continued......................
Formation of Sufi Orders of Silsilah (Late
12th and 13th Centuries)
Few decades before Sufism began to exercise
an influence on Indian society and religious life,
organised Sufi movement reached its peak in the
Islamic world in the form of various tariqa (paths)
or Sufi orders. These orders began to crystallise
when, from the end of the 12th century, each
one of the Sufi entries began to perpetuate the
name of one particular master and his spiritual
ancestry and focused on its own tariqa consisting
of peculiar practices and chain through which
successive spiritual heirs (khalifa) traced their
spiritual inheritance to the founder of the order.
The founders of various silsilahs accepted the
Islamic law and ritual practices of Islam. The
link between orthodox Islam and silsila founders
is also clear from the fact that many of the latter
were professional Sufists. However, the gave an
esoteric orientation to orthodox Islamic rituals
and introduced many innovation, particularly
in their religious practices, which were not
always in consonance with the orthodox outlook.
Though the silsilah founders laid emphasis on
strict adherence to Islamic law, many silsilahs
later did develop many heterodox beliefs and
practies.
The silsilahs which become popular in Iran,
central Asia and Baghdad, played a significant
role in the growth of sufism in various parts of
the Islamic world including the suhrawardi
founded by shaidh Shahabuddin Suhrawardk;
the Qadiri formed by Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani,
the Dhawajagan, but later came to be associated
with the name of Bahauddin Naqshbandi. The
Sufies who had received their training in these
silsilahs began to establish their branches in their
countries or in new countries such as India.
Gradually, these branches become independent
Sufi schools with own characteristics and
tendencies.
