Shrine of Khwaja Abul Qāsim Gurgāni (rahmatAllah alaih), in Gurgan, Iran

He was born in Gorgan (situated in northern Iran) in 380 AH. He received the spiritual secrets from the master of Sufis Khwaja Abul Hasan Kharaqāni (352-425 AH), and with few intermediaries from Imam Junaid al-Baghdādi (218-298 AH).

He was one of the shaykhs of Sayyid Ali Hujweri (Data Ganj Bakhsh) of Lahore, who has mentioned him in his book Kashf al-Mahjūb, the first ever Persian treatise on Sufism. He mentions him as a Qutb, the highest rank among the living saints at any time. He introduces this great master in the following words:

In his time he was unique and incomparable. His beginning (Ibtidā) was very excellent and strong, and his journeys were performed with punctilious observance (of the sacred law). At that time the hearts of all initiates (ahl-i dargāh) were turned towards him, and all seekers (tālibān) had a firm belief in him. He possessed a marvellous power of revealing the inward experiences of novices (kashf-i wāqi’a-i murīdīn), and he was learned in various branches of knowledge.

At one place in the book, he writes:

Now I, who am ‘Ali b. ‘Usmān al-Jullābī, asked the Grand Shaykh, Abu ‘l-Qāsim Gurgānī at Tūs, saying: “What is the least thing necessary for a dervish in order that he may become worthy of poverty?” He replied: “A dervish must not have less than three things: first, he must know how to sew on a patch rightly; second, he must know how to listen rightly; third, he must know how to set hist foot on the ground rightly”.

Then he explains the wisdom of these golden words as:

A right patch is one that is stitched for poverty, not for show; if it is stitched for poverty, it is right, even though it be stitched wrong. And a right word is one that is heard esoterically (ba-hāl), not wilfully (ba-munyat), and is applied earnestly, not frivolously, and is apprehended by life, not by reason. And a right foot is one that is put on the ground with true rapture, not playfully and formally.”

In the chapter titled Rules of Companionship, Sayyid Ali Hujweri writes:

I asked the Grand Shaykh Abu al-Qāsim Gurgāni what obligations were involved in companionship. He replied: “It involves this, that you should not seek your own interest; all the evils of companionship arise from selfishness. Solitude is better for a selfish man. He who neglects his own interests and looks after the interests of his companion hits the mark in companionship.”

One of his karāmāt (miraculous powers) is also narrated by Sayyid Ali Hujweri in the following narrative:

One day I was seated in the Shaykh’s presence and was recounting to him my experiences and visions, in order that he might test them, for he had unrivalled skill in this. He was listening kindly to what I said. The vanity and enthusiasm of youth made me eager to relate those matters, and the thought occurred to me that perhaps the Shaykh, in his novitiate, did not enjoy such experiences, or he would not show so much humility towards me and be so anxious to inquire concerning my spiritual state. The Shaykh perceived what I was thinking. “My dear friend,” he said, “you must know that my humility is not on account of you or your experiences, but is shown towards Him who brings experiences to pass. They are not peculiar to yourself, but common to all seekers of God.” On hearing him say this I was utterly taken aback. He saw my confusion and said: “O my son, Man has no further relation to this Path except that, when he is attached to it, he imagines that he has found it, and when he is deposed from it he clothes his imagination in words. Hence both his negation and his affirmation, both his non-existence and existence, are imagination. Man never escapes from the prison of imagination. It behoves him to stand like a slave at the door and put away from himself every relation (nisbat) except that of manhood and obedience.” Afterwards I had much spiritual conversation with him, but if I were to enter upon the task of setting forth his extraordinary powers my purpose would be defeated.

Shaykh Gurgani authored a book named “Fusūl al-Tarīqah wa Fusūl al-Haqīqah”. In that, he says:

The virtue of compliance with the brothers in a matter that is not a sin, is not less than voluntary fasting. And among the manners of fasting is that the fasting person should not consider any value for his fast. [Anees at-Talibeen]

He passed away on 23rd Safar 450 AH (19 or 20 April 1058 CE). The author of Shadharat al-Dhahab mentions his demise to be in Rabi al-Awwal 469 AH. His shrine is located in a small village, three kilometers south of Torbat Ḥeydarīyeh in Iran. [latitude: 35.23435, longitude: 59.19795]

Among his students and disciples are the following:

1. Sayyid Ali bin Usman Hujweri Lahori, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh
2. Abu Ali al-Farmadi
3. Abubakr Nisaj
4. Khwaja Ali Hallaj
5. Abubakr Abdullah Tusi

His spiritual successor was his son-in-law Khwājā Abū Ali al-Fārmadi, who was also known to Sayyid Ali Hujweri who mentioned him in his book as:

All his disciples are ornaments of the society in which they move. Please God, he will have an excellent successor, whose authority the whole body of Sufis will recognize, namely, Abū Alī al-Fadl b. Muhammad al-Fārmadī (may God lengthen his days), who has not omitted to fulfil his duty towards his master, and has turned his back on all (worldly) things, and through the blessings of that (renunciation) has been made by God the spiritual mouthpiece (zabān-i hāl) of that venerable Shaykh.

References

1. Kashf al-Mahjūb (English), translated by R.A. Nicholson, 1911
2. Tazkirāh Mashāikh-i Naqshbadiyāh (Urdu), by Allama Muhammad Noor Bakhsh Tawakkuli
3. Shadharāt al-Dhahab fī Akhbār min Dhahab (Arabic), by Imam Shuhab al-Din abi al-Falah ‘Abdal Hayy bin Ahmad bin Muhammad al-’Akriy al-Hanbali al-Dimishqiy, published by Dar Ibn Kathir, 1989
4. Anees at-Talibeen wa Uddat as-Salikeen, by Salah bin Mubarak Bukhari
5. Biographical article, Daira Maarif Buzurg Islami, Iran

Links

1. Kashf al-Mahjūb (English), translated by R.A. Nicholson, 1911. Some of the text in this article has been copied from it.
2. Youtube video showing pictures of his noble shrine
3. Article at Daira Maarif Buzurg Islami, Iran (Persian)

He was also a great scholar and a Muhaddis. Many chains of authority (Isnād) in Hadith studies include his name. Not only Ahl-us-Sunnah but the Deobandi scholars also possess such Isnād and consider him with high regards.

