Religious Reform Movements

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The two major religious reform movements were the Sufi movement and the Bhakti movement. Both encouraged devotion to God, simple living, and harmony among people.

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The word Sufi comes from the Arabic word Suf, which means wool. Sufis were Muslim mystics who believed in love of God and simple living.

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The Sufis were organised into 12 orders or silsilahs. A silsilah was a religious order led by a mystic who lived in a khanqah with disciples.

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A silsilah is a Sufi religious order. It was led by a pir, or teacher, who lived in a khanqah and guided disciples. Every pir nominated a successor.

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The Sufis stressed love, devotion, tolerance, and brotherhood. They opposed the power of kings and the ulema, lived simply, and spoke in the local language, so ordinary people understood them well.

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Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti established the Chishti order in India. He came to India around 1192. His disciples included Bakhtiyar Kaki, and Bakhtiyar Kaki's disciple was Farid-ud-Din Ganj-i-Shakar.

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The two most well-known Chishti saints were Nizamuddin Auliya and Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Delhi.

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The Chishtis stayed away from state politics and avoided rulers and nobles. The Suharwardi saints accepted the service of the state and did not believe in leading a life of poverty.