedence over visiting even the Prophet(sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam).Hazrat Owais Qarni(radi Allah anhu) used to avoid meeting people who called on him, observing that the Day of Judgement was near and he could not afford to waste his time in earthly gossips.Qarni taught := He who recognises God as a friend makes friendship with no other creature= Consider the Quran like Khidr, thy guide, in the path and never forget death. Pray regularly and always.= Remember night is meant for worship not sleep.
The Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam told on the day of judgment that Allah will create 70,000 angels same as Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhuand when Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhu will come there in between them and will proceed to the heaven, no one will recognize him except Allah, because in the world he used to worship away from the mankind and so he will be kept away from the mankind on the day of judgment.
In his last days he met Ali Ibn Taleb alayhis 'salam and participated in the war of Seffin and was martyred there. There is a group of people who consider themselves as Owaisia. For them there is no need of teacher and they do not have any source with them like Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhu, but they are on the right path of religion due to the Grace of Allah.
His Radi Allahu anhu grave is in a small village of Yemen, which is far away from capital Sana.
Mevlevi:
The Mevlevi Order, or the Mevlevilik or Mevleviye a Sufi order founded in Konya (in present-day Turkey) by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi(ra), a 13th century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God). Dervish is a common term for an initiate of the Sufi path; the whirling is part of the formal Sema ceremony and the participants are properly known as semazens.[1]
The Mevlevi was founded in 1273 by Rumi's(ra). followers after his death, particularly by his successor Hüsamettin Çelebi who decided to build a mausoleum for Mevlâna, and then Mevlâna's son, Sultan Veled Celebi (or Çelebi, Chelebi, meaning "fully initiated"). He was an accomplished Sufi mystic with great organizing talents. His personal efforts were continued by his successor Ulu Arif Çelebi.
The Mevlevi believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a "dance" and music ceremony called the Sema, which involves the whirling from which the order acquired its nickname. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect". Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at the "Perfect". He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.
Rumi has said in reference to Sema, "For them it is the Sema of this world and the other. Even more for the circle of dancers within the Sema Who turn and have in their midst, their own Ka'aba." and what he is saying is that when, like in Mecca you have come closer to God, likewise when you perform Sema you are also closer to God.
Khalwati:
The Khalwati Sufi order (or Halveti, as it is known in Turkey) is an Islamic Sufi brotherhood (tariqa). Along with the Naqshbandi, Qadiri and Shadhili orders, it is among the most famous Sufi orders. It was founded by Pir Umar Khalwati(rehmatullah alaih) in the city of Herat in medieval Khorasan (now located in western Afghanistan).
The order spread mostly by wandering Dervishes in vast area, now being part of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. It originally attracted the attention of the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt and Syria who by and large supported the Sufi orders and gave a great deal of reverence to wandering Dervishes. From their centers of worship (so called tekkes) in these areas, the order began to spread to the urban centers of the Islamic world.
The order grew in popularity during Ottoman times and spread from its origins in the Middle East to the Balkans (especially in southern Greece,Kosovo and Macedonia, to Egypt (where it was a popular Sufi order amongst many of the Sheikhs of al-Azhar University),[citation needed] Sudan and almost all corners of the Ottoman Empire.
The Khalwati order had many tekkes in Istanbul, the most famous being the Jerrahi, Ussaki, Sunbuli, Ramazaniyye and Nasuhi. Although the Sufi orders are now abolished in the Republic of Turkey, the above are almost all now mosques and/or places of visitation by Muslims for prayer.
The Khalwati order however, still remains strong in Egypt where the Sufi orders do receive a degree of support from the government. The Khalwati order also remains strong in the Sudan.
The Nigerian Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, although a Qadiri, was initiated into the Khalwati order along with the Naqshbandi order, and Shaykh Ahmed at-Tijani was also originally a Khalwati.[citation needed]
The name of the order is derived from the term "khalwa", which refers to a spiritual retreat.
Ba'Alawi :
The Ba'Alawi Sadah has a Sufi tariqa. It is founded by al-Faqih Muqaddam As-Sayyid Muhammad bin Ali Ba'Alawi al-Husaini(rehmatullah alaih), who died in the year 653 AH (1232 CE). He received his ijazah from Abu Madyan(rehmatullah alaih) in Morocco via two of his students. Abu Madyan was a student of Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra), as well as one of the syaikhs in the Shadhiliya tariqa chain of spiritual transmitters from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam).
Rehmaniya:
Hazrat Maulana Fazl-E-Rehman Gujmuradabadi(rehmatullah alaih) was the Gaus,Kutub, Imam,Mujaddid of his time and was followed and loved by evry one, He is one of the most repected Auliya Allah in the list of all. He was the mureed and jansheen Khalifa of Hazrat Arif-E-Haq Khwaja Afaq Sahab (rehmatullah alaih). He was born on 1st Ramzan Mubarak 1208 Hijri and died on 21st Rabi ul awwal 1313 Hijri. He use to not drink milk until it was magrib for the whole month of ramzan mubarak. He was so much involved in the love of Allah and our Holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) and in the same way our Holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) & His Family (Ahle Bayat)use to love him .When ever he wanted he had the didar(vision) of holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam). He had spend his whole life teaching the qalities of Islam, Sunnah, Love and Humanity. He dedicated his whole life for the welfare of mankind. He had the khilafat from Qadri, Chisti, Naqshbandi and Soharwardi Silsila. He also shares the blood realtion with all this 4 silsila including silsila-e-arabiya. He also took the knowledge of silsila-e-madariya from his pir sahab but his main intrest was in silsila-e-naqsbandiya. Many time he was blessed with the vision of Panjatan Pak(alaih salam), Shaba-E-Karam(radiallahu anhu), Gaus-e- Pak (radiallahu anhu) he use to call him Nana jan, Mujadid Alif Sani(rahmatullah alaih) and many great personalities.
Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) is a grt muhadis of his time and has taught hadees shareef to many great personalities like :
Haji Waris Pak,
Mawlana Sayyid Shah Al'e Rasul Qadri Barkati Marahrawi
Sayyad Ahmad Barelwi
Mawlana Fazl-e-Haq Khayrabadi
Mawlana Mahboob Ali Dehlawi
Mufti Sadr al-Din Aazurdah
Mawlana Muhammad Ali
Mawlana Ahmad Ali….. and many more(peace be upon them all)
See what he has said about Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih):
Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) damaad (son inlaw) asked him that what is the use of teaching Maulvi Fazl-E-Rehman from Isha to Tahajud change the timings. Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) replied the reason for teaching Maulvi Fazl-E-Rehman alone is that he is learing directly from the bargah(presence) of our Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) and this is the only reason why i have asked you to attain the classes so that you might gain something, I suggest you should learn from Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih). He is getting the knowledge of Hadees Shraif directly from Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) what ever he wants he asks our Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) and it is granted to him.
The People of Firangi mehal and many grt shcolar use to say that who ever wants to see the life of Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalm) and the sahaba(radiAllah anhu) in todays day must see Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih).
Warsi:
Sarkar Waris Pak (rehmatullah alaih) was a great Sufi saint of india is admired by peoples of all faiths. Sarkar Waris Pak(rehmatullah alaih) owned the Qadriyya -Razzakiyya Silsila. His genealogy shows that he was born in the 26th generation of Hazrat Imam Hussain(alaih salam). The date of his birth is disputed varying from 1233 A.H. to 1238 A.H. The author of Maarif Warisya has put the date of his birth as 1234 A.H. corresponding to 1809 of the Christian era. His father, Syed Qurban Ali Shah(rehmatullah alaih) belonged to a land-lord class and was a man of considerable learning having completed his education in Baghdad.
He accepted millions of people belonging to all faith in to warsi silsila.During that Period Firangi Mahal was the famous religious centre for north indian muslims and they too were Qadiri People so it was obvious for them to have intimacy with Sarkar.Ulemas of Firangi Mahal regarded him as Kamilieen .
Sarwari:
The Sarwari Qadiri Sufi tariqa was originated by Sultan Bahu (rehmatullah alaih) in the seventeenth century. The first part of its name, Sawari, derives from the fact that Sultan Bahu claimed to have taken the oath of allegiance directly from Muhammad(sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalm). The second part, Qadiri, signifies that this order is essentially an offshoot of the Qadiri order, because Sultan Bahu also claimed to have been a disciple of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (radiAllah anhu).
The Sarwari Qadiri order is very similar in its over all philosophy to the Qadiri order, but distinguishes itself in certain points, the most notable being Sultan Bahu's stress and extensive reliance on the practice of 'Tasswar-e-Ism-Zaat' for this disciples. The basic idea of this practice is to visualize the Arabic name of God, Allah as having been written on the disciple's heart.
Zahediyeh:
The Zahediyeh Sufi Order was founded by Sheikh Zahed Gilani (rehmatullah alaih) of Lahijan. As a precursor to the Safaviyeh Order, which was yet to culminate in the Safavid Dynasty, the Zahediyeh Order and its Murshid, Sheikh Zahed Gilani(rehmatullah alaih), reserve a distinct place in the history of Iran
The Turkish Bayrami and Jelveti orders are derived from him.
The Naqshbandiya tariqah is named after Hadrat Shah Baha al-Din Naqshband R. A [d.791H / 1389CE] and is a tariqah that is widely active throughout the world today. It is described as the 'Mother of all Tariqah's' by Shaykh Ahmad al-Faruqi al-Sirhindi [d.1034H / 1624CE]( R.A). There are hundreds of Spiritual Order's which are all on the correct path but the Naqshbandiya, together with the Qadiriya, Chistiya and Suhrawardiya, are considered as the four main Silsila's of the Ahl as-Sunnah wa'l Jama'at.
The designation of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain has changed from century to century. From the time of Hadrat Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Hadrat Bayazid al-Bistami radi Allahu ta'ala anhu it was called as-Siddiqiyya. From the time of Bayazid al-Bistami [d.261H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Sayyadina Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani [d.575H] radi Allahu anhu it was called at-Tayfuriyya. From the time of Sayyadina 'Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani radi Allahu ta'ala anhu to the time of Hadrat Shah Naqshband radi Allahu ta'ala anhu it was called the Khwajaganiyya.