Shah Ahmad Saeed witnessed the emergence and spread of the Wahhābi sect in India. Before him, Indian Muslims were united in beliefs and practices and belonged to the Hanafi school of thought, with a Shia minority which was clearly distinguished from the mainstream Islam. However, the teachings of Ismāil Dehlavi introduced a big fitnah in the Indian Muslims who branched out in many different sects and schools, including Deobandi, Barelvi, Ahl al-Hadith (or Salafi), Maodūdi, Naturalist and others.

This is not a place to discuss the full history of the Indian Wahhabi movement. But interestingly, many Naqshbandis today affilitate themselves to Deobandi school even with a spiritual connection with the Naqshbandi Mujaddidi tariqah. Deobandi school is a continuation of the ideas of Ismāil Dehlavi. So here I will discuss the reaction of the then Naqshbandi masters specially Shah Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi to the newly emerged doctrine of Wahhabism, imported from Arabia by Ismāil Dehlavi.

Molvi Ismāil Dehlavi, aka Ismāil Shaheed (1193-1246 AH) was the paternal grandson of Hazrat Shah Waliullah Muhaddis Dehlavi (1114-1176 AH). He wrote a book called Taqwiyat-ul-Iman which was based on the ideas of Ibn Abdul Wahhāb Najdī and was the first book to introduce Wahhabism in India.

Ismāil Dehlavi was joined by some more scholars in this new movement, including his cousin Muhammad Ishāq Dehlavi. But most of his family scholars went against him, and some even wrote refutations of his works. Even his grandfather Shāh Abdul Azīz Muhaddis Dehlavi, who had lost his sight because of old age, when he came to know about this book, he proclaimed: “If I wasn’t disabled by illness, I would have written a refutation to it similar to Tuhfa Isna Ash’ariya”. (Narrated by Ismail’s cousin Maulana Makhsūs-Allah in his book Tahqīq al-Haqīqat).

Maulāna Hāfiz Muhammad Razā Ali Naqshbandi Banārasi, who was a disciple of Shah Ahmad Saeed, writes that Shah sahib had also written a refutation of Taqwiyat-ul-Iman. Although there is no mention of this work anywhere else. He also writes that, once I asked my master and shaykh about Ismail Dehlavi in Madinah. He replied that “I and other scholars of Delhi convinced him at Jame’ Masjid Delhi and he agreed to correct Taqwiyat-ul-Iman“. My shaykh (Shah Ahmad Saeed) said at Tonk that “my master and shaykh (Hazrat Shah Ghulam Ali) used to say that all the irreligiousness (Be-Dini), bad faith and corruption in the Muhammadi Deen that occured in India, occured because of this person Molvi Ismail“. (Saif-ul-Jabbār by Maulana Fazal Rasool Qadri, 1973, page 211)

When Maulana Fazal Rasool Qādri wrote the book Al-Mu’tamad wa al-Muntaqad on the creed of Ahl-us-Sunnah, in which he also criticized and refuted Wahhabism, Shah Ahmad Saeed wrote a foreword to this book. (Al-Mu’tamad wa al-Muntaqad, Arabic edition, page 6)

Hazrat Shah Muhammad Mazhar Mujaddidi, son of Shah Ahmad Saeed, writes in his book Maqāmāt Ahmadiya:

“He (Shah Ahmad Saeed) would not mention anyone with harsh words except the Wahhabi sect in order to warn people about their ugly beliefs and practices”.

He further writes:

“And he (Shah Ahmad Saeed) used to say that the least harm of the company of Wahhābis is that the love of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him, which is among the biggest pillars of faith, diminishes moment by moment until nothing is left except the name and the ritual. So I warn you from their company, rather I warn you from seeing them at all.”

In a letter written to his chief khalifa Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahāri about allowing the recitation of Mawlid, Hazrat Shah Ahmad Saeed writes:

“Thus anyone who stops from the recitation of Maulood (Mawlid) and considers it Makrūh or Harām, such as the Wahhābi sect, then he is an enemy of Allah and Prophet, …. do not meet with such people and abstain from their company”. [Tuhfā Zawwāriyā, Urdu translation of the letters of Shah Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi, translated by Muhammad Zaheeruddin Bhatti, Zawwar Academy Publications 2011, page 77]

One of the most prominent khulafa of Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi was Khwaja Ghulām Muhiyuddīn Qusoori (1202-1270 AH). He also strongly opposed this new movement. Following passage is taken from his biography:

“At the end of his life, he used to strongly condemn the Wahhabi sect, and used to warn his lovers about their deception. He also wrote a poem to refute them”. (Tārīkh Mashāikh Naqshbandiya, by Abdur-Rasool Lillāhi, Maktabah Zawiyah 2007, page 502)

Tahqīq al-Haqq al-Mubīn Fi Masāil Arbaeen

Hazrat Shah Ahmad Saeed is an author of multiple books, most of whom concern the refutations of Wahhabi beliefs and practices or affirmations of the Sunni creed. Here is the list of his works:

1. Saeed al-Bayān Fi Mawlid Sayyid al-Ins wa al-Jān (Urdu)
2. Az-Zikr ash-Sharīf Fi Asbāt al-Mawlid al-Munīb (Persian)
3. Al-Fawāid az-Zābitah Fi Asbāt ar-Rābitā (Persian)
4. Arba’ Anhār (Persian)
5. Asbāt al-Mawlid wa al-Qiyām (Arabic)
6. Tahqīq al-Haqq al-Mubīn Fi Masāil Arbaeen (Persian)

Here I want to discuss about the last book that he wrote as a response to the book Arbaeen Masāil by Molvi Muhammad Ishāq Dehlavi who had written his fatwas on forty important issues in the Wahhabi sect. Shah sahib refuted each of the original claims of the author and provided many proofs for the right beliefs and correct juristic rulings about those issues. Although the book is supposed to be for his followers so does not contain proofs for all of those matters (as merely his opinion is sufficient for his followers), he does provide many proofs from original sources of Fiqh and Hadith books.

Some important matters discussed by him are following:

• Urs of the Awliya for remembering them sending them rewards is allowed (Wahhabis consider it haram).
• Visiting graves is allowed for both men and women.
• Kissing the graves is allowed in some cases.
• Asking for help from the prophets and saints is allowed. Specially, saying Ya Rasool Allah is allowed (Wahhabis consider it Shirk and haraam).
• Covering graves of saints with clothes or flowers is fine.
• Making cemented graves and tombs over them is allowed.
• It is haram to consider the Holy Prophet peace be upon him as similar to other humans. He has fully explained this point at the end and decorated the book with the merits of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him.

This wonderful book was first published 1318 AH. A new print and a translation in Urdu are published as well. Both have been digitized by maktabah.org and are available here.

