Sufi Silsilahs
In course of time the sufis organized themselves into silsilahs (orders) and established Khanqahs (hospices). After the fall of Baghdad, when the Muslim political power was at its lowest ebb, the sufis took upon themselves the great task of revitalizing Muslim society through an organized spiritual discipline.
Though sufism is found so extensively, it is not the religion of a sect. It is rather a natural revolt of the human heart against the cold formalism of a ritualistic religion. It is an attitude of mind and heart toward God and the problems of life which is much different from strictly orthodox Islam. But while sufis have never been regarded as a separate sect of Muslims, they have nevertheless tended to gather themselves around men of piety and spiritual gifts, and form themselves into sufi orders. Of the many sufis orders that have arisen in the world, only four of them contributed significantly in India. These are:
1. Chishtiyah
2. Shorwardhiyah
3. Qadiriyah
4. Naqshbandiyah
1.Chishtiyah Silsilah: The oldest sufi order in India and Pakistan is the Chishti order, which traces its origin to Khawaja Abu Ishaq Shami, who died in 940 AD. It was introduced into India by Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, of Sistan, a southern district of Afghanistan, where he was born in 1142 AD. This order has extensive infuence, particularly in Northern India, Deccan and Bengal. Some of the distinct characteristics of the followers of this silsilah are:
1: The followers of this silsilah consider tariqat (a term used by the sufis for their special form of religious life) the more important than shariat.
2. They emphasize on illa-Allah (except Allah) while reciting kalima-e-shahadat and generally move their head and upper part of the body during this recitation.
3. The distinctive characteristic of the followers of this order is that they arrange sama (the recital of holy songs), eg. listening of Qawali, and take much interest in music. During sama the chishtis fall to spiritual ecstasy (wajd) and are captured by a spiritual mesmerism (hal).
4. They usually wear coloured dresses and among that they give preference to brown colour.
5. They show a lot of tolerance in them for the other religious communities.
2.Shorwardhiyah Silsilah: Following the appearance of the Chishti order in India the next sufi order to be introduced was to Shorwardhi order which was sponsored by Shaikh Bahauddin Zakriya, a native of Multan. This order traces its origin to Shaikh Abdul Najib Shorwardhi (1097-1162). This order has extensive influence, particularly in Sindh, Punjab, NWFP, Balochistan and Gujrat. Some of the distinct eharacteristics of the followers of this silsilah are:
1. They strictly follow the shariat.
2. They are in favour of both zikr-e-jali (perceptible zikr) and zikr-e-khafi (imperceptible zikr). When the exercises are pertormed aloud, the voice may be raised very high, in order deliberately to shut out any other thoughts, is called zikr-e-jali. There is the opposite of this, the zikr-e-khafi where the person practises his repetitions quietly.
3. During the zikr they stop their breathing and repeatedly say the word Allah-hoo.
4. They avoid sama and emphasize on the recitaton of Quran.
5. They do not show much tolerarce in them for the other religious communities.
3.Qadiriyah Silsilah: The third rengious order to find entrance into the religious life of Indian lslam was the Qadiri order, so named from its founder Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gilani (1077-1166) of Baghdad. This famous saint is highly regarded throughout India, and frequently goes by the titles, Pir Dastgir, or Pir-e-Piran. His urs is widely celebrated on the 11 Rabi-us-Sani. Though the founder died in 1l66 AD, the order was not introduced into India until more than three hundred years later, In 1482, Syed Bandagi Mohammad Ghosh, one of his descendants, took up his residence at Uch, in Punjab, already made famous because of Muslim saints by the Shorwardhi order.
This order did not make much headway in the subcontinent and has influence in Northern India particularly in Punjab and Sindh. Some of the distinct characteristics of the followers of this silsilah are:"
1. They strictly follow the shariat.
2. They are in favour of both zikr-e-jali and zikr-e-khafi.
3. During the zikr they give much weightage to the darud (salutation).
4. They are against the sama and music.
5. They usually wear green turban.
4.Naqshbandiyah Silsilah: The fourth, and last, of the great sufi orders to be introduced into India is known as the Naqshbandi order, which was founded by Khawaja Bahauddin Mohammad Naqshband (1317-1389) who was buried near Bukhara.
About two hundred years later this order was introduced into India by Khawaja Mohammad Baqi Billah, who died in 1603 AD, and whose tomb is at Delhi. This order also did not make much head way in the subcontinent and has some influence in Punjab, Kashmir and Bengal. Some of the distinct characteristies of the followers of this silsilah are:
I. They strictly follow the shariat and reject the tariqat.
2. They are against the zikr-e-jali and are only in favour of zikr-e-khafi.
3. During the zikr, they sit in contemplation and bow their heads down with eyes closed.
4. They are against the sama and music.
5. Among them the murshid (spiritual guide) does not sit separately frorm the murids (disciples).
6.brief account of the lives and teaching of some of the leading sufis is given below.
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