From the time of Hadrat Shah Naqshband [d.791H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu through the time of Sayyadina Ubaidullah al-Ahrar radi Allahu ta'ala anhu and Sayyidina Ahmad Faruqi [d.1034H] radi Allahu ta'ala anhu, it was called Naqshbandiyya. Naqshbandiyya means to "tie the Naqsh very well." The Naqsh is the perfect engraving of Allah's Name in the heart of the murid [disciple]. From the time of Sayyadina Ahmad al-Faruqi [d.1034H] radi Allahu anhu to the time of Shaykh Khalid al-Baghdadi [d.1242H] radi Allahu anhu it was called Naqshbandi-Mujaddidiyya. From the time of Sayyidina Khalid al-Baghdadi [d.1242H] radi Allahu anhu until the time of Sayyadina Shaykh Ismail Shirwani radi Allahu anhu it was called the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya.
Qadiriyyah:
Qadiriyyah (also transliterated Kadri, Elkadry, Kadray, Qadiri or Qadri), is one of the oldest Sufi tariqas. It derives its name from Abdul-Qadir Gilani (ra) (also transliterated as "Jil lani" or "Jailani" and "Jilali" in the Maghreb) AH 470 (1077-1166), a native of the Iranian province of Gilan. In 1134 he was made principal of a Sunni Hanbalite school in Baghdad.
His contribution and renown in the sciences of Sufism and Sharia was so immense that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time, al-Gauth al Azam (the "Supreme Helper" or the "Mightiest Succor"). His writings were similar to those of al-Ghazali in that they dealt with both the fundamentals of Islam and the mystical experience of Sufism.
The Order is the most widespread of the Sufi Orders in the Islamic world and can be found in Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Turkey, the Balkans, China, as well as much of the East and West Africa, like Morocco.[citation needed]
There are even small groups in Europe and the Americas. The famous traveller and writer Isabelle Eberhardt also belonged to the Qadiri order.
Chishtiya:
The Chishti Order is a Sufi order within the mystic branches of Islam which was founded in Chisht, a small town near Herat, about 930 C.E. and continues to this day. The Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness.
The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami (ra) (“the Syrian”) who belonged to Syria introduced the ideas Sufism in the town of Chisht, some 95 miles east of Herat in present-day western Afghanistan. Before returning to Syria Hazrat Shami(ra) initiated, trained and deputized the son of the local Aamir, Abu Ahmad Abdal (ra) (d. 966). Under the leadership of Abu Ahmad’s (ra) descendants, the Chishtiya as they are also known, flourished as a regional mystical order.
The most famous of the Chishti saints is Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti (ra) (popularly known as Gharib Nawaz meaning 'Benefactor of the Poor') who settled in Ajmer, India. He oversaw the growth of the order in the 13th century as Islamic religious laws were canonized. Other famous saints of the Chishti Order are Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (rehmatullah alaih) , Fariduddin Ganjshakar(rehmatullah alaih), Nizamuddin Auliya(rehmatullah alaih), Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari(rehmatullah alaih), Mohammed Badesha Qadri(rehmatullah alaih), and Ashraf Jahangir Semnani(rehmatullah alaih).
The silsila sabiriiya, Nizamiya and Ashrafiya is the branch of Chistiya Silsila.
Chishti master Hazrat Inayat Khan (rehmatullah alaih) (1882–1927) was the first to bring the Sufi path to the West, arriving in America in 1910 and later settling near Paris, France. His approach exemplified the tolerance and openness of the Chishti Order, following a custom began by Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti (rehmatullah alaih) of initiating and training disciples regardless of religious affiliation and which continued through Nizamuddin Auliya (rehmatullah alaih) and Shaykh ul-Masha”ikh Kalimullah Jehanabadi (rehmatullah alaih) (d. 1720). All his teaching was given in English, and 12 volumes of his discourses on topics related to the spiritual path are still available from American, European, and Indian sources. Initiates of his form of Sufi practice now number in the several thousands all over the world.
A number of Chishti family members are now living in Pakpattan and Bahawal Nagar, North of Punjab, Pakistan.
Madariya:
Madariyya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra), He is a prominent sufi saint whose tomb is situated in Makanpur, near Kanpur city in the State of Uttar Pradesh in INDIA.
He was born in 242 Hijri, and lived for 576 yrs, When Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra was 14 years of age, he had completed the education and he asked his father Sayed kazi kidwattuddin ali halbi (ra that he wishes to merge in the Jaffariya chain.
That thought also encouraged him to say before his parents that there are two main tasks to be done in his life one is towards the almighty Allah and other is towards the parents. Hence he requested them to let him go into the way of Islam and spread the teachings of Islam amongst others. He was permitted by his parents for the task with the answer that we free you from our rights and let you in the hands of the almighty Allah.
Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar was the Khalifa of Sultanul Arifeen Hazrat Bayjid Bustami (ra) when they met Sultanul Arifeen Hazrat Bayjid Bustami(r) said that Badiuddin, I was waiting for you. I used to see a miraculous light here, but now that I had seen you I believe that the light I had seen is you.
Mureed (Disciple) of Hazrat Sayed Bayazid Bustami Sahib:
Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar (ra) got fame in the region that there is a true follower of Islam here in the people, and that he is sure a wali of Allah, who is an example into himself. When this news reached Hazrat Sayed Bayazid Bustami(ra), he invited Hazrat Shah Madar Sahib(ra) to his place.
In the first meeting he kissed the forehead and eyes of Madar Sahib (ra) and said that in a dream he saw that The Prophet (may peace be upon him) in one gathering has ordered Bustami (ra) that very soon you will meet a man whose name will be Ahmad Badiuddin(ra). So when you meet him you should offer him all the teachings that you have earned, as it is his authority. So I am ready to do so.