The First Hadith

A Hadith showing the dignity of the scholars of this Ummah

علماء أمتي كانبياء بني اسرائيل

The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi waSallam) said: “The scholars of my Ummah are like the prophets of Bani Israil”.

This Hadith is counted as a weak Hadith (some scholars doubt its attribution to the Prophet peace be upon him). However, with respect to its content, it is very similar to another Sahih Hadith which reads “Scholars are the inheritors of Prophets”. Therefore many scholars have accepted this Hadith, or at least the content of this Hadith, to be true.

Although this Hadith concerns all the great scholars of this Ummah, yet one-to-one likeness cannot be ruled out. Many prophets were sent to Bani Israel, but at the turn of every thousand years, a great Messenger of Allah (Rasool) would arrive in the previous nations with new rules and new Shariah. Sayyidina Musa and Sayyidina Isa (peace be on them) came after a millenium. Similarly, this Ummah also needed a very powerful Mujaddid (revivor) when one thousand years passed from the demise of the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi waSallam). Thus Allah Almighty, with his great mercy on humankind and specially on this Ummah, sent Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi and made him a reviver of a millennium, unlike other scholars and revivers whose efforts were limited to their times. The renovation done by Imam Rabbani will last for the full 2nd millennium of the Hijri calendar.

The Second Hadith

The famous Hadith about the arrival of a Mujaddid (reviver) in this Ummah at the turn of every century

عن أبو هريرة رضي الله عنه عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أنه قال:
( إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ عَلَى رَأْسِ كُلِّ مِائَةِ سَنَةٍ مَنْ يُجَدِّدُ لَهَا دِينَهَا )
رواه أبو داود (رقم/4291) وصححه السخاوي في “المقاصد الحسنة” (149)

Narrated from Abu Huraira (R), from the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alaihi waSallam), who said: “Surely, Allah will send for this Ummah at the advent of every one hundred years a person (or persons) who will renovate its religion for it.” [Sunan Abu Dawood]

This is a Hadith categorized as Sahih as all of its narrators are trustworthy. Mufti Taqi Usmani writes about the authenticity of this Hadith:

“One of the narrators of this hadith is slightly doubtful about whether this hadith is reported by Sayyidina Abu Huraira (R) as a saying of the Holy Prophet (S) or as his own saying, though he affirms it as a saying of the Holy Prophet (S) “to the best of his knowledge”. But even if it is held to be a saying of Abu Hurairah (R) himself, he could not have predicted this happening with such certainty unless he had learnt it from the Holy Prophet (S). For this reason the scholars of hadith have taken it as an authentic hadith.”

The Third Hadith

This is a Hadith particularly referring to the Mujaddid as a person and predicting his birth.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَكُونُ رَجُل فِي أُمَّتِي يُقَالُ لَه صِلَّة يَدخُلُ الجَنَّةَ بِشِفَاعَتِه كَذَا وَ كَذَا
(رواه السيوطي في جمع الجوامع)

The Prophet (sallAllahu alaihi waSallam) said: “There will be a person in my Ummah who will be called Sillah (literally meaning a link or connection), with whose intercession many (people) will enter the Paradise.” [Suyuti]

The Great Mujaddid writes in his letter written to his son Imam Muhammad Masoom (Volume 2 letter 6):

اَلحَمدُ للهِ الَّذِي جَعَلَنِي صِلَّةً بَينَ البَحرَينِ وَ مُصلِحًا بَينَ الفِئَتَينِ

“All praise is for Allah who made me a Sillah (link) between two oceans and a reformer between two groups.” [Maktubat, volume 2 letter 6]

The letter is written to explain the spiritual realities that occur after every 1000 years, in which the Great Mujaddid also discusses the real purpose of his birth. Thus the above words are not just a common expression, but an affirmation that the Hadith mentioned above is actually said for him.

Furthermore, this Hadith has been accepted by great scholars of Hadith such as Shaykh Abdul Haqq Muhaddith Dehlavi in Akhbar al-Akhyar. Shah Abdul Aziz Muhaddith Dehlavi presents this Hadith in Fatawa Azizia as a proof for the birth of Mujaddid. He states further that in the first thousand years, there has been no one with the title Sillah and this is proved from Naqliyat and Mukashifat (transmitted knowledge and spiritual revelations).

The holy tomb of Imam Rabbani Mujaddid Alf-e-Sani Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, at Sirhind, India

Sillah refers to a connection between two entities. Imam Rabbani was a connection between the two oceans of Shariah and Tasawwuf. Before him, the two groups of scholars and Sufis had a gap which was widening. Many Sufis had adopted opinions which were contrary to the established beliefs of Shariah, and they had developed practices such as Sima’ which were against the rules of Shariah. On the other hand, scholars of Islamic sciences were getting away from the spirituality and from the true practice of Tasawwuf. Some of them were even against the Sufi practices completely. This wide gap was filled by Imam Rabbani, whose spiritual descendants were both the greatest scholars of Hadith and Fiqh as well as the greatest Sufi masters of their times.

Following are those eight Sufi tariqahs:

1. The Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Mazhari tariqah
2. The Qadri tariqah
3. The Chishti tariqah
4. The Suhrawardi tariqah
5. The Kubravi tariqah
6. The Madāri tariqah
7. The Qalandari tariqah
8. The Shattāri tariqah

Hadhrat Khwaja Sirāj ad-Dīn received the first seven tariqahs through Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, and the Shattāri tariqah through Shāh Walī-Allāh Dehlavi.

I have tried to complete the full names and dates from other sources. Here are the spiritual chains of these tariqahs:

