Published Paper


Beyond the Orthodox: Situating Manikpur's Eclectic Sufis and the Development of Chishti Sufism in a Small Town near Allahabad (14th-17th Centuries)

Mohd Arif PhD
Aligarh Muslim University, (2021) Department of History, AMU Aligarh, India
Page: 494-507
Published on: 2024 March

Abstract

This paper explores the emergence and development of Chishti Sufism in the town of Manikpur, located in the surrounding region of Allahabad, between the 14th and 17th centuries. It provides a linear, chronological overview of the key Chishti saints and Sufis connected to Manikpur during this period. The paper highlights how Shaikh Husamuddin Manikpuri (1341-1449) was a pioneering Sufi saint who promoted an inclusive approach towards Hindu traditions and practices. His master Shaikh Nurul Haqq used to hold sama in which devotional songs from Vaishnavite tradition (Vishnupads) were sung. His disciples Shaikh Raji Hamid Shah and Shaikh Kamaluddin (Shaikh Kalu) further spread Chishti teachings in the region. Another important Sufi was Shaikh Sayyidu Manikpuri (1432-1525) who was initially skeptical of Sufis but later became a disciple of Husamuddin after a miraculous incident. Several other influential Chishti Sufis of Manikpur covered in the paper include Shaikh Nizamuddin, Shaikh Qasim, Shaikh Abdullah, Shaikh Jalaluddin, Shaikh Abdul Karim, and others. The paper argues that Manikpur emerged as a significant center of Chishti Sufism in north India, known for syncretism and incorporation of Hindu cultural elements. Through a chronological exposition of the key Sufi figures in Manikpur, the paper traces the evolution and ascendancy of Chishti Sufism in the region during the 14th and 17th centuries, offering insights into its historical development and cultural significance.

 

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