Zahabiya genealogy
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Zahabiya
Sufism Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
(, ''Zahabiya
Silsila ''Silsila'' () is an Arabic language, Arabic word meaning ''chain'', ''link'', ''connection'' often used in various senses of :wikt:lineage, lineage. In particular, it may be translated as "spiritual genealogy" where one Sufi Master transfe ...
'') is a
Shiite Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * A socio-political or established or existing order, e.g. World order, Ancien Regime, Pax Britannica * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood ...
. The history of
dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from ) in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage is found particularly in Persi ...
es from this order dates to the third century AH and Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. Some believe that the order originated during the ninth century AH in Iran; it first became popular in Khorasan and then in
Shiraz Shiraz (; ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As of the 2016 national census, the popu ...
during the early Safavid period.


History

Zahabiya is a
Sufi Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
order of
Shia Islam Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...
which has its roots from the ninth century AH, composed of followers of Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi Mashhadi. In
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, after the formation of the
Safavid The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
state, the order spread and other orders branched out from it. For this reason, it is known as ''"Umm al-Salasel"'' ("mother of the branches"). The order originated from the Sufi
Kubrawiya The Kubrawiya order () or Kubrawi order, also known as Kubrawi Hamadani,or Hamadani Kubra, is a Sufi order that traces its spiritual lineage (''Silsilah'') to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, through Ali, Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law and the Fir ...
order of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. Zahabiya is a ''
silsila ''Silsila'' () is an Arabic language, Arabic word meaning ''chain'', ''link'', ''connection'' often used in various senses of :wikt:lineage, lineage. In particular, it may be translated as "spiritual genealogy" where one Sufi Master transfe ...
'' (chain of lineage) of the ''
tariqa A ''tariqa'' () is a religious order of Sufism, or specifically a concept for the mystical teaching and spiritual practices of such an order with the aim of seeking , which translates as "ultimate truth". A tariqa has a (guide) who plays the ...
'' (school) of Kubrawiya. It was considered it to be a
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
order before ''Borzeshabadi'' but became
Shiite Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
afterwards, especially after the Safavids forced conversion of Iran to Shia Islam.


Possible founders

There are several theories about Zahabiya's founder. Its founder has been believed to be Najm al-Din Kubra, who died in 1221 CE (618 AH). His nickname was "Abu al-Janab". He was the twelfth
Qutb The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads ...
(saint) of the Zahabiya order. His titles are Sheikh Wali Tarash, Kubra and Tama Al-Kubra, and Zahabiya later became known as the Zahabiya Kubrawiya. His title was "Tama Al-Kubra" (Doomsday). He won arguments with other scholars. "Tama" was later dropped, and he was called "Kubra". The poet Jami wrote about his title of "Wali Tarash" (
Wali The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...
-maker), "Because in the victories of ecstasy, his blessed sight on whoever fell, reached the position of final enlightenment". He had many followers, some of whom were well-known Sufis such as Majd al-Din Baghdadi (died 1209 CE), Saaduddin Hammuyeh (died 1251), Baba Kamal Jundi, and Razi al-Din Ali Lala Esfarayeni (died 1244). Qazi Nurullah Shustari, in his book '' Majalis al-muminin'' cites the number of Najm al-Din Kubra's followers as twelve and writes: "Because his true elders were limited to the
twelve Imams The Twelve Imams (, '; , ') are the spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, including that of the Alawite and Alevi. According to Twelver theology, the Twelve Imams are exemp ...
, he inevitably observed the number of elders on the part of his disciples and, as it is mentioned the book '' Tarikh-i guzida'', he did not accept more than twelve disciples during his lifetime, but each of them became of the greatest scholar of the time". Najm al-Din Kubra was the son-in-law of Ruzbihan Baqli, and had two sons. Another founder of Zahabiya order may have been Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani, who died in 1423 CE (826 AH). He was born (740 AH), and was a disciple and son-in-law of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani. Twelve disciples are mentioned for him, one of whom was Abdullah Borzeshabadi. During the departure of Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani, Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani was killed at the order of
Shah Rukh Shah Rukh or Shahrukh Mirza (, ''Šāhrokh''; 20 August 1377 – 13 March 1447) was the ruler of the Timurid Empire between 1405 and 1447. He was the son of the Central Asian conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), who founded the Timurid dynasty in 1370 ...
as the main agitator against the
Timurid Empire The Timurid Empire was a late medieval, culturally Persianate, Turco-Mongol empire that dominated Greater Iran in the early 15th century, comprising modern-day Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, much of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and parts of co ...
. Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi is also cited as the founder of the order. Seyyed Abdullah ibn Abdul Hai Ali Al-Hussein, nicknamed "Majzoob" ("engrossed"), was from the village of Borzeshabad in
Mashhad County Mashhad County () is in Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Mashhad, which is also the capital of the Province. History After the 2016 National Census, Binalud, Iran, Binalud was elevated to ...
, Razavi Khorasan province. Born (770 to 780 AH), he was the son-in-law of his teacher Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani and was also taught by Qasim-i Anvar (died 1433). After the death of Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani, Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi taught for nearly thirty years and died in the early ninth century AH (after 1446 CE). Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi wrote a number oftreatises, including the "Kamaliyeh treatise" (about
Irfan In Islam, irfan (Arabic/ Persian/Urdu: ; ), literally 'knowledge, awareness, wisdom', is a concept in Islamic mysticism akin to gnosis, or spiritual knowledge. Sunni mysticism According to the founder of the Qadiriyya Sufi order, Abdul ...
and
Sharia Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on Islamic holy books, scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran, Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' ...
etiquette). He also wrote lyric poetry.


