ghawth

Ghawth, also spelled ghawth, is an Arabic term (الغوث) meaning someone who provides help, relief, or intercession. In Islamic mysticism, particularly Sufism, it denotes a saintly figure believed to dispense spiritual aid to individuals and to the world at large. The Ghawth is often described as the intermediary between God and humanity and is associated with the concept of the Qutb, the “Pole” or central axis of the spiritual world for a given era.

Etymologically, ghawth derives from a root meaning aid or support. In Sufi discourse, the Ghawth may be a living saint who holds a high station above other saints (wali), or in some traditions a revered figure connected to a lineage. The identification of a living or deceased Ghawth varies by order and era; some lineages hold that a new Ghawth emerges when the previous one passes.

In practice, devotees may visit shrines, recite prayers, or study the teachings attributed to the Ghawth, seeking blessing and mercy. The title Ghaus-e-Azam ("Ghawth the Great") is widely associated with Abdul Qadir Gilani, founder of the Qadiriyya order, and is venerated in many parts of the Muslim world.

The concept has a central place in Sufi cosmology but is not universally accepted across all Islamic schools. Some scholars criticize the intercessionist view of saints, while others defend it as a legitimate expression of devotion and reliance on divine mercy.