Sufism in Pakistan

This article is about post-partition Sufism in Pakistan. For pre-partition Sufism in South Asia, see Sufism in India.

This article is about Sufism. For other uses, see Sufism (disambiguation).

Sufism, known as Tasawwuf in the Arabic-speaking world, is a form of Islamic mysticism that emphasizes introspection and spiritual closeness with God. About 60% Muslims in Pakistan regard themselves as followers of Sufi saints.^{[citation needed]}

Tomb of Bahauddin Zikarya in Multan, Punjab

Tomb: Syed Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari

Shrine of Islamic Naqshbandi saints of Allo Mahar Sharif

Tomb of Fariduddin Ganjshakar

Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan, Punjab

Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Sehwan Sharif, Sindh

Grand mausoleum of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai built by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro in 1762 Shrine of Pir Hadi Hassan Bux Shah Jilani duthro sharf, Sanghar, Sindh

Sufi traditions

Most of the Sufis in Pakistan relate to the four main tariqa (silsila): Chishti, Naqshbandi, Qadiri-Razzaqi and Suhrawardi.

List of Sufi Shrines

See also: Sufi shrine

Contemporary influence

There are two levels of Sufism in Pakistan. The first is the 'populist' Sufism of the rural population. This level of Sufism involves belief in intercession through saints, veneration of their shrines and forming bonds with a pir (saint). Many rural Pakistani Muslims associate with pirs and seek their intercession.^[1] The second level of Sufism in Pakistan is 'intellectual Sufism' which is growing among the urban and educated population. They are influenced by the writings of Sufis such as the medieval theologian al-Ghazali, the Sufi reformer Shaykh Aḥmad Sirhindi and Shah Wali Allah.^[2]

Attacks on Sufi shrines

Since March 2005, 209 people have been killed and 560 injured in 29 different terrorist attacks targeting shrines devoted to Sufi saints in Pakistan, according to data compiled by the Center for Islamic Research Collaboration and Learning (CIRCLe).^[3] The attacks are generally attributed to banned militant organisations.^[4]

The Sehwan Sharif shrine was the site of a suicide bombing in 2017 carried out by the Islamic State.^[5]

See also

• Islam in Pakistan
• Sufism in Punjab
• Sufism in Sindh
• List of Sufi saints
• Shadhiliyya
• Kubrawiyyah