Medieval History / Delhi Sultanate
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Sufi movement started in 8th C in Baghdad. Sufism in India started in North India in 13th C during the reign of Delhi Sultanates and moved to the South in 15th C. It is the religious reform movement of Islam religion in India. Sufism meaning is Islamic mysticism. Tasawwuf is the name of Sufism in Islamic texts.
A movement or order of Sufism is known as Silsila. There were around 14 Sufi orders in India until 17th C. The important Sufi Silsilas in India are
It was founded by Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi and expanded by Shahabuddin Suhrawardi. It was expanded in India by Bahauddin Zakariya.
It was founded by Abdul Qadir Gilani. He was a native of Baghdad and he never visited India. Followers of this Silsila like Sultan Bahu and Muhammad Ghaus expanded it in India.
Founder of Naqshbandi Silsila is Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari. It was brought to India by Khwaja Baqi Billah.
Some famous Sufi saints of India are