After that Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra) was pledged with the Tayfooriya chain and was being said as Silsila-e-Tayfooriya. Hazrat Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar(ra) accepted the fellowship of the Bayazid(ra), and he continued the journey towards Makkah and performed the Hajj. After that he stayed there for some days. One day when he was doing the Tawa'af of the Kaba shareef when he heard a voice saying that: "Badiuddin, you should leave for Madina. Hearing this it was the extent of his curiosity and he left immediately towards Madina.
Note: Junaid Baghdadi has said in his sayings about Hazrat Afreen Bayazid Bustami((ra) that his status in the walies is the most prominent one. Where all the ways towards the followers of the almighty ends, there starts the beginning of the Bayjid chain.
Hazrat Abu Sayed Al Khair has said that he has seen that the Bayazid is the follower of truth.
Badawiyyah:
The Badawiyyah, Sufi tarika, was founded in the thirteenth century in Egypt by Hazrat Ahmad al-Badawi(ra). Hazrat Ahmad al-Badawi(ra) is one of the 4 main kutub-ul-kutubs of this world who handels the nizam of all the Auliya Allah.
He was born in Fez, Morocco in 596 AH and died in Tanta, Egypt in 675 AH. He was noted for his ascetic behavior, and was also known to perform many miracles.
This silsila was, extremely popular during both the Mamluk and Ottoman periods of Egypt. Mamluk Sultans often supported elaborate 'Mawlids' at the resting place of Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi (ra) in the Nile Delta town of Tanta.
During the Ottoman period, this order spread to Turkey and there were several Tekkes or zawiyas in Istanbul many of which survived until the founding of the Turkish republic.
The Urs of Hazrat Seyyid Badawi (ra) is still celebrated in Egypt every year where the population of Tanta swells to almost double. Tents are placed in the streets around the Mosque of Seyyid Badawi (ra) where Qur'an recitations and sermons by important scholars from al-Azhar are delivered.
Qalandariyah:
Qalandar is a title given to Sufi mystics,
The Qalandariyah, Qalandaris or "kalandars" are wanderering Sufi dervishes. The term covers a variety of sects, not centrally organized. One was founded by Qalandar Yusuf al-Andalusi of Andalusia, Spain.
Starting in the early 12th century, the movement gained popularity in Greater Khorasan and neighbouring regions. The first references are found in 11th century prose text Qalandarname (The Tale of the Kalandar) attributed to Ansari Harawi. The term Qalandariyyat (the Qalandar condition) appears to be first applied by Sanai Ghaznavi (d 1131) in seminal poetic works where diverse practices are described. Particular to the qalandar genre of poetry are terms that refer to gambling, games, intoxicants and Nazar ila'l-murd - themes commonly referred to as kufriyyat or kharabat.
The term remains in popular culture. Sufi qawwali singers the Sabri brothers and international Qawwali star Nustrat Fateh Ali Khan favoured the chant dam a dam masta qalandar (Oh go, go, crazy Qalandar!),
Some famous Sufis called Qalandar include Dada Hayat Qalandar, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander and Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Hazrat Zhul Al Nun Misri, Rabia Basri Qalandar.
Today, the term qalanders in South Asia often refers to roaming Muslim teachers who may be spiritually associated with the above mentioned saints.
Rifaiya:
The Founder of this silsila is Hazrath Syedna Ahmed Kabir Rifayee Ra
His full name was Abdul Abbas Mohiuddin Syed Ahmed Kabir Rifayee (Ra). One of his forefather's name was 'Rifaah' and so he became very popular with the name of Rifayee. Having born as 15th descendant of Hazrath Syedna Imam Hussain R.A, he was called 'Hussaini'. He belonged to the 'Shaafayee' Maslak. Even before his birth itself Huzur Akram Sallallahu Alaih Wasallam prophesied about him to his maternal uncle Hazrath Baz'as'hab Mansoor Bataahi (R.A.). He asked him to name the boy Ahmed. He said that he would be the leader of saints (Auliya Allah) and advised him to send the boy to Shaik Ali Qadiri Wasthi (R.A.) for education and training.
The order has a marked presence in Syria and Egypt and plays a noticeable role in Kosovo and Albania. The Rifa'i Tariqa has a notable tendency to blend worship styles or ideas with those of other orders that predominate in the local area. For example, the group established by Ken'an Rifa'i in Istanbul reflects elements of the Mevlevi Order, while more rural Turkish Rifa'is have sometimes absorbed significant influence from the Alevi/Bektashi tradition.
The order spread into Anatolia during the 14th and 15th Centuries and ibn Battuta makes note of Rifa'i 'tekkes' in central Anatolia. The order however, began to make ground in Turkey during the 17th to 19th centuries when tekkes began to be found in Istanbul the imperial capital of the Ottoman Empire, from here the order spread into the Balkans (especially Bosnia (where they are still present), modern day Albania and Kosovo. During the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II the Rifa'i order gained even more popularity in Istanbul ranking alongside the Khalwati, Qadiri and Naqshbandi orders as 'orthodox' Sufi orders.
Current manifestations of the order in the United States include the tekkes (lodges) in Staten Island and Toronto that were under the guidance of the late Shaykh Xhemali Shehu (d.2004) of Prizren, Kosovo. Each of these orders is ultimately Turkish in origin.
