Sufi Practices and Traditions of Chishti and Suhrawardi Orders in India (1200-1400 AD): A Comparative Study

Abstract

Sufism is a favorite topic among scholars studying the spread of Islam in the subcontinent during the medieval period. The institution of Sufism developed in this region during the 12th and 13th centuries AD. The Chishti and Suhrawardi orders emerged as the two leading orders during this period. Though both orders strived to achieve the ultimate goal of spreading Islam in the region, they had some differences in their traditions and practices. For instance, the Chishti Sufis mostly preferred to remain aloof from the ruling elite. They took responsibility for feeding each visitor, adopted merit in spiritual succession, and believed in the legitimacy of Sama. In contrast, the Suhrawardi Sufis flourished in collaboration with political authorities. They made hereditary appointments of their successors, sometimes through the ruler, and had a dislike for music. This study focuses on Sufism as a concept and as a religious discourse, and on the teachings of Chishti and Suhrawardi Sufi saints in India. It is an effort to compare the traditions and varied approaches of the two orders. Moreover, it intends to show that despite differing in their orientations, their mutual relations were persistently cordial because both aimed at achieving the ultimate goal of serving Islam.