Alternative theory

According to some narratives, Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani (the
Qutb The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads ...
of
Kubrawiya The Kubrawiya order () or Kubrawi order, also known as Kubrawi Hamadani,or Hamadani Kubra, is a Sufi order that traces its spiritual lineage (''Silsilah'') to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, through Ali, Muhammad's cousin, son-in-law and the Fir ...
) saw in a dream a young disciple, Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani, made him his successor (leaves the cloak of Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani to Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani), and introduceds him as the
Mahdi The Mahdi () is a figure in Islamic eschatology who is believed to appear at the Eschatology, End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be a descendant of Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad, and will appear shortly before Jesu ...
(savior of the world). Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani entrusted his followers to Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani, but one (Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi) refuses to obey him and leaves. Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani said, "''Zahaba Abdullah''" ("Abdullah is gone"). The road taken by Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi became known as Zahabiya, a branch of the Kubrawiya order.


Qutb

Sufis believe that a seeker should follow the one who leads him, and a Sufi should choose a mentor. This guide is known as ''pir'' ("elder"), ''wali'' ("guardian"),
sheikh Sheikh ( , , , , ''shuyūkh'' ) is an honorific title in the Arabic language, literally meaning "elder (administrative title), elder". It commonly designates a tribal chief or a Muslim ulama, scholar. Though this title generally refers to me ...
("lord, master") and
Qutb The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads ...
(a perfect human). A Qutb is a person who is in the sight of God and like the heart of
Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
. A Qutb is also called ''Abdul Elah'' ("servant of God"). Asadullah Khavari introduced Qutb from the point of view of Zahabiya: "The meaning of the Qutb in Zahabiya view is perfect men and partial saints who have attained degrees and perfections through conduct and divine passion, and after the stage of
annihilation In particle physics, annihilation is the process that occurs when a subatomic particle collides with its respective antiparticle to produce other particles, such as an electron colliding with a positron to produce two photons. The total energy a ...
Ego">Ego_(Freudian).html" ;"title="f the Ego (Freudian)">Ego revived by God and they have reached the degree of the understanding of the immediate guardian of God and the owner of time, who is the Qutb of all Qutbs of the time."


Qutb genealogy

In the appendices of the book ''Tohfeh Abbasi'', the names of the Qutbs of Zahabiya order are listed in the following order:


Qutb of Nateq-Samet

In Zahabiya, the Qutb (the current leader) is called ''Qutb-e Nateq'' ("the rhetorical Qutb"); his successor is called ''Qutb-e Samet'' ("the silent Qutb") during the life of ''Qutb-e Nateq''. These terms are also used by the Shiite Isma'ilism sect.