Shadhili:
The Shazhili order takes its name from Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili (1196/1197 - 1258 CE). He was born in Ghumara, near Cueta in northern Morocco into a family of peasant labourers. He studied the principles of Islamic Law (fiqh) at the Qarawiyyin University in Fez. He subsequently traveled to many countries. In Iraq he met the Sufi Hazrat Shaykh Wasiti (RA) who told him to return to his country where he could find Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam Ibn Mashish (RA), the great Moroccan spiritual master. He did so, and became the close follower of this spiritual master who initiated him in the way of remembrance of Allah. When he met Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam (RA), after ritually washing himself, he said, 'O Allah, I have been washed of my knowledge and action so that I do not possess knowledge or action except what comes to me from this Shaykh.'
Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili traveled from Morocco to Spain and finally settled down in Alexandria in Egypt. Later on in life, when asked who his spiritual master was, he used to reply, 'I used to be the close follower (murid) of Hazrat Moulay Abus-Salam Ibn Mashish(RA), but I am no more the murid of any human master.'
Hazrat Shaykh Abu'l-Abbas al-Mursi (d. 1288), who succeeded Hazrat Shaykh ash-Shazhili (RA) as the next spiritual master of the Order, was asked about the knowledge of his spiritual master and replied, 'He gave me forty sciences. He was an ocean without a shore.'
Hazrat Shaykh ash-Shazhili (RA) had hundreds of close followers in both Alexandria and Cairo, not only from among the common people but also from among the ruling classes. He taught his close followers to lead a life of contemplation and remembrance of Allah while performing the normal everyday activities of the world. He disliked initiating any would-be follower unless that person already had a profession. His admonition to his close followers was to apply the teachings of Islam in their own lives in the world and to transform their existence.
Among the many writings attributed to Hazrat Shaykh Abu'l-Hassan ash-Shazhili is famous litany "Hizb al-Bahar".
Shattari :
Shattari is a Sufi mystical order (tariqah) originating in Persia in the fifteenth century A.D. and later taken to India. The word Shattar means "speed", "rapidness" or "fast-goer and is a system of spiritual practices which lead quickly to a state of annihilation of the ego in God (fana) and subsistence through God (baqa).
Idries Shah(RA), writing in The Sufis, states that the Shattari technique or "the Rapidness" originated with the Naqshbandi Sufi Order and that after the early nineteenth century it returned to "the custody" of that "parent school".
The Shattari succession or chain of transmission (silsilah) is said to ultimately go back to Sheikh Bayazid Taifur Bustami(ra),whilst the order itself, which uses the Shattari techniques, is a branch of the Tayfuri Khanwada and was reputedly founded by Sheikh Sirajuddin Abdullah Shattar(RA) (d. 1406 CE), a descendent of Sheikh Shihabuddin Suhrawardi(ra) Shattar was deputized and given the honorific "Shattar" by his teacher Sheikh Muhammad Taifur (ra) in recognition of the austerities he faced in achieving this station (maqaam).
The book Jawahir-i khams, (The Five Jewels).
Originating in Persia, the order and its teachings were later brought to India by Sheikh Abdullah Shattar.(RA) According to Idries Shah(RA), "Hazrat Shattar (RA) visited India in the fifteenth century, wandering from one monastery to another, and made known the method. His procedure was to approach the chief of a Sufi group and say, 'Teach me your method, share it with me. If you will not, I invite you to share mine.'"
Hazrat Shattar's(ra) successor was Shah Wajih ad-Din (RA) (d. 1018 AH / 1609 CE), a "great saint" who wrote many books and founded an educational institution (madrasa).[6]
One of the order's notable masters was the 16th century Sufi saint and musician, Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth (RA) (d. 1562/3 CE), who developed the Shattari more fully into a "distinctive order"; taught the Mughal Emperor Humayun,] and wrote the book Jawahir-i khams, (The Five Jewels). The influence of the Shattari Order grew strong during Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) leadership and spread through South Asia.
Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) was also a tutor of the Mughal emperor Akbar's favorite musician, Tansen. It is uncertain whether Tansen was tutored in Sufism, in music or in both, but Tansen was familiar with Sufism. Sayyid Muhammad Ghawth(RA) tomb in Gwalior is a well-known tourist attraction, and regarded as an excellent example of Mughal Architecture. Tansen was buried in Ghawth's tomb complex
Suhrawardiyya:
Suhrawardiyya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Iranian Sufi Diya al-din Abu 'n-Najib as-Suhrawardi (RA) (1097 – 1168).
He was a murid of Ahmad al-Ghazali(RA), who was a brother of Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali.c. 545 A.H. he was teaching Shafi'i fiqh at Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad Academy. His surviving work is called Kitab Adab Al-Muridin.
Many Sufis from all over the Islamic world joined the order under the founder's nephew Hazrat Shihab ad-din Abu Hafs 'Umar(RA) (1145-1234), who was sent as emissary to the court of Khwarezm Shah in Bukhara by the Khalifa in Baghdad. His son is buried in Tashkent. Later the Order spread into India through Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari(RA) and Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya(RA).
