CHISHTISM
The Chishti Order (Persian: چشتی ) is a Sufi order (tarika) of Islam which was founded
in Chisht, now Afghanistan, about 930 C.E. and continues to this day (2007). The
Chishti Order is known for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness.
The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami ("the Syrian") who brought Sufism
to the town of Chisht, some 95 miles east of Herat in present-day Afghanistan. Before
returning to the Levant, Shami initiated, trained and deputized the son of the local
Amir, (Khwaja) Abu Ahmad Abdal (d. 966). Under the leadership of Abu Ahmad’s
descendants, the Chishtiyya as they are also known, flourished as a regional mystical
order.
The most famous of the Chishti saints is Moinuddin Chishti (also known as Khawaja
Baba) who settled in Ajmer, India. He oversaw the growth of the order in the 13th
century as religious laws were canonized. He saw Muhammad in a dream and then set
off on a journey of discovery.
Other famous saints of the Chishti Order are Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, Fariduddin
Ganjshakar of Pak Pattan, Mohammed Badesha Qadri of Wadi, Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki
and Hazrat Ashraf Jahangir Semnani of Kicchocha Sharif, Uttar Pradesh.
The Chishti Order is famous for its emphasis on love, tolerance, and openness. The
Order traces its origins through various saints all the way to Ali and Muhammad
himself.
Sema or Qawwali is a type of devotional music to enhance the remembrance of Allah
and is not a part of worship or prayer.
Followers of Inayat Khan claim he was the first to bring the Chishti Order to North
America. Followers of Pir Zada Inyat Ali Chishty son of the famous Sufi saint Imamuddin
Chishty of Lahore claim he was the first to bring the chishti order to the UK. Also
he is a direct descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty as is his son Makhdum
Ali Chishty and his Grandson Fahrid Ahmed Ali Chishty.
Shrine Ajmer, Dargah
Ajmer Shrine, Chishty
Shrine Ajmer, Dargah
Ajmer Shrine, Shrine
Ajmer, Chishty sufi,
sufisum dargah