1.  The Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Golden chain

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, buried in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Sayyadna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him (d.13 AH), buried in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
3. Sayyadna Salman al-Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him (d.33 AH), buried Madaa’in, Saudi Arabia
4. Hadhrat Imam Qasim Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him (24-107 AH), buried Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
5. Hadhrat Imam Jafar Sadiq, alayhi-s-salam (after which moves to Iran) (d.148 AH) buried Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
6. Hadhrat Shaikh Bayazid Bastami, (d.261 AH) buried Bistaam, Iraq (804 – 874 CE).
7. Hadhrat Shaikh Abul Hassan Kharqani (d.425 AH), buried in Kharqaan, Iran
8. Hadhrat Shaikh Abul Qasim Gurgani (d.450 AH), buried in Gurgan, Iran
9. Hadhrat Shaikh Abu Ali Farmadi (d.477 AH), buried at Tous, Khorasan, Iran
10. Hadhrat Khwaja Abu Yaqub Yusuf Hamadani (d.535 AH), buried at Maru, Khorosan, Iran
11. Hadhrat Khwaja Abdul Khaliq Ghujdawani (d.575 AH), buried at Ghajdawan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
12. Hadhrat Khwaja Arif Reogari (551-616 AH), buried at Reogar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
13. Hadhrat Khwaja Mahmood Anjir-Faghnawi (628-715 AH), buried at Waabakni, Mawralnahar
14. Hadhrat Shaikh Azizan Ali Ramitani (d.715 AH), buried at Khwaarizm, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
15. Hadhrat Shaikh Muhammad Baba Samasi (d.755 AH), buried at Samaas, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
16. Hadhrat Shaikh Sayyid Amir Kulal, (676-772 AH) buried Saukhaar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
17. Hadhrat Shaikh Muhammad Baha’uddin Naqshband (718-791 AH), buried at Qasr-e-Aarifan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan
18. Hadhrat Shaikh Ala’uddin Attar Bukhari (d.804 AH), buried at Jafaaniyan, Mawranahar, Uzbekistan
19. Hadhrat Shaikh Yaqub Charkhi (762-851 AH), buried at Charkh, near Bukhara, Uzbekistan
20. Hadhrat Shaikh Ubaidullah Ahrar (806-895 AH), buried in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
21. Hadhrat Shaikh Muhammad Zahid Wakhshi (852-936 AH), buried at Wakhsh, Malk Hasaar
22. Hadhrat Shaikh Durwesh Muhammad (846-970 AH), buried in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
23. Hadhrat Shaikh Muhammad Amkanaki (918-1008 AH), buried at Akang, near Bukhara, Uzbekistan
24. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Baqi Billah Berang (971-1012 AH), buried in Delhi, India
25. Hadhrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
26. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Masum Faruqi Sirhindi (1007-1079 AH), buried in Sirhind, India.
27. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Saifuddin Faruqi Mujaddidi (1049-1096 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
28. Hadhrat Hafiz Muhammad Mohsin Dehlavi, buried in Delhi
29. Hadhrat Sayyid Nur Muhammad Badayuni (d.1135 AH), buried in Delhi, India
30. Hadhrat Habibullah Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
31. Hadhrat Abdullah Mujaddidi alias Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
32. Hadhrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
33. Hadhrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
34. Hadhrat Khwaja Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
35. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
36. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

2.  The Chain of Qadri Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, buried in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Hadhrat Sayyadna Imam Ali al-Murtadha, may Allah be pleased with him (d.40 AH), buried in Najaf, Iraq
3. Hadhrat Imam Hassan
4. Hadhrat Imam Hussain (4-60 AH)
5. Hadhrat Imam Zain al-Abideen (d.94 AH)
6. Hadhrat Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (d.114 AH)
7. Hadhrat Imam Jafar as-Sādiq (80-148 AH)
8. Hadhrat Imam Mūsā al-Kāzim (128-183 AH)
9. Hadhrat Imam Ali Razā (153-203 AH)
10. Hadhrat Khwaja Maroof Karkhi (d.200 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
11. Hadhrat Khwaja Sirri Saqti (d.253 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
12. Hadhrat Khwaja Junaid Baghdadi (d.297 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
13. Hadhrat Khwaja Abu Bakr Shibli
14. Hadhrat Khwaja Abdul-Wahid Tamimi
15. Hadhrat Khwaja Abul Farah Tartusi
16. Hadhrat Khwaja Abul Hasan Qureshi
17. Hadhrat Khwaja Abu Saeed Makhzumi
18. Hadhrat Ghaus al-Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (470–561 AH)
19. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Abdur-Razzaq (528-623 AH)
20. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Sharfuddin
21. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Abdul-Wahhab
22. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Aqeel
23. Hadhrat Sayyad Shamsuddin Sehrai
24. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Gada-e-Rahman Awwal
25. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyad Shamsuddin Arif
26. Hadhrat Shaykh Gada-e-Rahman Thani
27. Hadhrat Shaykh Shah Fuzail
28. Hadhrat Shaykh Shah Kamal Kethali (895-981 AH)
29. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Faruqi (d.1007 AH)
30. Hadhrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Faruqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
31. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Saeed Faruqi Sirhindi alias Khāzin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
32. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Faruqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
33. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
34. Hadhrat Habibullah Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
35. Hadhrat Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
36. Hadhrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
37. Hadhrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
38. Hadhrat Khwaja Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
39. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
40. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

3.  The Chain of Chishti Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Hadhrat Sayyadna Imam Ali al-Murtadha, may Allah be pleased with him (d.40 AH), buried in Najaf, Iraq
3. Hadhrat Khwaja Hasan Basri (d.110 AH)
4. Hadhrat Khwaja Abdul-Wāhid bin Zaid (d.177 AH)
5. Hadhrat Khwaja Fuzail bin Ayyāz (d.187 AH)
6. Hadhrat Khwaja Ibrāhīm bin Adham Balkhi (d.162 AH)
7. Hadhrat Khwaja Huzaifa al-Mar’ashi (d.252 AH)
8. Hadhrat Khwaja Abu Habeera Basri (d.278 AH)
9. Hadhrat Khwaja Mamshad Alvi Dinori (d.299 AH)
10. Hadhrat Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami (d.329 AH)
11. Hadhrat Sayyid Abū Ahmed Abdāl Chishti (260-355 AH)
12. Hadhrat Sayyid Abu Muhammad Chishti (331-411 AH), son of Abū Ahmad Abdāl
13. Hadhrat Sayyid Abu Yousuf Chishti (375-459 AH)
14. Hadhrat Sayyid Modood Chishti (430-527 AH), son of Khwaja Abu Yousuf Chishti
15. Hadhrat Khwaja Haji Sharif Zandani (d.612 AH)
16. Hadhrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (526-617 AH)
17. Hadhrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri (527-633 AH)
18. Hadhrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (505-633 AH)
19. Hadhrat Shaykh Fariduddin Ganjshakar (609-668 AH)
20. Hadhrat Shaykh Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari (592-690 AH)
21. Hadhrat Shaykh Shamsuddin Turk Pani-pati
22. Hadhrat Shaykh Jalaluddin Pani-pati
23. Hadhrat Shaykh Ahmad Abdul-Haq Rudaūlwi (776-837 AH)
24. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Arif Rudaūlwi (815-855 AH), son of Shaykh Ahmad Abdul-Haq
25. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad bin Arif Rudaūlwi (alive in 888 AH), son of Shaykh Muhammad Arif Rudaūlwi.
26. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Quddūs Gangohi (860-945 AH)
27. Hadhrat Shaykh Rukn ad-Dīn bin Abdul Quddūs Gangohi
28. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi (d.1007 AH)
29. Hadhrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Fārūqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
30. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Saeed Fārūqi Sirhindi alias Khazin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
31. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
32. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
33. Hadhrat Habibullah Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
34. Hadhrat Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
35. Hadhrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
36. Hadhrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
37. Hadhrat Khwaja Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
38. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
39. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

