Approaching the West — Page 28
A pproaching the West—28 famous Ṣū f ī orders of Naqshbandiyah, Qadiriyah, Suhraward ī , Chishtiyah, Maw ā lawiyah, and many others, were formed in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The use of the title of Khal ī fah became customary among the deputies and successors of the founders of Ṣū f ī orders. For example, Qu b-ud-D ī n Bakhty ā r K ā k ī (d. AD 1235) was a contemporary saint and the principal Khal ī fah (deputy) of Mu‘ ī n-ud-D ī n Chisht ī (d. 1236)—the founder of the famous and highly respected Chishtiyah Order among the Muslims. Far ī d-ud-D ī n Mas‘ ū d Ganj Shakar (d. 1265) was a Khal ī fah (successor) of Bakhty ā r K ā k ī ; and his Khal ī fah was Ni ẓā m- ud-D ī n Auliy ā of Delhi, India (d. 1325). The Ṣū f ī Khal ī fahs were held in great esteem and they exercised moral and spiritual authority over the hearts and minds of the people by laying emphasis on piety, and resistance to worldly temptations, and showing them ways how to attain nearness to God through esoteric doctrines and practices. They were saintly persons with full faith in the power of prayer. They experienced true dreams and visions, received personal revelations, and performance of miracles was attributed to them. A ḥ madiyya: A Modern Non-Political Khil ā fat I would like to talk about briefly the institution of a non- political Khil ā fat in modern times which is in existence now for hundred years, and its popularity and strength is steadily growing. It is known as A ḥ madiyya Khil ā fat.