History of Sufism: Encyclopedia II - History of Sufism - Sufism in Indian subcontinent

History of Sufism - Sufism in Indian subcontinent

Muslims of the Indian subcontinent prominently follow Chistiyya, Naqshbandiyya, Qadiriyya and Suharabardiyya orders. Of them the Chisti order is the most visible. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a disciple of Khwaja Abu Abdal Chishti, the propounder of this order introduced it in India. He came to India from Afghanistan with the army of Shihab-ud-Din Ghuri in 1192 AD and started living permanently in Ajmer since 1195. Centuries later, with the support of Mughal rulers, his shrine became a place of pilgrimage. Akbar used to visit the shrine every year ^[1].

Turkic invaders into India were accompanied by four Sufi mystics of the Chistiyya order from Afghanistan: Moinuddin (d. 1233 in Ajmer), Qutbuddin (d. 1236 in Delhi), Nizamuddin (d.1335 in Delhi) and Fariduddin (d.1265 in Pattan now in Pakistan) ^[2]. During the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq, who spread the Delhi sultanate towards the south, the Chistiyya spread its roots all across India ^[3]. The Sufi shine at Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi belong to this order.

Some Sufis under Chistiyya order were not against absorbing ideas from the Hindu Bhakti movement and used even Hindi language for their devotional songs. However, the orthodox Ulama with royal support insisted that Sufis go "back to Shariat" Even though Ulama had certain differences with Sufis over theological and mystic issues, the Shariat remained a cementing force between them. ^[4]

The Suharawardy order was started by Shihabud-Din Suharawardy of Baghdad and brought to India by Baha-ud-Din Zakariya of Multan. Suharawardiyya order of Sufism gained popularity in Bengal ^[5]. The Qadiri order founded by Abdul Qadir whose tomb is at Baghdad. It is popular among the Muslims of South India.

Baha-ud-Din Naqshband (1318-1389) of Turkistan founded Naqshbandi order of Sufism. Khwaja Mohhammad Baqi Billah Berang whose tomb is in Delhi (E.I.Rose ) introduced Naqshbandi order in India. The essence of this order was insistence on rigid adherence to Shariat and nurturing love for prophet. It was patronized by the Mughal rulers, as its founder was their ancestral 'Pir' (Spiritual guide). "The conquest of India by Babur in 1526 gave considerable impetus to the Naqshbandiyya order" ^[6]. Its disciples remained loyal to the throne because of the common Turkic origin. With the royal patronage of most of the Mughal rulers, the Naqshbandi order caused the revival of Islam in its pure form.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Sufism in Indian subcontinent", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki