Sufi orders, or tariqas, have long been a profound spiritual force within Islam, offering a path of inner purification, divine love, and mystical understanding. Over centuries, these spiritual traditions have not only shaped the religious and cultural life of the Muslim world but have also extended their influence far beyond the boundaries of Islam. In the modern era, Sufi orders are experiencing a resurgence, gaining new followers worldwide and contributing to the global conversation on spirituality, peace, and interfaith dialogue.
The Origins and Structure of Sufi Orders
Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, is centered on the pursuit of a direct and personal connection with Allah, emphasizing love, devotion, and the inner dimensions of the faith. The spiritual practices of Sufism were formalized into various orders, each tracing its lineage to a prominent Sufi master. Among the most well-known orders are the Sarwari Qadri, Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya, Chishtiyya, and Shadhiliyya, each with its own distinctive teachings and practices.
Sarwari Qadri Order
Sarwari Qadri Order is most authentic Sufi order of Islam. It can be traced back to all of its ancestors without any doubt or break. The word Sarwari means leader denoting allegiance upon the hand of Prophet Mohammad pbuh. Moreover, Qadri refers to the beneficence of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani among the order. Previously, the Sufi order was known as Qadri having 2 off-shoots Zahidi and Qadri. However, Sultan Bahoo continued this order by the name and practices of Sarwari Qadri Order. Sultan Bahoo is the major reason for the order’s popularity in the Subcontinent. This Islamic Sufi order continues to date with increasing number of devotees everyday.
1. Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H)
- Ali ibn Abi Talib
- Shaikh Hasan of Basra
- Shaikh Habib Ajmi
- Shaikh Dawud Tai
- Shaikh Maroof Karkhi
- Shaikh Sirri Saqti
- Shaikh Junayd of Baghdad
- Shaikh Jafar Abu Bakr Shibli
- Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Hars bin Asad Tamimi
- Shaikh Abu-al-Fazal Abdul Wahid Tamimi
- Shaikh Mohammad Yousaf Abu-al-Farrah Tartusi
- Shaikh Abu Al-Hasan Ali Bin Mohammad Qureshi Hankari
- Shaikh Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi
- Al-Ghawth al-Azam Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Razzaq Jilani
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Jabbar Jilani
- Shaikh Sayyid Mohammad Sadiq Yahya
- Shaikh Sayyid Najmuddin Burhan Puri
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Fattah
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Sattar
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Baqqa
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Jaleel
- Shaikh Sayyid Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi
- Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo
- Sultan-ul-Tarikeen Sultan Sayyid Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani
- Sultan-ul-Sabireen Sultan Pir Mohammad Abdul Ghafoor Shah Hashmi Qureshi
- Shahbaz-e-Arifaan Sultan Pir Sayyid Mohammad Bahadur Ali Shah Kazmi al-Mashhadi
- Sultan-ul-Auliya Sultan Mohammad Abdul Aziz
- Sultan-ul-Faqr VI Sultan Mohammad Asghar Ali
- Sultan-ul-Ashiqeen Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman
Sarwari Qadri swears oath on the hands of the Holy Prophet
The name of Sarwari Qadri way is ‘Sarwari’ because it means to have oath of allegiance at the sacred hands of the Holy Prophet and ‘Qadri’ means to follow the path of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani. Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan Bahoo said:
Sarwari Qadri is actually the one who swears allegiance upon the hands of Prophet Mohammad sall’Allahu alayhi wa’alihi wasallam. All the evils and immoral behaviors are removed from his self and is blessed with the Divine favour to adopt the way of sharia. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)
Spiritual guide grants Ism-e-Allah Zaat
The Sarwari Qadri way is free from the pain of mystic struggles, forty day seclusions, practice of holding breath, complications of initial levels, invocation and meditation. Moreover there are not any apparent saintly dresses or styles in this way, as there are no superficial saintly manners like holding a stick or chaplet or wearing cloak and turban etc. The specialty of this way is that the perfect spiritual guide takes the seeker to the extreme limits on the very first day by giving him the king of invocations (Sultan-ul-Azkar), contemplation of Ism-e-Allah Zaat and practice of inscribing Ism-e-Allah Zaat on body with index finger. While the other ways do not have all these that is why Sultan Bahoo says that the initial level of Sarwari Qadri disciple is equal to the extreme level of disciples of other ways.
