Murshid
Murshid, from the Arabic murshid (مرشد), meaning guide or adviser, is a term commonly used in Sufism to denote a spiritual teacher who guides a disciple (murid) along the path of Islamic mysticism. The word is derived from the concept of guidance (irshād) and is widely used in Persian and Urdu-speaking Sufi communities. In many Sufi orders, the murshid is the authorised teacher who initiates novices, often through a formal pledge or bay’ah, and who provides ongoing spiritual instruction and personal mentorship.
The murshid’s role includes diagnosing the disciple’s spiritual state, directing moral and spiritual reform, and prescribing
In practice, the murshid is often seen as distinct from but related to other titles for teachers,