The principal role in the formation of a conservative ‘new piety’ and in the initiation of urban commercial and vocational groups into mysticism was played by the Suhrawardiyya silsila. Suhrawardiyya originated in Iraq but succeeded only in India to take shape as a fraternity with its infrastructure, internal hierarchy of members and cloisters and a single centre in Multan and Uchch. The Suhrawardiyya is a strictly Sunni order, guided by Shafi`i madhab. The Suhrawardiyya trace their spiritual genealogy to Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S.)through Junayd Baghdadi and al-Ghazali(RDA).
Shaikh Shihab ad-din Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi(RA), took recourse to active life, renounced reclusion and excessive fasting, maintained close contacts with the authorities, and undertook diplomatic missions and political settlement of conflicts. His luxurious cloister in Baghdad, with gardens and bath houses, was specially built for him by Caliph an-Nasir, on whose behalf Abu Hafs travelled as an ambassador to the Ayyubid Sultan Malik al-Adil I of Egypt, to Khwarezm-Shah Muhammad of Bukhara and to Kaiqubad I, the Seljuk ruler of Konya.
Shaikh Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi(RDA), the author of “Awarif al-Ma’arif”, directed his disciples Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari & Shaikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya of Multan (1182-1262 AD) to make Multan the center of his activity. Iltutmish appointed him as "Shaikhul Islam" after the invasion of Multan and topple its ruler, Qabacha. During the Mongol invasion he became the peace negotiotor between invaders and muslim army.
Another Suharwardi, Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) buried at Konya, Turkey, received formal initiation into the Sufi way under Shaykh Baha'uddin Zakariya (RA), Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) lived in Multan for 25 years as one of the Suhrawardis, composing poetry. As Shaykh Baha'uddin(RA) was dying, he named Hazrat Fakhruddin 'Iraqi (RA ) to be his successor.
When it became known that Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) had been named head of the Suhrawardi Order, some in the order became jealous and denounced him to the Sultan who sought to have 'Iraqi arrested.
Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) fled the area with a few close companions, and they eventually made their way to Makkah and Medina. Later they moved north to Konya in Turkey. This was Konya at the time of Rumi. 'Iraqi often listened to Rumi teach and recite poetry, and later attended Rumi's funeral.
Although Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) was nominally the head (in exile) of a large and respected Sufi order, he humbly became the disciple of another Sufi master—Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA), who also lived in Konya at the time. Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) was the son-in-law of the recently deceased Sufi philosopher Shaikh Ibn 'Arabi(RA). Although less known in the West today Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) was perhaps the pre-eminent Sufi teacher in Konya at the time, even better known than his neighbor Rumi.
Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) was deeply devoted Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) and to the teachings of Ibn 'Arabi(RA). It was a series of speeches Hazrat Sadruddin Qunawi(RA) delivered on the esoteric meaning of Ibn 'Arabi's great works that inspired Hazrat Fakharuddin Iraqi (RA) to compose his own masterpiece of commentary and poetry named the Lama'at or Divine Flashes.
When Fakhruddin 'Iraqi died he was buried near Ibn 'Arabi's (RA)tomb.
Baha-ud-din Zakariya’s(RA) successor then was his son Shaikh Sadruddin ‘Arif(RA). His disciple, Amir Husayn(RA)., the author of “Zad- al-Musafirin”, wrote several works on the doctrine Wahdat al-Wujud. Shaikh Arif’s(RA). son and caliph, Shaikh Ruknuddin (RA). was highly respected by the Delhi Sultans from ‘Alauddin Khilji to Muhammad Ibn Tughlaq.
After the death of Shaikh Ruknuddin(RA) the Suhrawardiyya silsila declined in Multan but became popular in other provinces like Uch, Gujarat, Punjab, Kashmir and even Delhi. Suharawardiyya order of Sufism became popular in Bengal (Contemporary Relevance of Sufism, 1993, published by Indian Council for Cultural relations).
It was popularised and revitalized by Hazrat Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari(RA) known as Makhdum Jahaniyan, the world traveler. He was puritan and strongly objected the Hindu influences to Muslim social and religious practices.
Another contemporary mystic who is worthy of mention was Shaikh Sharfuddin Yahya Manairi (RA). (d. 1380 AD). He belonged to the Firdausia order, a branch of Suhrawardiyya. He compiled several books, i.e. “Fawaid al-Muridin”, “Irshadat al-Talibin”,”Rahat al-Qulub”, etc.
Owaisiya:
Owaisiya is the name of a Sufi order founded by Hazrat Owais Qarni (ra)
Hazrat Owais Qarni(ra) was born in the village of "Qaran" in Yemen. River "showor" flowed through the city of Zubaida.
