Question

What were the reasons for the popularity of Chisti Silsila?

Answer 1

'Silsila' is an Arabic word, which means a 'chain'. In Sufism, it stands for 'lineage'. A number of silsilas became popular in India during the Sultanate period. Of them, the most famous ones were the Suhrawardi silsila and the Chishti silsila. The Chishti silsila was introduced in India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. He settled in Ajmer and was revered equally by Muslims and non-Muslims. The main reasons behind the popularity of the Chishti silsila are as follows:

(1) Equality of treatment: It treated the rich and the poor alike. Further, it helped the state by creating a milieu in which people belonging to different classes and religious communities could live in harmony.

(2) Religious tolerance: It adopted a policy of religious tolerance towards non-Muslims.