Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Path
In brief: The Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Sufi path: its chain through Bahauddin Naqshband and Mujaddid Alf Thani, silent dhikr, adherence to Sunnah, and its place in the Institute's spiritual formation.
The Naqshbandi order is among the major Sufi orders. Its spiritual chain is traced through the Companions to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and its method is known for emphasis on dhikr khafi (silent remembrance), keeping company with the righteous and strict adherence to the Sunnah.
Distinctive features
- Closeness to the Sunnah: outward law and inward devotion are inseparable.
- Silent dhikr: remembrance of Allah with the heart.
- Suhbah: the guidance of a qualified shaykh.
- Khalwat dar anjuman: solitude in the crowd — inwardly with Allah while serving people.
The Mujaddidi renewal
In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (Mujaddid Alf Thani) revived the order’s emphasis on the Shari’ah, and his letters (Maktubat) became a major text of the tradition. Professor Pir Dr. Abaid Ahmad serves as a spiritual guide in this tradition; see his profile.
Students may also research other Sufi paths. See Sufism and Tasawwuf and spiritual formation.