IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India History From 8th to 15th Century - Socio-Religious Movemnet:Sufi Movement

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History India From 8th to 15th Century

Socio-Religious Movemnet:Sufi Movement

Structure

0.0 Objedtives
30.1 Introduction
30.2 Salient Features of Sufism
30.3 Growth of Sufi Movement in Islamic World
30.3.1 The Formative Stage (Upto 10th Century)
30.3.2 Growth of Organised Sun Movement (10th-12th Century) L, 30.3.3 Formation of Sufi Orders or Sibilah (late 12th and 13th Centuries)
30.4 Growth of Sufism in India
30.5 Sufi orders in 1ndia During the Sultanate Period '
30.5.1 The Subrnwardi
30.5.2 The Chisbtl SUsikb
30.5.3 Other Sull Orders
30.6 The Causes of Chishti Popularity
30.7 Social Role of The Sufis
30.7.1 The.Sulls and the State
30.7.2 The Sw~ and the Ulema
30.7.3 The Sufla and Conversions s.
30.7.4 Material Life in Su6 ~b.aq.hs'
30.8 The Impact of Contemporary MysSicIdeas of Islamic Countries on
Indian Sufism
30.9 The Sufi and the Bhakti Movements and Cultural 'Svnthesis
30.10 Let Us Sum Up
30.1 1 Key Words
30.12 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

30.0 OBJECTIVES

In this Unit, we will discuss sufi movement and ideas in medieval India. After going
through this unit, you would be' able to learn about :

the salient features of Sufism, e
the growth of Sufism in the Islamic World,
its development in India during the period of Delhi Sultanate
the main sub sllsilahs that flourished in India during the period, m,
the reasons for the popularity of Chish dlsilah in India, and the impact of Sufism on the contemporary Indian

30.1 INTRODUCTION

Sufism or tasawwuf 'is the name sufi various mystical tendencies &d movements in
Islam. It aims at establishing direct communion between God and man through
perSUhal expe{ence of mystery which lies within Islam. Every religion gives rise to
mystical tendencies in its fold at a particular stage of its evoluiion. In this sense,'
sufism was a natural development within Islam based on the spirit of Q~Prurie~picty.
The sufis while accepting the Shariat did not confine tfieir,religious pra&& to
formal adherence and stressed cultivation of religious experierice aimed at direct
perception of cod.