Qadiri

Qadiri, also known as Qadiriyya, is one of the oldest Sufi orders within Sunni Islam. It traces its founding to Abdul Qadir Gilani (1077–1166), a Persian-born mystic and theologian whose Baghdad-based teachings emphasized tawhid, moral discipline, and constant remembrance of God. The order is defined not by a single centralized hierarchy but by a network of lodges (khanaqahs) and silsila (chains of transmission), organized through numerous shaykhs who claim lineage to Gilani.

Core practices include dhikr (remembrance of God), regular prayer, contemplation, and acts of service and charity. While the practice of dhikr can vary between communities—for example, quiet recollection versus communal chanting—the aim is spiritual cleansing and ethical refinement. Sufi poetry, sama (listening to devotional music), and pilgrimages to saints' shrines are also associated with many Qadiri communities.

Historically, the Qadiriyya spread from the Middle East to North Africa, the Sahel, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In West Africa it aided the spread of Islam and established influential centers in present-day Sudan, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, and Nigeria. In South Asia and the Middle East, the order anchored at major urban centers and adapted to local cultures while maintaining its devotional framework.

Today, the Qadiriyya remains active worldwide in many countries, often alongside other Sufi orders. Distinct lineages may emphasize different devotional practices, but all trace their spiritual authority back to Abdul Qadir Gilani. The order is typically contrasted with non-Sufi currents within Islam and with reformist movements, though it remains a significant facet of Islamic mysticism for many adherents.