Other names

Zahabiya is the best-known name of the order, but it is also known as Elahieh, Mohammadiyyah, Alawiyah, Razaviyyah, Mahdieh, Marufiyah, Kubrawiya, and Ahmadiyya. The latter name was bestowed by Mirza Ahmad Abdulhay Mortazavi Tabrizi (known as Vahid al-Owlia, the 37th Qutb of Zahabiya). Mohammad Ali Moazzen Khorasani (the 29th Qutb of Zahabiya) cites ''Umm al-Salasel'' ("mother of the branches") as a name for Zahabiya: "In Iran, after the formation of the
Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
and the promotion of the Shiite religion, only the Zahabiya order, which was specific to the Shiites, expanded; and for this reason, it is also called ''Umm al-Salasl'' because over the last few centuries, many branches have been formed of it." The order is said to have been named Zahabiya ("golden") because its
Qutb The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads ...
s practice an alchemy of the soul; a seeker becomes spiritually refined, like gold. Until a seeker reaches this level of purity, they cannot guide anyone. There were no
Sunnis Sunni Islam is the largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any Succession to Muhammad, successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr ...
person in the order; their elders and guardians were all
Twelvers Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the largest branch of Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as t ...
. The Hadith of Golden Chain is also considered to authorize the order.


Claims

A number of claims have been made about the authenticity of Zahabiya genealogy. The order has been attributed to
The Fourteen Infallibles The Fourteen Infallibles (, '; , ') in Twelver, Twelver Shia Islam are the Islamic prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatima Zahra, Fatima, and Twelve Imams, the Twelve Imams. All are considered to be ismah, infallible under the theological conce ...
. Some followers believe that it originated with
Imam Reza Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth Twelve Imams, imam in Twelver Shi'ism, Twelver Shia Is ...
(the eighth Shiite Imam) through Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. Imam Reza was a descendant of
Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
. Ma'ruf al-Karkhi was a mystic from Karkh in
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
. Born , he reportedly died in 815 CE (200 AH). It was said that fourteen sects, known as the Marufiyah sects, branched out from him. Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's connection to, and meeting with, Imam Reza and his conversion to Islam are somewhat controversial. Some (including Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami in his book, ''Tabaqat al-Sufiah'') believe that he was converted by Imam Reza;
Ali Hujwiri Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Uthman al-Jullabi al-Hujwiri (; -1072/77), known reverentially as Data Sahib (), was an Islamic scholar and mystic who authored , the earliest treatise on Sufism in the Persian language. Born in the Ghaznavid Empire, al- ...
wrote: "Ma'ruf al-Karkhi was converted to Islam by Imam Reza, and was very dear to him." In the book, ''Wafyat al-A'yan'',
Ibn Khallikan Aḥmad bin Muḥammad bin Ibrāhīm bin Abū Bakr ibn Khallikān (; 22 September 1211 – 30 October 1282), better known as Ibn Khallikān, was a renowned Islamic historian of Kurdish origin who compiled the celebrated biographical encyclopedi ...
mentioned Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's conversion to Islam by Imam Reza and considered him one of the Imam's patrons. According to some sources, Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's Christian parents also converted to Islam after he did. He was described elsewhere as Imam Reza's gatekeeper. Ma'ruf al-Karkhi broke a bone in a crowd at the imam's house and later died. In the book, '' Tazkirat al-Awliya'',
Attar of Nishapur Faridoddin Abu Hamed Mohammad Attar Nishapuri ( – c. 1221; ), better known by his pen-names Faridoddin () and ʿAttar of Nishapur (, Attar means apothecary), was a poet, theoretician of Sufism, and hagiographer from Nishapur who had an immense ...
wrote that he became ill after the fracture; according to other sources, he was disabled for the rest of his life. Others question a connection between Ma'ruf al-Karkhi and Imam Reza. The story of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's conversion to Islam and his responsibility as gatekeeper was first told by Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami without documentation. Others who told this story after him narrated it in the form of a messenger. Ma'ruf al-Karkhi was not mentioned in any dealing with the companions and patrons of the imams. According to Ayatollah Borqei, "There is no name of "Ma'ruf al-Karkhi" in the books of Shiite rijals and his condition is unknown and not even a single
hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
from him - neither in the principles of religion nor in the ancillaries - has been narrated by the Imams through him and some of the hadiths attributed to him are undocumented and has no evidence."
Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi Mohammad Baqer Majlesi ( – 29 March 1699; ), also known as Allamah Majlesi or Majlesi Al-Thani (Majlesi the Second), was an influential Iranian Akhbari Twelver Shia scholar and thinker during the Safavid era. He has been described as "one of t ...
wrote, "Ma'ruf al-Karkhi" is not known to have served Imam Reza and to say that he was the gatekeeper of the Imam is of course wrong; Because all the servants and patrons of that Imam from
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
and Shiite have been recorded in the books of our rijals and the fanatical Sunnis who used to travel and narrate the hadith of that Imam have mentioned their names, if this man was the patron of that Imam, of course they quoted." Crowds at Imam Reza's house large enough to trample a person are incompatible with the fact that the imam was guarded by the
Abbasid caliph The Abbasid caliphs were the holders of the Islamic title of caliph who were members of the Abbasid dynasty, a branch of the Quraysh tribe descended from the uncle of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Al-Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib. The family came ...
