Question

'The Chistis became the most influential Sufi devotional tradition in the late twelfth century.' Explain the statement.

Answer 1

The most significant of the Sufi groups that arrived in India in the late twelfth century were the Chishtis.

1. The khanqah was the centre of social life. We know about Shaikh Nizamuddin’s hospice (c. fourteenth century) on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur, on the outskirts of what was then the city of Delhi.
2. It was undoubtedly well-liked due to the Shaikh's piety and austerity, the brilliance of his spiritual successors, and the assistance of visiting royals.
3. The Chishtis were India's most essential sufis. They were able to adapt to their surroundings successfully. They also adopted several Indian spiritual practices.
4. The Chishtis incorporated regional tongues. People associated with the Chishti silsila spoke Hindavi, the native tongue, in Delhi. Some Sufis, such as Baba Farid, produced poetry in regional languages that were incorporated into the Guru Granth Sahib.
5. Some people used human love as an allegory to represent divine love in their lengthy poems known as masnavis.
6. The Chishtis accepted gifts in kind as well as money. They used these gifts to care for their immediate needs, including food, clothing, housing, and ceremonial requirements. That enhanced their moral authority and allure.