29 March 2022

The blessed Bukhara was the cradle of many scholars, thinkers, and poets of antiquity. Abu Hafs Kabir, Narshahi, Ibn Sino, Rudaki, Firdausi and many other truly talented people, who left a bright trace in the history by their works, lived and created their masterpieces here. What were these creators, who changed the world, without faith, which illuminated their lives, works and deeds?

The beautiful Bukhara is famous not only for its architectural masterpieces and rich historical heritage. It is rightly called the "noble and sacred city of Islam religion" - a place of Sufism establishment in Uzbekistan.

Sufism was born in VIII-IX centuries. It is not just a religion, but much more, it is the sense, style and way of life, it is a peculiar vision of the world and unique thinking, with sensual overlay of mysticism. Sufism encompasses the mystical-ascetic and philosophical knowledge of Islam, the main goal of which is a deep penetration into the divine truths, a sensual and philosophical knowledge of God. Sufi adepts learned the art of cognition of the divine and the manifestation of holiness from their teachers.

The Seven Holy Pirs of Bukhara

The word "Sufism" comes from the arabic “sufi”, which means "one who wears a woolen robe", and implied the wearing of a special woolen robe (woofers) by members of the brotherhood of Muslim mystics, as a sign of visual distinction and a symbol of their faith and spiritual guidance.  They clearly followed the established traditions of their brotherhood.

"Pure" is another way to translate "sufi". This word captures the essence of religious teaching, embodying the image of the best, free and pure of judgment, whose minds are not clouded by various stereotypes, but are open to the knowledge of the world and divine revelations.

True Sufis, in their thoughts and deeds, are pure from the dogmatism and fanaticism inherent in religions and free from all prejudice. The Sufis' impartiality, ethical purity and impeccability of judgment gave rise to another noble and beautiful name: "Knights of Purity" (Arabic: “Sahaba-i-Safa”).

Sufis themselves, most often refer to themselves as "akhlalhakika" which has a semantic meaning as "people of true being”. This also characterizes their connection with the real world, not detachment from being, what modern people would call being in the here and now, but at the same time in a divine awareness of presence.  Throughout the long centuries Sufis have carried their teaching, art and philosophy, which are reflected in being, perception of life, creation of beauty, not only in art and culture, but also in everyday life.

Sufi symbolism, motifs and images formed a huge part of the folklore of the East, including literature and poetry. Most of the Iranian-Persian classical literature, acclaimed throughout the world, is a popular guide to the basics of Sufism, on a par with works of fiction.

 The names of Sufi poets such as Hafiza, Sanai, Rumi, Nizami, Djami, Saadi, and Omar Khayyam are forever engraved in the history of literature.

Al-Hasan al-Basri is one of the founders of Sufism, who was an excellent psychologist and theorist of the doctrine of "hearts and thoughts". He and his disciples preached unselfishness, an impartial and inclusive love for God. Preaching unconditional love for God, the desire to reunite with him, to become closer, they comprehended sensual experience, bliss and longing for God, bringing a touch of mysticism to the experience, which was a unique feature of Sufi religion and philosophy.

The basis of Sufism, practice and theory were finally formed in the ninth century. At the same time, numerous Sufi schools began to be founded. The most popular were the schools in Baghdad, as well as the Basri and Khorasan schools. In the Middle Ages, Sufi traditions, way of life and worldview had the greatest popularity in Central Asia.

The institution of Sufi training in Khorasan was formed in the 11th and 12th centuries, after which it became widespread throughout the Central Asian Muslim world.

Sufi training consisted of four stages: performance of the laws of Islam - Shariat, obedience - tarikat, the way to the knowledge of God - marifat and the full realization of the truth - hakikat. Those who wish to follow the path of the Sufis are called murids (thirsty), as well as saliks, mutassavifs, and ahlidils. Under the guidance of their teachers (sheikhs, pirs, murshidams, hojams) they follow the path of perfection to the knowledge of truth.

The unbroken chain

The “Silsila” method was well established in the late 12th century. It was based on spiritual continuity transmitted through an unbroken chain from teacher to disciple. At the same time, Sufism became an essential element in the religion of Islam and the religious and life styles of believers.