al-Ma'mun Abū al-ʿAbbās Abd Allāh ibn Hārūn al-Maʾmūn (; 14 September 786 – 9 August 833), better known by his regnal name al-Ma'mun (), was the seventh Abbasid caliph, who reigned from 813 until his death in 833. His leadership was marked by t ...
, and Shiites could not approach the imams. According to Sufi scholars, the position of
Qutb The term () means 'axis', 'pivot', or 'pole'. Qutb can refer to celestial movements and be used as an astronomical term or a spiritual symbol. In Sufism, a is the perfect human being, ''al-Insān al-Kāmil'' ('The Universal Man'), who leads ...
cannot be transferred to the next Qutb during the lifetime of the imam who is Qutb at the time. Imam Reza died in 818 CE (203 AH), and Ma'ruf al-Karkhi reportedly died in 815 CE (200 AH). Ma'ruf al-Karkhi was not Qutb during his lifetime, because two Qutbs could not simultaneously exist. However,
Sari al-Saqati Sari ibn al-Mughallis al-Saqati ( was one of the early Muslim Sufi saints of Baghdad. He was one of the most influential students of Maruf Karkhi and one of the first to present Sufism (tasawwuf) in a systematic way. He was also a friend of Bi ...
was a student of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. According to histories, the al-Ma'mun summoned Imam Reza to
Merv Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...
in 815 CE (200 AH). The imam traveled to Merv through
Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...
,
Ahvaz Ahvaz (; ) is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is home to Persians, Arabs and other groups such as Qashqai and Kurds. Languages spok ...
and Fars because the cities of
Qom Qom (; ) is a city in the Central District of Qom County, Qom province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the seventh largest metropolis and also the seventh largest city in Iran. The city is ...
and
Kufa Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
were Shiite and believed in
Ahl al-Bayt () refers to the family of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. In Sunni Islam, the term has also been extended to all descendants of the Banu Hashim (Muhammad's clan) and even to all Muslims. In Shia Islam, the term is limited to Muhammad, his daugh ...
; passing through them would support Imam Reza against al-Ma'mun's agents.
Morteza Motahhari Morteza Motahhari (; 31 January 1919 – 1 May 1979) was an Iranian Twelver Shia scholar, philosopher, lecturer. Motahhari is considered to have an important influence on the ideologies of the Islamic Republic, among others. He was a co-found ...
wrote, "The route that al-Ma'mun chose for Imam Reza was a specific path that did not pass through the Shiite-settled locations because they were afraid of them. Al-Ma'mun ordered not to bring the Imam through
Kufa Kufa ( ), also spelled Kufah, is a city in Iraq, about south of Baghdad, and northeast of Najaf. It is located on the banks of the Euphrates, Euphrates River. The estimated population in 2003 was 110,000. Along with Samarra, Karbala, Kadhimiya ...
, to bring him to
Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...
through Basra,
Khuzestan Khuzestan province () is one of the 31 Provinces of Iran. Located in the southwest of the country, the province borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of . Its capital is the city of Ahvaz. Since 2014, it has been part of Iran's ...
and Fars". There was no mention of a trip to
Baghdad Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
for Imam Reza before 815; he lived
Medina Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
until that year, and Ma'ruf al-Karkhi never left Baghdad. Therefore, Ma'ruf al-Karkhi could not have been converted to Islam by Imam Reza. Because followers of Zahabiya attribute their authenticity to Imam Reza through Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, they believe that the imam narrated the Hadith of Golden Chain in
Nishapur Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Ni ...
and the order became known as Zahabiya ("golden"). Ma'ruf al-Karkhi's relationship with Imam Reza is questionable. The Hadith of Golden Chain is a proof of the guardianship which the imam received from his father and entrusted to his son, Imam Jawad, not something he gave to Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. There is no logical connection between this hadith and the name Zahabiya. Another claim is that no Sunnis were in the Zahabiya order; its elders and guardians were
Twelvers Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the largest branch of Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as t ...
, and their authenticity reaches the Infallible Imam. For this reason, they became known as Zahabiya; like gold, they are free of the disagreement and enmity of the family of Muhammad. However, most Zahabiya Qutbs were Sunni; some, such as Junayd Baghdadi,
Ahmad Ghazali Ahmad Ghazālī (; full name Majd al-Dīn Abū al-Fotuḥ Aḥmad Ghazālī) was a Sunni Muslim Sufi mystic, writer, preacher and the head of Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad (c. 1061–1123 or 1126). He is best known in the history of Islam for his id ...
, Abul Qasim Gurgani, Abubakr Nassaj Toosi and
Abu al-Najib Suhrawardi Abū al-Najīb Abd al-Qahhar Suhrawardī () (1097–1168) was a Sunni Persian people, PersianQamar al-Huda, ''Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi'', ed. Josef W. Meri, Jere L. Bacharach, Medieval Islamic Civilization: L-Z, Vol. 2. . pp 775-776: "Shahab al-D ...
, were not Twelvers. Through their Qutbs, Zahabiya seekers' existential copper turns into gold; they became free of materialism and egotistical temptation, and may guide other seekers. However, some Zahabiya Qutbs or followers have moral, political or social problems; some Qutbs have drifted towards
Freemasonry Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
. When Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi rebelled and disobeyed the order of his master Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani to pledge allegiance to Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani, Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani said: "''Zahaba Abdullah''" ("Abdullah is gone" or "Abdullah became gold"). For this reason, the order was formed and named Zahabiya. It is sometimes known as Zahabiya Eqteshashiah ("Anarchy Zahabiya") because Sufis called sectarian unrest without the permission of a sect's current leader ''Eqteshash'' ("Anarchy"); if it led to the formation of other independent sects, they were identified as baseless and unreliable with the addition of ''Eqteshashiah''.