The family was so poor that there was no money to send him to Maktab or a teacher. The miracle here is that Hazrat Rasule Karim (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) became the spiritual guardian of this child and though they never met, Hazrat Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) guided him at all times - such was their bondage. This is the reason why Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) would often look toward Yemen, and say : "I am getting the beautiful fragrance Allah's blessings in the breeze. It is for Owais Qarni." Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) could never meet Rasullullah (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam), primarily because he used to take care of his sick mother. She would not allow him to go anywhere. After the battle of Uhud, when Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) came to know that the Prophet had lost a few teeth during the encounter, he broke all his teeth one by one till none was left - as he did not know exactly how many or which ones were lost by the prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). Such was the bondage of divine love between the two men, who never met each other. Once he went to Madina but failed to meet his most loved guardian. It is on record that on that day the Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) suddenly left home to say prayers in the mosque, leaving hurried instructions that a great saint was coming to visit him shortly and that it was predestined that they shall never meet in this world Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) knocked the Prophet's door minutes after the Prophet had left. When he was told that the Prophet had just left for a nearby mosque, he only smiled, cried for a while and then left. Years after the Prophet's demise, on repeated requests from Khalifa Hazrat Umar (radi Allah anhu), Hazrat Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) visited Madina where his most admired lay buried. He asked Umar (radi Allah anhu) to come just outside the border of Madina to meet him. Umar (radi Allah anhu) did what the great saint had bid, but asked why he ordered him to meet him outside Madina? Owais Qarni (radi Allah anhu) said, "Omar, how can you walk so close over the soil under which lay buried the body of Muhammad (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) I cannot even set my foot on the city where he lies buried." Such was the depth of his love for the Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). At last, only after the passing away of his mother, he could pay respects to Rasullullah's (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam) holy grave. Such was pre-ordained for the greatest lover of Allah and his Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam). But it illustrated the pedestal of mothers. Serving them would take precedence over visiting even the Prophet(sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam).Hazrat Owais Qarni(radi Allah anhu) used to avoid meeting people who called on him, observing that the Day of Judgement was near and he could not afford to waste his time in earthly gossips.Qarni taught := He who recognises God as a friend makes friendship with no other creature= Consider the Quran like Khidr, thy guide, in the path and never forget death. Pray regularly and always.= Remember night is meant for worship not sleep.
The Prophet Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam told on the day of judgment that Allah will create 70,000 angels same as Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhuand when Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhu will come there in between them and will proceed to the heaven, no one will recognize him except Allah, because in the world he used to worship away from the mankind and so he will be kept away from the mankind on the day of judgment.
In his last days he met Ali Ibn Taleb alayhis 'salam and participated in the war of Seffin and was martyred there. There is a group of people who consider themselves as Owaisia. For them there is no need of teacher and they do not have any source with them like Owaise of Qarni Radi Allahu anhu, but they are on the right path of religion due to the Grace of Allah.
His Radi Allahu anhu grave is in a small village of Yemen, which is far away from capital Sana.
Mevlevi:
The Mevlevi Order, or the Mevlevilik or Mevleviye a Sufi order founded in Konya (in present-day Turkey) by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi(ra), a 13th century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of God). Dervish is a common term for an initiate of the Sufi path; the whirling is part of the formal Sema ceremony and the participants are properly known as semazens.[1]
The Mevlevi was founded in 1273 by Rumi's(ra). followers after his death, particularly by his successor Hüsamettin Çelebi who decided to build a mausoleum for Mevlâna, and then Mevlâna's son, Sultan Veled Celebi (or Çelebi, Chelebi, meaning "fully initiated"). He was an accomplished Sufi mystic with great organizing talents. His personal efforts were continued by his successor Ulu Arif Çelebi.
The Mevlevi believe in performing their dhikr in the form of a "dance" and music ceremony called the Sema, which involves the whirling from which the order acquired its nickname. The Sema represents a mystical journey of man's spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect". Turning towards the truth, the follower grows through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrives at the "Perfect". He then returns from this spiritual journey as a man who has reached maturity and a greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation.
Rumi has said in reference to Sema, "For them it is the Sema of this world and the other. Even more for the circle of dancers within the Sema Who turn and have in their midst, their own Ka'aba." and what he is saying is that when, like in Mecca you have come closer to God, likewise when you perform Sema you are also closer to God.
Khalwati:
The Khalwati Sufi order (or Halveti, as it is known in Turkey) is an Islamic Sufi brotherhood (tariqa). Along with the Naqshbandi, Qadiri and Shadhili orders, it is among the most famous Sufi orders. It was founded by Pir Umar Khalwati(rehmatullah alaih) in the city of Herat in medieval Khorasan (now located in western Afghanistan).
The order spread mostly by wandering Dervishes in vast area, now being part of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. It originally attracted the attention of the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt and Syria who by and large supported the Sufi orders and gave a great deal of reverence to wandering Dervishes. From their centers of worship (so called tekkes) in these areas, the order began to spread to the urban centers of the Islamic world.
The order grew in popularity during Ottoman times and spread from its origins in the Middle East to the Balkans (especially in southern Greece,Kosovo and Macedonia, to Egypt (where it was a popular Sufi order amongst many of the Sheikhs of al-Azhar University),[citation needed] Sudan and almost all corners of the Ottoman Empire.
The Khalwati order had many tekkes in Istanbul, the most famous being the Jerrahi, Ussaki, Sunbuli, Ramazaniyye and Nasuhi. Although the Sufi orders are now abolished in the Republic of Turkey, the above are almost all now mosques and/or places of visitation by Muslims for prayer.
The Khalwati order however, still remains strong in Egypt where the Sufi orders do receive a degree of support from the government. The Khalwati order also remains strong in the Sudan.
The Nigerian Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, although a Qadiri, was initiated into the Khalwati order along with the Naqshbandi order, and Shaykh Ahmed at-Tijani was also originally a Khalwati.[citation needed]
The name of the order is derived from the term "khalwa", which refers to a spiritual retreat.
Ba'Alawi :
The Ba'Alawi Sadah has a Sufi tariqa. It is founded by al-Faqih Muqaddam As-Sayyid Muhammad bin Ali Ba'Alawi al-Husaini(rehmatullah alaih), who died in the year 653 AH (1232 CE). He received his ijazah from Abu Madyan(rehmatullah alaih) in Morocco via two of his students. Abu Madyan was a student of Abdul Qadir Jilani (ra), as well as one of the syaikhs in the Shadhiliya tariqa chain of spiritual transmitters from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalam).