During the Mongol invasion Central Asia could not offer adequate resistance. The clergy, ulyama and faqihs weakened in their influence. Islam, the principal religion of the state, weakened as well, and gave up its positions. In these troubled times Sufism came to the fore, becoming a more mass religious current. Sufis led the resistance movement against the Mongol invaders.

The Mongols had to reckon with Sufism as a powerful spiritual force. As a result, the Mongol rulers were unwittingly drawn into Islam. Bukhara and Kubbaviya sheikhs began this process in the mid-13th century. The power of the Sufis became stronger and more powerful. Representatives of Sufism occupied leading state and spiritual posts. The Sufis' actions in the framework of the Sunnah and Shariat, without oppositional heresy, contribute to this.

In the XIV-XV centuries in Asia, many currents and orders of Sufism were formed, but the Sufi community of Maverannahr gathered their diversity into a single whole.

  "Hadjagan" which means "hadja" - "lord" in Persian, is an independent Islamic movement that originated in Bukhara. Abd al-Khaliku al-Gijduwani, a native of Bukhara, is its founder and spiritual parent. Later on the movement is modernized and accepted by the “Naqshbandiya order" - Bahauddin Naqshband, wins the supremacy and becomes the basis of spiritual life, uniting under its wing many great people of that time.

There are many Sufi abodes on the territory of Uzbekistan, but there is very little knowledge of them. Many centuries have passed since then, great empires have collapsed, life has changed, and mentions of the great men who served the highest truths remained only in the lines of historical textbooks.

Who were these spiritual fathers who contributed so much to the development of religion and society?

They are the famous "Seven pirs of Hadjagan - Naqshbandi", born in the outskirts of Bukhara. Here they spent a great life filled with high aspirations and spiritual values. It is also where their graves are Islamic shrines, places of pilgrimage for a great multitude of Muslims from all over the world.

1. Bahauddin Naqshband

Baha ad-Din Muhammad al-Bukhari, Bahauddin Naqshband (1318-1389), was born into a family of craftsmen, in the village of Qasri-Hinduwan, also known as Shahi Naqshbandi and Hodjai Buzur. This man was one of the spiritual fathers of Sufism and the founder of the Naqshbandiya Sufi order.

2. Ali Ramitani. St. Hadja Azizon

Khoja Ali Ramitani (1195-1321) was born in Ramitan, a large city 20 kilometers from Bukhara, and later lived in the village of Kurgon, mastering and perfecting the craft of weaving. This religious leader was popularly nicknamed Azizon, the Honored Sheikh.

3. Mahmud Anjir Fagnaviy

Mahmud Anjir Faghnavi (his date of birth is unknown, his date of death 1317), was born in the village Fagnaviy, located 20 km from Bukhara. He was a famous Sufi of that time who had unquestioned authority.

4. Muhammad Arif ar-Rivgariy

Khoja Arif ar-Rivgariy (1156 - 1262) was born in Hadja Arif Rivgar, located 38 km from Bukhara. Despite his great recognition during his lifetime and his elevation to the rank of saint, he was a very modest and non-public person.

5. Muhammad Babai Simasi

Khoja Muhammad Babai Simasi (1259-1354) was born in Simas, a small village located 15 kilometers from Bukhara. This Sufi was an ardent follower of the Hadjagan school, who contributed greatly to its development, occupying the fifth link in the chain of Bukhara's holy feasts.

6. Sayyid Amir Kulal

Khoja Sayyid Amir Kulal-Bukhari (1287 - 1370) was born in the village of Sukhor, which is located 11 km from Bukhara, in a family of potters, he lived 92 years. During his life he was called Kalon, which means great. He was a scholar of Hanafi theology, a Sufi murshid, a pir and a spiritual instructor of Bahauddin Naqshbandi. Before his youth he was fond of folk wrestling, kurash, where he also achieved success.

7. Al-Gijduwani.

Khoja Abd al-Khalik Abd al-Djamil Gijduvani (1103-1179) was born in Gijduvan, which is located 52 kilometers from Bukhara. His father was a clergyman, as were his other ancestors. Pir's family came to Maverannahr from Byzantium (Rum). He was a co-confessor of the Hadjagan order, a bright representative of Sufism, who left his invaluable contribution to the development of religion and society.

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