ROLE OF SUFIS IN THE SPREAD OF ISLAM:

Sufism
1.Origin
2. Roots (Islamic or Un-Islamic)
3. Evolution (Early age vs modern)
Role in Subcontinent
1. Teachings
2. Characteristics or means of teaching
Chains of Sufis
1. Hazrat Ali (Chishtia, Suhrawardi, Qadria)
2. Hazrat Abu Bakr (Naqshbandia)
Sisila or Orders of Sufi
1. Chishtia
2. Suhrawardia
3. Naqshbandia
4. Qadria
Some famous saints:
Origin of the word Sufi and the concept Sufism:
Word Sufi:
• According to sources Sufi is an Arabic word derived from Safa
which means wool and refers to the woolen garment worn by
pious people. It refers to the purity of heart and soul of human

• Scholars are of the opinion that the word Sufism derived from the
Greek word Soph, which means the wisdom or knowledge.

• According to Dr. Qasim Ghani, Abu Hashim al-Kufi was the first
known person for whom the word Sufi was used, who lived in 8th
century, first person who formed a house for worship where the
public gathered at the place of Ramlah, in Palestine.
Sufism:
Exact derivation of Sufism is undecided and disputed as large number
of scholars are not agreeing on its derivation but the additional idea is
that the origin of Sufism is related to the formation of the human
creation.

• Some sources suggest that Sufism represents the inner

dimensions of the teachings of the Last Prophet of Islam.
• Some authors are of the opinion that Sufism developed during the
golden age of Islamic period which was 9th to 10th centuries.
• some of the Islamic scholars said that the Sufism was promoted
earlier to the golden era as various Sufis were present like Hassan
of Basra.
 • Muslim thinker Allama Ibn-i-Khaldun stated that Sufism was
originally practiced by the Sahaba, who balanced material and
spiritual practices, but later the term "Sufi" came to denote those
focusing solely on spiritual aspects of Islam.

Roots of Sufism: Islamic or Un Islamic:

Un-Islamic:
• Sufis are not those who follow Islamic rules as they can be seen
before the advent of Islam and in non-Islamic culture during
Islamic period.
• Pre-Islamic roots of Sufism include influences from early Christian
mystics of Syria and Egypt, the Essenes of Palestine, and the
mystery schools of Egyptians and Zoroastrians. These groups
practiced self-discipline and had their own religious scholars.
Islamic:
• According to Muslim scholars, Sufism is the spiritual school of
Islam that began in the early centuries after Prophet Muhammad
and his companions.
• Now a day, most of the Sufis in the world are related to one of the
sects of Islamic religion. A number of Islamic scholars consider
that Sufism is impossible to a non-Islamic personality and Islam is
its base.
Evolution of Sufism in India:
1. Sufis in early age in India: Sufism started with the arrival of Muslim
scholars in the early 10th century.
Umar-al-Jallabi-al-Hajveri
A Muslim native of Ghazni from Afghanistan came in India and settled
at Lahore.
Data Ganj Bakhsh
In his learning life in Damascus, Baghdad and Nishapur he lived with
numerous foremost Sufis of the time and started preaching Islam after
he settled in Lahore.
He spread the fundamental teachings of Islam in the mostly areas of
Punjab.
His book is Kashf-al-Mahjub and hundreds of people visit his shrine
today.
Died in 1072 A.D. and buried at Lahore. Tomb got the status of shrine as
Data Darbar.
2. Sufism in modern age in Sub-continent:
Sufi Inayat Khan: Sufi Inayat Khan had played a significant role in the
modern age of Sufism. Settled in Delhi at late 1926.
Faced a mystical practice, Pioneer in the teachings of sound, Harmony,
science of breath, law rhythms, the original process, and both the
psychological influence and healing power of musical sounds, "message
of spiritual liberty", adopted the multi-religious roots of Sufism.

Sufis and their contribution towards the spread of Islam in the sub-
continent:
Sufis played a crucial role in spreading Islamic teachings worldwide,
especially in Central and South Asia.
Most of them migrated to India between eleventh and fourteenth
century and devoted their loves for the cause of Islam and made Islam
popular in the Indian sub-continent.
Choudry Rahmat Ali in his book “The emergence of Pakistan” is of the
opinion:
“The spread of Islam in India owed little to the efforts of Muslim rulers.
Islam spread in India to the extent it did through the exertion and
example of Muslim scholars and Sufis (mystics) who journeyed from
one end of the land to the other and courted innumerable hardships
and dangers in their endeavors to spread the light of truth.”

