Kubrawiya

The Kubrawiya order (Arabic: سلسلة کبرویة) or Kubrawi order,^[1] also known as Kubrawi Hamadani, or Hamadani Kubra,^{[citation needed]} is a Sufi order that traces its spiritual lineage (Silsilah) to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, through Ali, Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law and the First Imam. This is in similar to most other Sufi orders that trace their lineage to Ali. The Kubrawiya order is named after its 13th-century founder Najm al-Din Kubra, who lived in Konye-Urgench under the Khwarazmian dynasty (present day Turkmenistan).^[2] The Mongols captured Konye-Urgench in 1221 and killed much of the population including Sheikh Najmuddin Kubra.

The Kubrawiya order places emphasis on being a universal approach.^[3] It is popular in eastern India, Bangladesh and Mauritius and some areas of Pakistan as well.

Branches

Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani was the founder of the Kubrawiyyah order and it expanded into parts of South Asia, China, and Central Asia (especially among nomads) from the 14th century onwards.^[4] In Iran the Kubrawiya order was split into branches after Khwaja Ishaq Khatlani succeeded the founder. Eventually, differences within the order had arisen between the two claimants to succeed the leadership in which one group called themselves the Nurbakshia group comprising the supporters of Nurbaksh while the other group supported Barzish Abadi who was based in Mashhad. The present Noorbakshia are found in areas like Baltistan and western Ladakh (Kargil). The other order is attributed to Syed Abdullah Barzish Abadi and initially spread in Khorasan, then spread in other countries.^[5]

Notable Kubrawiya

• Najm al-Dīn Rāzī Dāya (1177–1256)
• Saʿd al-Dīn al-Ḥamuwayī (1190–1260)
• Sayf al-Dīn Bākharzī (1190–1261)
• Emīr Sulṭān (1368–1429)