Peer or Pir ( fa, پیر, lit=elder) is a title for a

Sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, r ...

spiritual guide. They are also referred to as a ''

Hazrat ''Hazrat, , ,'' or ' ( ar, حَضْرَة, ḥaḍra, pl. ''ḥaḍrāt''; Persian: pronounced or ) is a common Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, Afghan, and honorific Arabic and Turkish title used to honour a person. It literally deno ...

'' (from ar, حضرة, Haḍra) and ''

Sheikh Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of ...

'' or

Shaykh Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of ...

, which is literally the Arabic equivalent. The title is often translated into English as "saint." In

Sufism Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

a Pir's role is to guide and instruct his disciples on the Sufi path. This is often done by general lessons (called ''Suhbas'') and individual guidance. Other words that refer to a Pir include ''

Murshid ''Murshid'' ( ar, مرشد) is Arabic for "guide" or "teacher", derived from the root ''r-sh-d'', with the basic meaning of having integrity, being sensible, mature. Particularly in Sufism it refers to a spiritual guide. The term is frequently use ...

'' ( ar, مرشد, lit=guide, mentor) and ''Sarkar'' ( fa, سرکار, lit=master, lord). The title ''Peer Baba'' (from fa, بابا, lit=father) is common in the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographical region in Southern Asia. It is situated on the Indian Plate, projecting southwards into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas. Geopolitically, it includes the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Ind ...

used as a salutation to Sufi masters or similarly honored persons. After their death, people visit their tombs or mausolea, referred to as

dargah A dargah ( fa, درگاه ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargah'' दरगाह درگاہ, bn, দরগাহ ''dorgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, ofte ...

maqbara The Arabic word ''Maqbara'' ( "mausoleum"; ''plural'': ''Maqâbir'') is derived from the word Qabr, which means grave. Though maqbara refers to the graves of all Muslims, it refers especially to a Muslim cemetery. In some Islamic cultures (es ...

. The path of Sufism starts when a student takes an oath of allegiance with a teacher called ''Bai'at'' or ''

Bay'ah ''Bayʿah'' ( ar, بَيْعَة, "Pledge of allegiance"), in Islamic terminology, is an oath of allegiance to a leader. It is known to have been practiced by the Islamic prophet Muhammad. ''Bayʿah'' is sometimes taken under a written pact gi ...

'' (Arabic word meaning "transaction") where he swears allegiance at the hands of his Pir and repents of all his previous sins. After that, the student is called a

Murid In Sufism, a ''murīd'' (Arabic مُرِيد 'one who seeks') is a novice committed to spiritual enlightenment by ''sulūk'' (traversing a path) under a spiritual guide, who may take the title murshid, '' pir'' or '' shaykh''. A ''sālik'' or S ...

(Arabic word meaning committed one). From here, his batin (esoteric) journey starts. A Pir usually has authorizations to be a teacher for one (or more)

tariqah A tariqa (or ''tariqah''; ar, طريقة ') is a school or order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking '' haqiqa'', which translates as "ultimate truth". ...

s. A tariqah may have more than one Pir at a time. A Pir is accorded that status by his Sheikh by way of ''Khilafat'' or ''

Khilafa A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...

h'' (Arabic word meaning "succession"), a process in which the Pir identifies one of his disciples as his successor, which may be more than one.

See also

References

Further reading