Path of growth

''Asadullah Khavari'' has divided the history of eleven and a half centuries of the Zahabiya order (from the death of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, the first Zahabiya Qutb, in 815 CE to the death of Jalaleddin Mohammad Majdolashraf Shirazi, the 36th Zahabiya Qutb in 1913) into five periods: *The period of asceticism and worship: This period began with the death of Ma'ruf al-Karkhi and ended at the end of the fifth century AH and the death of Abubakr Nassaj Toosi (the eighth Zahabiya Qutb) in 1094 CE (487 AH). During this period, the Zahabiya Qutbs have no written works other than scattered sentences and short words. *The period of the rise of Sufism, or the period of scholarship and authorship: This period began at the beginning of the sixth century AH with
Ahmad Ghazali Ahmad Ghazālī (; full name Majd al-Dīn Abū al-Fotuḥ Aḥmad Ghazālī) was a Sunni Muslim Sufi mystic, writer, preacher and the head of Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad (c. 1061–1123 or 1126). He is best known in the history of Islam for his id ...
(the ninth Zahabiya Qutb, who died in 1131 CE) and ended at the end of the ninth century AH and the death of Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani (the 20th Zahabiya Qutb, who died in 1424 or 1425 CE). Less than a century had passed when the
Mongol invasion The Mongol invasions and conquests took place during the 13th and 14th centuries, creating history's largest contiguous empire, the Mongol Empire (1206–1368), which by 1260 covered large parts of Eurasia. Historians regard the Mongol devastati ...
began, and the defeat of
Muhammad II of Khwarazm 'Alā' al-Din Muhammad II (Persian language, Persian: علاءالدین محمد خوارزمشاه; full name: ''Ala ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Abul-Fath Muhammad Sanjar ibn Tekish'') was the Shah of the Khwarazmian Empire from 3 August 1200 to 11 Janu ...
by the
Hulagu Khan Hulegu Khan, also known as Hülegü or Hulagu; ; ; ; ( 8 February 1265), was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Western Asia. As a son of Tolui and the Keraite princess Sorghaghtani Beki, he was a grandson of Genghis Khan and brother of ...
ended the
Khwarazmian Empire The Khwarazmian Empire (), or simply Khwarazm, was a culturally Persianate society, Persianate, Sunni Muslim empire of Turkic peoples, Turkic ''mamluk'' origin. Khwarazmians ruled large parts of present-day Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Iran ...
in 1231 CE (628 AH). Elders, seekers and disciples produced literature in the
Persian language Persian ( ), also known by its endonym and exonym, endonym Farsi (, Fārsī ), is a Western Iranian languages, Western Iranian language belonging to the Iranian languages, Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian languages, Indo-Iranian subdivision ...
. *The period of Sufi stagnation: This period lasted from the second half of the ninth century AH and the time of Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi (the 21st Zahabiya Qutb, who died in 1485–1488 CE) to the end of the twelfth century AH and the death of Seyyed Qutb al-Din Mohammad Neyrizi (the 32nd Zahabiya Qutb) in 1760 CE (1173 AH). From the beginning of the ninth century, the basic principle of Sufism (
monotheism Monotheism is the belief that one God is the only, or at least the dominant deity.F. L. Cross, Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. A ...
) weakened and was replaced by the
Tawassul Tawassul, is an Arabic word originated from 'wasilat'. The ''wasilah'' is a means by which a person, goal or objective is approached, attained or achieved. In another version of the meaning of tawassul in another text: Tawassul is an Arabic word t ...
with the
Alids The Alids are those who claim descent from Ali ibn Abi Talib (; 600–661 CE), the fourth Rashidun caliph () and the first imam in Shia Islam. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The main branches are th ...
and their descendants. Higher monastic teachings evolved into
dervish Dervish, Darvesh, or Darwīsh (from ) in Islam can refer broadly to members of a Sufi fraternity (''tariqah''), or more narrowly to a religious mendicant, who chose or accepted material poverty. The latter usage is found particularly in Persi ...
es. At this time, Qutbs and elders such as Seyyed Qutb al-Din Mohammad Neyrizi, Mohammad Ali Moazzen Khorasani (the 29th Zahabiya Qutb) and Najibuddin Reza Tabrizi (the 30th Qutb) emerged. *The Walayah period: This period began at the end of the twelfth century AH and the beginning of the guidance of Agha Mohammad Hashem Darvish Shirazi (the 33rd Qutb) in 1760 CE, and ended in the early fourteenth century AH and the death of Jalaleddin Mohammad Majdolashraf Shirazi (the 36th Qutb) in 1913 (1331 AH). Sufism and its monastic teachings evolved from monotheism into the Walayah and guardianship of the imams, and Shia Islam turned from outward customs inward to the guardianship. From this period, many works by Agha Mohammad Hashem Darvish Shirazi, Jalaleddin Mohammad Majdolashraf Shirazi and Mirza Abulghasem Raz Shirazi (the 35th Qutb) survive. *Sufi modern period: From the beginning of the fourteenth century AH to the early 1990s, modern works have influenced Sufism.