• Construction of Muslim society and culture in India:

• Extend Islam through their life-time efforts and not as part time
activity to introduce teachings of Islam to the people of all
societies and cultures.
• Through mentoring the spiritual concerns of the Muslims.
• Promoted Islam without using any force and authority as Dr. Sabir
Ayub.
• People embraced Islam while impressing from their fair
treatments and personalities.
• Message of Islam in sub-continent spread through the direct
message of Muslim divines like, Data Ganj Bakhsh of Lahore,
Khwaja Moeenuddin of Ajmer, Khwaja Bakhtyar Kaki of Delhi,
Baba Farid of Pak Pathan, Shiekh Bahauddin Zikriya of Multan,
Makhdoom Jahania Jahangasht, of Bahawalpur and heikh Nizam
Ud din Aulia of Delhi, Jalauddin Tabrezi of Bengal.

• The Sufis taught:

• The simple faith
• The mercy of God
• The pleasures of honest dealings
• The nearness of God
• Duties and responsibilities of men in respect to other men
• The power of prayer
• The beauties of faith

3. The Sufis propounded the teachings of Islam by the following

means: Sufis had greater impact on the lives of people among
whom they settled because of their moral merits and spiritual
attainment. It was not an easy achievement to change the religion
and transform the entire social life of millions of people in the
subcontinent.
• Fair treatment to everybody
• Preaching equality, tolerance, compassion, non-violence
• Great intellectuals’ speakers of high caliber, men of letters.
• Establishing khangahs or monasteries,
• Asceticism (Doctrine that through renunciation of worldly
pleasures it is possible to achieve a high spiritual or intellectual
state.
• Living the lives of hermits
• Sama or devotional music
• Aversion to wealth and power
Chains of Sufis: Muslim Sufis belonged to several chains.Sufi chains are
sketched back to the Prophet S.A.W.
• Qadria, Chishtia and Suhrawardia orders belong to the fourth
Caliph of Muslims (Hazrat Ali R.A)
• Naqshbandia order connects itself to with the first Caliph of
Muslims (Hazrat Abu Bakr).
Sufi Orders or Silas: The chain connecting the Sheikh with his disciples
is called Silsila or order (branches).
In Sufism (Islamic mysticism) the role of sheikhs or spiritual guide was
vital. Since the sheikh was expected to mediate with God on behalf
of his followers, therefore obedience to one’s sheikh is most heavily
prescribed in Sufism.
The number of order or Silsila given by Abul Fazl in his “Ain-i-Akbari” is
fourteen. The following four Silsila are the most prominent in the Indian
sub-continent:

1. Chishti Order
2. Suharwardi Order
3. Naqshbandi Order
4. Qadria Order

1. Chishti Order:
• Founded by Khawaja Abdul Chishti in Herat.
• Implanted by Khwaja Moin Ud Din Chishti Ajmeri (also
known as Gharib Nawaz) in India
 • Chishti order is the most widespread among all the Sufi
orders in India.
• The Chishti saints follow the concept of pantheistic monism
“Wahdat-ul-wajood”
• Other renowned saints of this order are:
Shiekh Qutubudin Bakhtyar Kaki
Baba Farid Ud Din Ganj Shakar
Sheikh Nizamuddin Aulia
Khawaja Gesu Daraz
2. Suharwardi Order
• Founded by Sheikh Shahabuddin Umar Suharwardi at
Beghdad
• Founded by Shiekh bahauddin Ziriya in India by
establishing khangah at Multan
• This order became popular in Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh and
parts of Bengal.
• Sheikh Jalal Tabrezi was another prominent saint of this
order.
• Some other saints of this order are:
Shiekh Rukn Alam
Makhdoom Jahania Jahangasht
3. Naqshbandia Order:
• Popularized in India through the efforts of Khwajja Baqi
Billah, who came to India during the reign of Albar
Emperor.
• It is the only Sufi order that claims to trace its spiritual
lineage (silsilah) to Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H)
through Abu Bakr, the first Caliph.
• Other renowned saints of this order are:
Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi
 Shah Wali Ullah
4. Qadria Order:
• Founded by Sheikh Abdul Qadir in Beghdad
• Sayyed Bandagi Muhammad Ghous laid the first Qadria
khanqah at Uch.
• Other renowned saints of this order are:
Shah Naimatullah
Sayyed Makhdum Muhammad Gilan

Some famous Sufis:

Lal ShahbaZ Qalandar
Syed Ali Hajveri
Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zikriya
Shiekh Jalal ud din
Khwaja Moin ud din Chishti
Pir Baba