4.  The Chain of Suhrawardi Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him (570/571 – 632 CE), resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. The Forth Caliph of Islam, Amīr al-Momineen, Sayyidina Ali al-Murtada, may Allah be pleased with him (d.40 AH), buried in Najaf, Iraq
3. Hazrat Imam Hasan Basri (d.49 AH), buried in Madinah, Saudi Arabia
4. Hazrat Khwaja Habīb Ajami (d.156 AH), buried in Basra, Iraq
5. Hazrat Khwaja Dāūd Tāi (d.165 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
6. Hazrat Khwaja Maroof Karkhi (d.200 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
7. Hazrat Khwaja Sirri Saqti (d.253 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
8. Hazrat Imam Junaid Baghdādi (d.297 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
9. Hazrat Khwaja Mamshād Dīnūri (d.299 AH)
10. Hazrat Shaykh Ahmad Aswad Dīnūri (d.340 AH), buried in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
11. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad (in other sources it is mentioned as Shaykh Abu Muhammad Amwiya, d. 373 AH)
12. Hazrat Sayyid Yār Muhammad (in other sources it is mentioned as Qāzi Wajīh ad-Dīn, d. 462 AH, buried in Baghdad, Iraq)
13. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Qāhir Suhrawardi (d.563 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
14. Hazrat Shaykh Shahāb ad-Dīn Suhrawardi (539-632 AH), the Imam of the Suhrawardi tariqah, died 1 Muharram 632 AH, buried in Baghdad, Iraq
15. Hazrat Shaykh Bahā ad-Dīn Zakriya Multāni (560-661 AH), buried in Multan, Pakistan
16. Hazrat Shaykh Sadr ald-Dīn (599-684 AH)
17. Hazrat Shaykh Rukn ad-Dīn (653-690 AH)
18. Hazrat Makhdūm Jahāniān Jahān-gasht (595-690 AH)
19. Hazrat Sayyid Ajmal Pirāchi
20. Hazrat Sayyid Padhan Pirāchi
21. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad bin Qāsim Odhi
22. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Quddūs Gangohi (852-945 AH)
23. Hazrat Shaykh Rukn ad-Dīn bin Abdul Quddūs Gangohi
24. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Wāhid (most probably this is wrong and the real name here is Shaykh Abdul-Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi, d.1007 AH)
25. Hazrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Fārūqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
26. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Saeed Fārūqi Sirhindi alias Khāzin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
27. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
28. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
29. Hazrat Mirza Mazhar Jān-i-Jānān (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
30. Hazrat Shāh Abdullah alias Ghulām Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
31. Hazrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
32. Hazrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
33. Hazrat Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
34. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
35. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

5.  The Chain of Kubravi Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him (570/571 – 632 CE), resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. The Forth Caliph of Islam, Amīr al-Momineen, Sayyidina Ali al-Murtada, may Allah be pleased with him (d.40 AH), buried in Najaf, Iraq
3. Hazrat Imam Hasan Basri (d.49 AH)
4. Hazrat Khwaja Habīb Ajami (d.156 AH), buried in Basra, Iraq
5. Hazrat Khwaja Dāūd Tāi (d.165 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
6. Hazrat Khwaja Maroof Karkhi (d.200 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
7. Hazrat Khwaja Sirri Saqti (d.253 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
8. Hazrat Imam Junaid Baghdādi (d.297 AH), buried in Baghdad, Iraq
9. Hazrat Shaykh Abū Ali Rodbāri
10. Hazrat Shaykh Abū Ali Kātib
11. Hazrat Khwaja Usmān Maghribi
12. Hazrat Shaykh Abul-Qāsim Gurgāni (d.450 AH), buried in Gurgan, Iran
13. Hazrat Shaykh Abūbakr Nisāj (487 AH)
14. Hazrat Khwaja Ahmad Ghazzāli
15. Hazrat Shaykh Abū Najīb Suhrawardi
16. Hazrat Khwaja Ammār Yāsir
17. Hazrat Shaykh Rozbahān Baqli
18. Hazrat Shaykh Najm ad-Dīn Kubra (540-617 AH)
19. Hazrat Shaykh Majd ad-Dīn al-Baghdādi
20. Hazrat Shaykh Ali Lāhori
21. Hazrat Shaykh Ahmad Jozyāni (or Jozqāni)
22. Hazrat Shaykh Abdullah Safrāi (or Safrāni)
23. Hazrat Shaykh Alā ad-Daulah Simnāni
24. Hazrat Shaykh Mahmūd al-Mardfāni
25. Hazrat Amīr Ali Hamdāni
26. Hazrat Khwaja Is’hāq Jīlāni
27. Hazrat Amīr Abdullah Barzash-ābādi
28. Hazrat Shaykh Rashīd ad-Dīn Bedwāri (21)
29. Hazrat Shaykh Shāh Bedwāri (22)
30. Hazrat Hāji Muhammad Jonshāni
31. Hazrat Shaykh Kamāl ad-Dīn Hussain Khwārizmi (23)
32. Hazrat Shaykh Yāqūb Sarfi Kashmīri
33. Hazrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Fārūqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
34. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Saeed Fārūqi Sirhindi alias Khāzin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
35. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
36. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
37. Hazrat Mirza Mazhar Jān-i-Jānān (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
38. Hazrat Shāh Abdullah alias Ghulām Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
39. Hazrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
40. Hazrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
41. Hazrat Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
42. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
43. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