Walayah

Zahabiya has divided the Walayah (religious guardianship) into two parts: #The Walayah of the whole: ''Shamsiya'' ("Sun") #The Walayah of the part: ''Qamariya'' ("Moon") According to Zahabiya, ''Shamsiya'' belongs to Muhammad and his twelve descendants. ''Qamariya'' also belongs to Sufi elders and Qutbs. Since all beings in the universe have to reach perfection and humanity through a perfect human being, and
Mahdi The Mahdi () is a figure in Islamic eschatology who is believed to appear at the Eschatology, End of Times to rid the world of evil and injustice. He is said to be a descendant of Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad, and will appear shortly before Jesu ...
is in
occultation An occultation is an event that occurs when one object is hidden from the observer by another object that passes between them. The term is often used in astronomy, but can also refer to any situation in which an object in the foreground blocks f ...
, a person who has ''Qamariya'' from Mahdi is always present like the Moon which reflects the light of the Sun, purifies the mirror of the heart and illuminates the world. For this reason, he is the instructor of the lunar world and obtains light from the Sun. Zahabiya believes that the authenticity of its ''Qamariya'' reaches Imam Reza through Ma'ruf al-Karkhi, and the authenticity of its ''Shamsiya'' leads to Muhammad through Imam Reza and his ancestors.


Exaggeration and esotericism

Some believe that Zahabiya believe in
exaggeration Exaggeration is the representation of something as more extreme or dramatic than it is, intentionally or unintentionally. It can be a rhetorical device or figure of speech, used to evoke strong feelings or to create a strong impression. Ampl ...
(ascribing divine characteristics to figures of Islamic history) and esotericism; the inside of the
Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
can be easily understood from its appearance. Zahabiya interprets appearance without analogy; the heart of the mystic is the spiritual house of God, and the
Masjid al-Haram Masjid al-Haram (), also known as the Sacred Mosque or the Great Mosque of Mecca, is considered to be the most significant mosque in Islam. It encloses the vicinity of the Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. It is among the ...
is the physical house.


