- Suhrawardiyya
- Chishtiyya
- Naqshbandiyya
- None of these
Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi, revered as the “Mujaddid Alf-i Thani” (Reviver of the Second Millennium), was a towering pillar of the Naqshbandi Sufi order. His affiliation was not merely nominal; he became its definitive revitalizer and a central figure in its history throughout the Indian subcontinent. Sirhindi received formal initiation into the Naqshbandi order from Khwaja Baqi Billah in Delhi, a connection that would shape the course of Islamic thought in South Asia. The Naqshbandi order, distinct for its adherence to the Shariah and its silent method of dhikr (remembrance of God), found in Sirhindi a powerful advocate for its principles during a period of significant syncretic and liberal religious trends under the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi’s profound impact lies in his role as the architect of the Naqshbandi-Mujaddidi sub-lineage. His extensive collection of letters, the Maktubat, systematically elaborated a doctrine that fiercely defended orthodox Sunni principles while emphasizing the Naqshbandi path’s strict spiritual discipline. He championed the concept of “Wahdat al-Shuhud” (Unity of Witness), offering a theological counterpoint to Ibn Arabi’s more pervasive concept of “Wahdat al-Wujud” (Unity of Being), which he interpreted as potentially leading to pantheism. Through his teachings and the vast network of disciples he cultivated, Sirhindi successfully reoriented the Naqshbandi order, making it a dominant force for Islamic revivalism, orthodoxy, and political engagement, a legacy that continues to influence millions of followers worldwide to this day.