6.  The Chain of Madāri Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Sayyidina Abū Bakr Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him (d.13 AH), buried in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
3. Hazrat Abdullāh Alambardār-i-Rasūlullāh
4. Hazrat Shaykh Yamīn ad-Dīn Shāmi
5. Hazrat Shaykh Taifūr Shāmi
6. Hazrat Shaykh Badī’ud-Dīn Shāh Madār (d. 638 AH), the Imam of the Madāri tariqah (buried at Makanpur, UP, India)
7. Hazrat Makhdūm Jahāniān Jahān-gasht (595-690 AH)
8. Hazrat Sayyid Ajmal Pirāchi
9. Hazrat Sayyid Padhan Pirāchi
10. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad bin Qāsim Odhi
11. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Quddūs Gangohi (852-945 AH)
12. Hazrat Shaykh Rukn ad-Dīn bin Abdul Quddūs Gangohi
13. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Ahad Fārūqi (d.1007 AH)
14. Hazrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Fārūqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
15. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Saeed Fārūqi Sirhindi alias Khāzin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
16. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
17. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
18. Hazrat Mirza Mazhar Jān-i-Jānān (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
19. Hazrat Shāh Abdullah alias Ghulām Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
20. Hazrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
21. Hazrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
22. Hazrat Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
23. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
24. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

7.  The Chain of Qalandari Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Azīz Makki
3. Hazrat Shaykh Khidr al-Hussaini al-Qalandar ar-Rūmī
4. Hazrat Shaykh Najm ad-Dīn Qalandar Hussaini Dehlavi bin Nizām ad-Dīn Ghaznavi (637-837 AH)
5. Hazrat Shāh Qutb ad-Dīn Sīnāwal Jonpuri
6. Hazrat Shaykh Abdus-Salām alias Shāh Ali Jonpuri
7. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Quddūs Gangohi (852-945 AH)
8. Hazrat Shaykh Rukn ad-Dīn bin Abdul Quddūs Gangohi
9. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul-Ahad Fārūqi (d.1007 AH)
10. Hazrat Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Fārūqi Sirhindi (971-1034 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
11. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Saeed Fārūqi Sirhindi alias Khāzin (1005-1071 AH), buried in Sirhind, India
12. Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Ahad Fārūqi Sirhindi (d.1126 AH)
13. Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Abid Sanāmi (d.18 Ramadān 1160 AH)
14. Hazrat Mirza Mazhar Jān-i-Jānān (1111-1195 AH), buried in Delhi, India
15. Hazrat Shāh Abdullah alias Ghulām Ali Dehlavi (1156-1240 AH), buried in Delhi, India
16. Hazrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
17. Hazrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
18. Hazrat Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
19. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
20. Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

8.  The Chain of Shattāri Sufi Order

1. The Messenger of Allah, The Seal of the Prophets, Hadhrat Sayyidina Muhammad al-Mustafa, may peace and blessings be upon him, resting in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
2. Sayyadna Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him (d.13 AH), buried in Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
3. Sayyadna Salman al-Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him (d.33 AH), buried Madaa’in, Saudi Arabia
4. Hadhrat Imam Qasim Ibn Muhammad Ibn Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him (24-107 AH), buried Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
5. Hadhrat Imam Jafar Sadiq, alayhi-s-salam (after which moves to Iran) (d.148 AH) buried Madina al-Munawwara, Saudi Arabia
6. Hadhrat Shaikh Bayazid Bastami, (d.261 AH) buried Bistaam, Iraq
7. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Maghribi
8. Hadhrat Shaykh Abū Yazīd Ishqi
9. Hadhrat Shaykh al-Muzaffar Turk Tūsi
10. Hadhrat Shaikh Abul Hassan Kharqani (d. 425 AH), buried in Kharqaan, Iran
11. Hadhrat Shaykh Khuda Qali Māwrāunnahri
12. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Ashiq ibn Shaykh Khuda Qali
13. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Arif
14. Hadhrat Shaykh Abdullah ibn Husamuddin Shattāri (d.876/877 AH), the Imam of the Shattāri tariqah, buried at Kila Mandav, Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, India
15. Hadhrat Shaykh Muhammad Qādī (d. 11 Shawwal 901 AH), (also known as Shaykh Alauddin Kaazan or Muhammad Ulaa), buried at Hājīpur, Bihār, India
16. Hadhrat Shaykh Abul-Fateh Hidāyat-Allāh Sarmast (d. 12 Shawwal 944 AH), son of Shaykh Muhammad Qādī (above), also written in some sources as Hudyat-Allah
17. Hadhrat Shaykh Zahoor Hājī Hamīd Hasūr Ilāhi Gawāliyāri (d.990 AH), son of Maulana Zaheer Ghaznavi
18. Hadhrat Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad Ghaus Gawāliyāri (906-970 AH)
19. Hadhrat Shaykh Lashkar Muhammad Arif Ilāhi (d.993 AH)
20. Hadhrat Shaykh Isā bin Qāsim Sindhi Burhānpuri (962-1031 AH)
21. Hadhrat Sayyid Mīr Kulāl (or Kulān in other sources)
22. Hadhrat Shaykh Ahmad an-Nakhli (1044-1139 AH)
23. Hadhrat Shaykh Abū Tāhir al-Kurdi al-Madani (d.1145 AH)
24. Hadhrat Shāh Walī-Allāh Dehlavi (1114-1174 AH)
25. Hadhrat Shāh Abdul-Azīz Dehlavi (1159-1239 AH)
26. Hadhrat Shāh Abū Saeed Mujaddidi (1196-1250 AH)
27. Hadhrat Shāh Ahmad Saeed Mujaddidi (1217-1277 AH)
28. Hadhrat Khwaja Hāji Dost Muhammad Qandahari (1216-1284 AH)
29. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Usmān Dāmāni (1244-1314 AH)
30. Hadhrat Khwaja Muhammad Sirāj ad-Dīn Dāmāni (1297-1333 AH)

Notes

1. Not all the chains are fully connected. These are reproduced from the original sources, but not all of them are fully researched by scholars. The Naqshbandi chain is the most authentic and well researched.
2. The dates and places are taken from different sources. Some of them may not be accurate or authentic.