Monastic ceremonies

Zahabiya, like other Sufi orders, is associated with monastic ceremonies in
khanqah A Sufi lodge is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood or ''tariqa'' and is a place for spiritual practice and religious education. They include structures also known as ''khānaqāh'', ''zāwiya'', ''ribāṭ'' ...
s. One ceremony is the transfer of the cloak from the current Qutb to the next one. Another is Sama ("listening while dancing"). Another tradition is the culture of mastership and discipleship.


Place of origin

Zahabiya originated in
Greater Khorasan KhorasanDabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 (; , ) is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plateau in West Asia, West and Central Asia that encompasses wes ...
and the Khuttal region, the center of the Qutbs and Kubrawiya elders (especially Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani and Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani). This region was the center of Zahabiya's Qutbs from the ninth to eleventh centuries AH. The center of Zahabiya order then moved to
Shiraz Shiraz (; ) is the List of largest cities of Iran, fifth-most-populous city of Iran and the capital of Fars province, which has been historically known as Pars (Sasanian province), Pars () and Persis. As of the 2016 national census, the popu ...
; during the time of Najibuddin Reza Tabrizi (the 30th Qutb), its center moved to
Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
. Due to the pressure of Islamic jurists during the reign of Sultan Husayn, its center moved back to Shiraz. The order also has followers outside
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, whose activities continue.


Criticism

Zahabiya was formed with the rebellion and disobedience of Seyyed Abdullah Borzeshabadi at the orders of his master, Khajeh Eshaq Khuttalani, based on allegiance to Muhammad Nurbakhsh Qahistani. It was Shia Islam's first coup. Zahabiya's followers connect their line of Qutbs to Imam Reza through Ma'ruf al-Karkhi and attribute themselves to the Fourteen Infallibles, but there may not have been a connection between the imam and Ma'ruf al-Karkhi. Although they say that all members of this genealogy were
Shiites Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
, some have been
Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
. The discussion of ''Qamariya'' and its succession is problematic. Their division of Walayah into ''Shamsiya'' and ''Qamariya'' considers their Qutbs the Walayah of ''Qamariya'' without evidence from the
Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
and
hadith Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
s. Some Qutbs are ethically suspect. Zahabiya considers their Qutbs and elders as superhuman, and claims to be pure. The hadiths they cite to indicate their authenticity are weak and often invalid. The genealogy of their Qutbs contains gaps, although the existence of a Qutb is obligatory at all times. Zahabiya is related to anarchy, (''Eqteshashiah'') and its history is vague and unreliable. According to Islamic narratives,
Sufism Sufism ( or ) is a mysticism, mystic body of religious practice found within Islam which is characterized by a focus on Islamic Tazkiyah, purification, spirituality, ritualism, and Asceticism#Islam, asceticism. Practitioners of Sufism are r ...
was not approved by Imam Reza.سفينة البحار ج۲ ص۵۸ چاپ فراهانی تهران و ج۵ ص۲۰۰ چاپ اسوه قم Zahabiya's claims contain superstitions, and some believe that they have corrupted Islam.


Gallery

ارامگاه پیر پالاندوز قطب سلسله ذهبیه.jpg, Tomb of Mohammad Karandehi, known as Pire Palandouz (27th Qutb of Zahabiya), alt=Large building کشتی نجات مجدالاشراف سلسله ذهبیه.jpg, ''Rescue Ship'', a mystical painting by Jalaleddin Mohammad Majdolashraf Shirazi (36th Qutb), alt=Painting with much lettering تصویر مجدالاشراف .png, Jalaleddin Mohammad Majdolashraf Shirazi, alt=Photo of a bearded cleric Vahid3.jpg, Mirza Ahmad Khoshnevis, 37th Qutb, alt=Photo of a younger, seated cleric Vahid1.jpg, Mirza Ahmad Abdulhay Mortazavi Tabrizi, known as Khoshnevis and Vahid al-Owlia (37th Qutb), alt=Oval photo of a bespectacled cleric حاج حب حیدر قطب 38 سلسله ذهبیه.jpg, Abulfotuh Haaj Mirza Mohammad Ali Hobb Heydar, 38th Qutb, alt=Another photo of a bespectacled cleric


See also


References


External links


Zahabiya in safavaid era

The Emergence of the Ẕahabiyya in Safavid Iran
{{Authority control Sufism Shia Sufi orders