Rehmaniya:
Hazrat Maulana Fazl-E-Rehman Gujmuradabadi(rehmatullah alaih) was the Gaus,Kutub, Imam,Mujaddid of his time and was followed and loved by evry one, He is one of the most repected Auliya Allah in the list of all. He was the mureed and jansheen Khalifa of Hazrat Arif-E-Haq Khwaja Afaq Sahab (rehmatullah alaih). He was born on 1st Ramzan Mubarak 1208 Hijri and died on 21st Rabi ul awwal 1313 Hijri. He use to not drink milk until it was magrib for the whole month of ramzan mubarak. He was so much involved in the love of Allah and our Holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) and in the same way our Holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam) & His Family (Ahle Bayat)use to love him .When ever he wanted he had the didar(vision) of holy Prophet (Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam). He had spend his whole life teaching the qalities of Islam, Sunnah, Love and Humanity. He dedicated his whole life for the welfare of mankind. He had the khilafat from Qadri, Chisti, Naqshbandi and Soharwardi Silsila. He also shares the blood realtion with all this 4 silsila including silsila-e-arabiya. He also took the knowledge of silsila-e-madariya from his pir sahab but his main intrest was in silsila-e-naqsbandiya. Many time he was blessed with the vision of Panjatan Pak(alaih salam), Shaba-E-Karam(radiallahu anhu), Gaus-e- Pak (radiallahu anhu) he use to call him Nana jan, Mujadid Alif Sani(rahmatullah alaih) and many great personalities.
Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) is a grt muhadis of his time and has taught hadees shareef to many great personalities like :
Haji Waris Pak,
Mawlana Sayyid Shah Al'e Rasul Qadri Barkati Marahrawi
Sayyad Ahmad Barelwi
Mawlana Fazl-e-Haq Khayrabadi
Mawlana Mahboob Ali Dehlawi
Mufti Sadr al-Din Aazurdah
Mawlana Muhammad Ali
Mawlana Ahmad Ali….. and many more(peace be upon them all)
See what he has said about Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih):
Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) damaad (son inlaw) asked him that what is the use of teaching Maulvi Fazl-E-Rehman from Isha to Tahajud change the timings. Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Dhelvi(rahmatullah alaih) replied the reason for teaching Maulvi Fazl-E-Rehman alone is that he is learing directly from the bargah(presence) of our Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) and this is the only reason why i have asked you to attain the classes so that you might gain something, I suggest you should learn from Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih). He is getting the knowledge of Hadees Shraif directly from Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) what ever he wants he asks our Holy Prophet(sal-lal-laho-tala-alahi-wasalm) and it is granted to him.
The People of Firangi mehal and many grt shcolar use to say that who ever wants to see the life of Prophet (sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalm) and the sahaba(radiAllah anhu) in todays day must see Hazrat Maulana Shah Fazl-e-Rehman Gujmuradabadi (rahmatullah alaih).
Warsi:
Sarkar Waris Pak (rehmatullah alaih) was a great Sufi saint of india is admired by peoples of all faiths. Sarkar Waris Pak(rehmatullah alaih) owned the Qadriyya -Razzakiyya Silsila. His genealogy shows that he was born in the 26th generation of Hazrat Imam Hussain(alaih salam). The date of his birth is disputed varying from 1233 A.H. to 1238 A.H. The author of Maarif Warisya has put the date of his birth as 1234 A.H. corresponding to 1809 of the Christian era. His father, Syed Qurban Ali Shah(rehmatullah alaih) belonged to a land-lord class and was a man of considerable learning having completed his education in Baghdad.
He accepted millions of people belonging to all faith in to warsi silsila.During that Period Firangi Mahal was the famous religious centre for north indian muslims and they too were Qadiri People so it was obvious for them to have intimacy with Sarkar.Ulemas of Firangi Mahal regarded him as Kamilieen .
Sarwari:
The Sarwari Qadiri Sufi tariqa was originated by Sultan Bahu (rehmatullah alaih) in the seventeenth century. The first part of its name, Sawari, derives from the fact that Sultan Bahu claimed to have taken the oath of allegiance directly from Muhammad(sal lal laho tala alaihi wasalm). The second part, Qadiri, signifies that this order is essentially an offshoot of the Qadiri order, because Sultan Bahu also claimed to have been a disciple of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (radiAllah anhu).
The Sarwari Qadiri order is very similar in its over all philosophy to the Qadiri order, but distinguishes itself in certain points, the most notable being Sultan Bahu's stress and extensive reliance on the practice of 'Tasswar-e-Ism-Zaat' for this disciples. The basic idea of this practice is to visualize the Arabic name of God, Allah as having been written on the disciple's heart.
Zahediyeh:
The Zahediyeh Sufi Order was founded by Sheikh Zahed Gilani (rehmatullah alaih) of Lahijan. As a precursor to the Safaviyeh Order, which was yet to culminate in the Safavid Dynasty, the Zahediyeh Order and its Murshid, Sheikh Zahed Gilani(rehmatullah alaih), reserve a distinct place in the history of Iran
The Turkish Bayrami and Jelveti orders are derived from him.
