Sufi Movement in India || UPSC

Short Notes

The influx of Muslim invaders led to introduction of Sufi tradition in India. A khanqah - also known as ribat - is a building specifically designed for gathering of Sufi brotherhood/ tariqa and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation. Sufi tradition in India was divided into several sects/orders called tariqahs. The monastic organisation of Sufis and some of their practices such as penance, fasting and holding breath are sometimes traced to Buddhist and Hindu Yogic traditions.

Important Sufi Tariqahs and Saints :

Madariyya :

• Popular in North India- UP, Bihar and Bengal.
• Initiated by Sufi saint Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar - also called Qutb-ul-Madar - and is centred around his dargah in Kanpur.

Shadhiliyya : 

• Founded by Abul Hasan Ali Ash Shadhili of Morocco.

Chishtiyyah (ba shara tradition) :

• Emerged in Central Asia and Persia.
• First saint was Abu Ishaq Shami. Moinnuddin Chishti championed the order in India, making it one of the largest orders in India today. He came to India in 1192, shortly after the defeat and death of Prithviraj Chauhan. 
• His successors include 8 additional saints in that order: 
  1) Moinuddin Chishti (came to India with the army of Ghori); Was born in Afghanistan and was disciple of Khwaja Usman Haruni; also known as Garib Nawaz;
  2) Qutubddin Bakhtiyar Kaki.
  3) Fariddudin Ganjshakar(Baba Farid) -- contributed compositions in Guru Granth Sahib.
  4) Nizamuddin Auliya -- Refused an audience to Alauddin Khalji; also known as Mehboob-e-Illahi; Had seen the reign of 7 sultans.
  5) Nasiruddin Chirag Dehlavi.
  6) Syed Shah Kareemi.
  7) Siraj Aaine Hind.
  8) Alaul Haq Pandavi. 
• Sufi saint Shah Muhammed Ghuas accepted Lord Krishna as Auliya. 

Suhrwardi (ba shara tradition) :

• Founder was Abdul -Wahid Abu Najib as- Suhrwardi.
• Unlike the Chistis, they did not believe in leading the life of poverty. They accepted the services of the state and some of them even held important posts. 

Kubrawiyyah : 

• Founded by Najmuddin Kubra. Became important in Kashmir in 14th century.

Naqshbandiyyah : 

• Particularly popular among the Mughal elites and has been considered most orthodox among all sufi order.
• Babur was already initiated in the order even before conquering India.

Qadiriyyah : 

• Popular among Muslims of South India.