References

1. Mawāhib-i-Rahmāniya volume 3, Maqāmāt Sirājia, biography of Khwāja Sirāj ad-Dīn (Urdu), by Khwaja Muhammad Ismaeel Sirāji Mujaddidi, published by Maktabah Sirājia Khanqah Ahmadia Saeedia Musa Zai Sharif, 1989
2. Majmūā Fawāed-i-Usmāniya, by Sayyid Ali Akbar Dehlavi, Urdu translation by Muhammad Nazeer Ranjha, Jam’iyat Publications, 2006

1. Hazrat Maulana Rafīq Ahmad Fazali Tāhiri Naqshbandi, maternal grandson of great Naqshbandi shaykh Hazrat Pir Fazal Ali Shāh Qureshi (d. 1935)
2. Hazrat Maulana Deedah Dil Ghaffāri Tāhiri Naqshbandi, maternal grandson of great Naqshbandi shaykh Hazrat Khwaja Abdul Ghaffār Fazali Naqshbandi alias Pīr Mithā (d.1964)
3. Hazrat Allama Muhammad Jamīl Abbāsi Tāhiri Naqshbandi, nephew of Hazrat Sajjan Sāeen and maternal grandson of Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Ghaffāri Naqshbandi (d.1983)
4. Hazrat sahibzadah Muhammad Jāfar Tāhir Naqshbandi, son of Hazrat Khwaja Sajjan Sāeen
5. Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad Jee’al Shah Jīlāni Tāhiri Naqshbandi, Jacobabad
6. Hazrat Allama Mufti Muhammad Idrees Dāhiri Tāhiri Naqshbandi, a great Islamic scholar and author of many books including a 9-volume Tafsir of the Holy Quran
7. Hazrat Maulana Riasat Ali Tāhiri Naqshbandi, resides in Narowal and Sialkot
8. Hazrat Sayyid Muhammad Ismāīl Shah Tāhiri Naqshbandi, Rawalpindi
9. Hazrat Maulana Qamar al-Hashmi Tāhiri Naqshbandi, currently residing in Madinah al-Munawwarah
10. Hazrat Mufti Abdur-Rahmān Tāhiri Bakhshi Ghaffāri Naqshbandi, residing at Allahabad sharif, who was first awarded khilafah by Hazrat Pīr Mithā (d.1964)
11. Hazrat Maulana Fateh Muhammad Soomro alias Bedār Morai, a writer with many published works
12. Hazrat Maulana Ghulām Qādir Memon Tāhiri Bakhshi Ghaffāri Naqshbandi, first khilafah from Hazrat Pīr Mithā (d.1964)
13. Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Masoom Habibi Tāhiri Naqshbandi, resides at Sanawan near Multan

Some of the khulafa of Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Tāhir Bakhshi Naqshbandi currently reside in foreign countries including UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Australia, China and USA.

مناجات حضرت خواجه قطب الدين بختيار کاکي عليه الرحمة

ز شر نفس اماره نگاهم دار يا الله
هوا و حرص نفساني ز من بردار يا الله

Protect me from the evil (sharr) of the inciting nafs (Nafs al-Ammara), Ya Allah!
Take away from me the lust and the selfish greed, Ya Allah!

خداوندا تو مي داني که بد کردم بناداني
بدست مکر شيطاني مرا مسپار يا الله

O God! You know that I wronged due to stupidity,
Do not hand me over to the deceiving hand of Satan, Ya Allah!

خداوندا مسلمانم مسلماني نمي دانم
و ليکن چون مسلمانم مسلمان دار يا الله

ُO God! I am (called) a Muslim, yet Muslimhood I know not,
But as I am a Muslim, keep me as a Muslim Ya Allah!

خداوندا گنهگارم گناه بي عدد دارم
رهائي دهه ازين کارم به استغفار يا الله

O God! I am sinful, I have uncountable sins,
Relieve me from this with Istighfar, Ya Allah!

يقين خود را نمي دانم که گبرم يا مسلمانم
نه در اسلام شايانم نه در کفار يا الله

I do not really know myself whether I am a Muslim or Magus (kafir),
I do not deem fit in Islam neither in the Kuffar, Ya Allah!

نه دنيا دوست ميدارم نه عقبيٰ را خريدارم
نه ديگر آرزو دارم بجز ديدار يا الله

Neither do I love the world nor do I buy the hereafter,
No other wish do I possess except meeting (you) Ya Allah!

زسر تا پا گنهگارم حقيقت سخت بدکارم
نظر بر فضل تو دارم توئي غفار يا الله

I am sinful from head to toe, in fact I am an extreme sinner,
I keep hope with your graciousness, you are the Forgiver (Ghaffār) Ya Allah!

منم درويش و مسکينم نه در دنيا نه در دينم
برون از خرقه پيشمينم درون زنار يا الله

I am a dervish and poor, I neither belong to Dunya (world) nor to Deen (religion),
Externally I am dressed with Khirqa [Sufi dress], but inside (dressed) with Zunnar [clothes of Kuffar] Ya Allah!

خداوندا تو مولائي ز قلبم دور کن سياهي
به تاريکي و تنهائي درامنم دار يا الله

O God! you are my Lord, put away darkness from my heart,
Grant me protection in darkness and loneliness Ya Allah!

من کاکي چون بد کردم هر آنچه ناسزا کردم
مکن چون کاک رخ زردم در آن بازار يا الله

When I, the Kākī, wronged and did everything evil,
In that market [the Judgment day], do not make me pale-faced like the Kāk [bread] Ya Allah!

Notes:

• There are many other verses, but I have only translated a few which I love the most.
• Kākī is the shaykh’s personal title (poetic name), and Kāk means bread which is yellowish.

He was born on 10th March 1910 in a village called Khānwāhan, in district Naushehroferoz, Sindh. His father died while he was only five months old, thus his pious and saintly mother took the responsibility of his upbringing and education.

For spiritual guidance, he first received initiation in Naqshbandi tariqa from Hazrat Khwaja Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi, the great Indian Sufi master who is known for his steadfastness on Sunnah and many other miracles. The shaykh soon passed away, and he then attached himself to one of the shaykhs great deputies, Hazrat Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar Fazali Naqshbandi, who later made him his chief khalifa and spiritual successor.

After the demise of his shaykh in 1964, he worked day and night for the revival of lost values in the society and reformation of Muslims and spreading the spirituality of the Naqshbandi Sufi path. He established three khanqahs and many other centers, many madrasahs, and Islamic organizations which are still working today on his mission.

He passed away on 12th December 1983 (6 Rabi al-Awwal 1404 AH) at the time of Tahajjud prayers (before dawn). He was buried in his last established khanqah Allahabad, located close to Kandiaro, Sindh.

He left thousands of disciples and about 140 deputies. All his deputies unanimously appointed his son Khwaja Muhammad Tahir Bakhshi Naqshbandi as his spiritual successor.

He completed the study of the Islamic sciences at the age of eighteen, from his teacher Muhammad Sharīf (d. 1124H/1712).

The holy grave of Sayyid Nūr Muhammad Badāyūni in Delhi

He received sufi training and spiritual blessings from Khwaja Muhammad Saif ad-Dīn Sirhindi Fārūqi, the grandson of Imam Rabbani Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi. After his shaykh’s demise, he received spiritual guidance from Hadhrat Hāfiz Muhammad Mohsin Dehlavi, who was the grandson of Shaykh Abdul Haqq Muhaddis Dehlavi.

His back had curved due to excessive murāqiba (meditation).

He had a strong kashf and would easily observe the spiritual light or darkness in the hearts of his disciples. Once a murīd of him was coming to him, and on his way he looked upon a non-mahram woman. Upon arrival, the shaykh told him that he was affected with the darkness of Zina (adultery), and it seemed that he had looked upon a non-mahram. Once his servant met an alcoholic. When he came to the shaykh, he told him that I see darkness of alcohol in you, perhaps you have met an alcoholic. Then he said that meeting with the Fāsiq (sinful) people disturbs the Nisbah (spiritual state).

The great Naqshbandi master and sufi poet Hadhrat Mirza Mazhar Jān-e-Jānān (d. 1195 AH) was his khalifa and successor. He used to say that Hadhrat Sayyid’s kashf was so powerful that sometimes what we could not see with our physical eyes, he would see with his spiritual eyes.

Sayyid Nūr Muhammad was an example of extreme piety and taqwa. He never ate from the food of the wealthy. If he had to loan a book from some person, he would not start reading until three days later, and would say that the books are also affected by the darkness of the company of wealthy.

He passed away on 11 Dhu al-Qada 1135 AH (12 or 13 August 1723) and is buried in Delhi,  near the shrine of Khwaja Nizāmuddīn Auliya.

Millions of Naqshbandi followers today receive his spiritual Fayd in their hearts. Even the founder of the Tablighi Jama’at Muhammad Ilyās Kāndhalvi used to meditate at his noble grave for receiving blessings.

The gravestone with names of his spiritual masters

Written to Molvi Abdullāh, advising him to refrain from the beliefs of the Wahhabi sect

It has come to knowledg through the visitors that Molvi Ghiyās ad-Dīn believes in the issues of the Wahhabi sect and teaches these issues to the people. Therefore it is emphasized to you in writing that abhor the beliefs of the Wahhabis and loathe by heart the Ismāīli Wahhabi sect [1]. To maintain the right doctrine and to do the (righteous) acts, the books written by the pious ancesters the Ahl as-Sunnāt wal-Jamā’ah are sufficient for us. These books should be under your consideration, do not read the writings of the Wahhabi sect and refrain from their beliefs. If you wish to observe the powerful effect of our Great Masters in yourself, may Allah best sanctify their secrets , then you should follow your masters in all issues, practical or doctrinal, apparent or inner. Allah willing, you will get the fruit of the Reality and Cognition of the Exalted Haqq. Just say: Allah bass Māsiwā Abas wa Hawas wan-Qati’ alaih in-Nafs (Allah is sufficient, everything else is vain and lust, cut-off youself from them).

That’s all.

And Salām is the best ending!

Written on the 23^rd of Shawwāl 1279 H.

Written to Khalifa Sher Muhammad Kulāchvi, about following the noble Shariah, and that the practice upon knowledge is necessary.

In the name of Allah, the most Compassionate, the most Merciful.

All praise is to Allah who gave rise to the sun of Muhammadan Prophethood in the eternal orbit, and …..

My brother, my dear, my elder Molvi Sher Muhammad sāhib, may Allah the Exalted preserve him in Deen and Dunya, and may Allah the Exalted make him lover for His Being.

From the humble faqeer, naught, Dost Muhammad alias Hājī, Allah be the substitute of everything for him.

After the Salām, Sunnah of the Best of creations, it be clear that Al-Hamd-u-Lillah (all praise is for Allah) [this] faqeer along with all associates is in good health until the 7th [day] of Rabi al-Awwal. May Allah keep you protected as well and bestow upon you persistence and consistency on the Muhammadan Shariah. The request is that my brother! always be engaged in the Zikr (remembrance) of Haqq (God, lit. Truth), and remain mindful of Him. So much that ignorance from that Holy Excellency should not come even for a single moment. Because except this way, there is no other choice for the seekers of Haqq (God). You should strive hard in spreading the noble Nisbah (cognation) of the masters of the exalted Naqshbandi tariqa. Because the present time is the time of closeness to the Judgement-Day, and that of sedition and corruption. Know that it is exactly by the will of Allah the Exalted. The chief of the world [Prophet Muhammad], may Allah’s mercy be on him, says:

(Translation:) “One who makes the servants of Allah dear to Allah, Allah will make him dearer to His servants. And the one who made my Sunnah alive after it had died (became out of practice), for him is the reward of a hundred martyrs”.

The condition of Ijāzah (authorization), that is, the condition for propagation of the noble tariqa of Sufis is that:

• Full persistence be achieved, externally and internally, upon the purified Mustafavi Shariah, on whose owner be peace and blessings. To the extent that there should not be even a bit of crossing the limits of Shariah, whenever possible.
• Specially, offer the five prayers in congregation [and] in first time, and be engaged in Zikr and Muraqibah (meditation) all the time.
• Talk less, eat less, and interact less with the people.
• Attribute yourself with Repentance, Patience, Reliance, Contentment, Asceticism, Gratitude, Acceptance, Satisfaction and Fear.
• Do not consider the Kashf and Karāmāt (miraculous visions and powers) as the commons do.
• Remain hopeless from your self and Māsiwā (everything other than Allah).
• Consider the poverty and hunger as great favors.
• Do not have any kind of greed in the possessions of [your] disciples.
• Do not be eager to [acquire] popularity or rejection by the creations (people).
• Run away from the wealth and the wealthy.
• Avoid doing backbiting and condemnation of people; do not contest them neither joke with them; overlook their slips.
• Do not be unafraid of the evils of Nafs (lower self) and the cursed Satan until the last breath.
• Consider yourself naught among all the creations.
• Do not be distressed in the search for food and livelihood. Because anything that is destined will necessarily reach you from Allah the Exalted.
• Do not take the knowledge and practice and useless flawed talks a medium for the creations and for acquiring Dunya (earthly concerns), like the commons and the non-practicing scholars [do].

Likewise, know that the religious and worldly bliss lies in the knowledge and the practice, provided that these two are only for [seeking] the pleasure of Allah the Exalted, and are in complete conformance with [the teachings of] the beloved of God Muhammad the Chosen, peace be upon him. If a person be a scholar of the sayings and practices and beliefs of Huzoor (Prophet Muhammad) peace be upon him, yet does not practice [according to them], is not a scholar in true sense. As comes in a Hadith:

(Translation:) “Hazrat Abi Darda’ relates from the Chief of the World, peace be upon him, that he said: a person who does not act upon his knowledge is not a scholar”.

And peace!