What is Tariqa?
The meaning of "Tariqa" is the Muslim spiritual path towards direct knowledge of God or Reality. In the 9th and 10th centuries, tariqa meant the spiritual path of individual Sufis (mystics). After the 12th century, as communities of followers gathered around Shaykhs (teachers), tariqa came to designate the Shaykh’s entire ritual system, which was followed by the community or mystic order. Eventually tariqa came to mean the order itself.
The Naqshbandiyya Way
There are 42 Sufi Tariqas (ways). The Naqshbandiyya Tariqa is one of the major Sufi paths leading the seeker to become a true servant of Allah, and to reach His eternal pleasure. Naqshbandiyya means to “tie the Naqsh very well.” The Naqsh is the perfect engraving of Allah’s Name in the heart of the follower. Naqsh which means “engraving” and suggests engraving the name of Allah in the heart, and band which means “bond” and indicates the link between the individual and his Creator.
Naqshbandiyya is a major Tariqa (way) of Sunni Islam. The meaning of "Tariqa" is the Muslim spiritual path towards direct knowledge of God or Reality. What distinguishes the Naqshbandi school from other Sufi orders is the fact that it takes its foundations and principles from the teachings and example of the six bright stars in the firmament of the Prophet (s). These great figures were: Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Salman al-Farisi, Ja'far as-Sadiq, Bayazid Tayfur al- Bistami, 'Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani, and Muhammad Baha’uddin Uwaysi al- Bukhari, known as Shah Naqshband–the eponymous Imam of the tariqa.
The Naqshbandiyya Aliyya Sufi Order traces back a lineage of Sufi masters - this lineage is referred to as The Naqshbandi Golden Chain.
Naqshbandi Masters of the Golden Chain
1. Prophet Muhammad ÿ
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq ²
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr ق
6. Tayfur Bayazid al-Bastami ق
7. Abu al-Hassan al-Kharaqani ق
11. Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwani ق
13. Mahmood Anjir al-Faghnawi ق
16. Sayyid Amir Kulal ق
17. Muhammad Baha'uddin Naqshband ق
20. Khwaja al-Ahrari ق
The Chain of Succession of Sufi Masters in the Naqshbandiyya Aliyya Sufi Order
23. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki ق
25. Mujaddid Alf ath-Thani Ahmad as-Sirhindi ق
26. Muhammad Ma'sum al-Farouqi as-Sirhindi ق
27. Muhammad Sayfuddin al-Farouqi as-Sirhindi ق
28. Sayyid Nur Muhammad al-Badawani ق
29. Shams-ud-Dīn Habīb Allāh Jan Janan ق
30. Shah Abdullah ad-Dahlawi ق
32. Ismail Muhammad ash-Shirwani ق
33. Khas Muhammad ash-Shirwani ق
34. Muhammad Effendi al-Yaraghi ق
35. Jamaluddin al-Goumouki al-Husayni ق
36. Abu Ahmad as-Sughuri ق
37. Abu Muhammad al-Madani ق
38. Sharafuddin al-Daghestani ق
39. Abdullah al-Fa'iz ad-Daghestani ق
40. Muhammad Nazim Adil Al-Haqqani ق
41. Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani ق
Calling for Madad (Spiritual Support) Through the Naqshbandi Masters:
Grandshaykh Shaykh `AbdAllah ad-Daghestani advised this fashion of calling on the Prophet ﷺ and the Shaykhs of the Order when asking their support and intercession. This formulation was transmitted to him by his Shaykh who received it through the Golden Chain, each Shaykh passing it one to another.
Ya Sayyid as-Sadat wa Nur al-Mawjoodaat, ya Man huwa al-malja’u liman massahu daymun wa ghammun wa alam. Ya aqrabal-wasa’ili ila-Allahi ta’ala wa ya aqwal-mustanad, attawasalu ila janabika-l-azham bi-hadhihi-s-saadaati, wa ahlillah, wa Ahli Baitika-l-Kiram, li-dafi durrin la yudfau illa bi wasitatik, wa rafi daymin la yurfau illa bi-dalaalatik, ya Sayyidi wa Mawlay, Ya Rasool Allah, Ya Rahmatan lil-alameen. Then recite these names in this order:
1. Nabi
2. Siddiq
3. Salman
4. Qassim
5. Ja’far
6. Tayfur
7. Abul Hasan
8. Abu Ali
9. Yusuf
10. Abul Abbas
11. Abdul Khaliq
12. Arif
13. Mahmud
14. Ali
15. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi
16. Sayyid Amir Kulali
17. Khwaja Baha’uddin Naqshband
18. Ala’uddin
19. Yaqub
20. Ubaidullah
21. Muhammad Zahid
22. Darwish Muhammad
23. Khwaja al-Amkanaki
24. Muhammad al-Baqi
25. Ahmad al-Faruqi
26. Muhammad Ma’sum
27. Sayfuddin
28. Nur Muhammad
29. Habibullah
30. Abdullah
31. Shaykh Khalid
32. Shaykh Ismail
33. Khas Muhammad
34. Shaykh Muhammad Effendi al-Yaraghi
35. Sayyid Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Hussaini
36. Abu Ahmad as-Sughuri
37. Abu Muhammad al-Madani
38. Shaykh Sharafuddin ad-Daghestani
39.Shaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani
40. Shaykh Muhammad Nazim al-Haqqani
41. Shaykh Muhammad Adil Ar-Rabbani
Late Shaykh of Tariqa - The 40th Master
Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani
Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani (April 21, 1922 – May 7, 2014; Sha’ban 23, 1340 AH – Rajab 8, 1435 AH), born Mehmet Nâzim Adil and also known as Muhammed Nazim El-Hakkani, was a Turkish Cypriot Sufi master and the spiritual leader of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Order. Renowned for his deep spirituality and global influence, he was affectionately known by many honorifics as Sultan-ul-Awliya (The King of the Saints),
Born in Larnaca, Cyprus, he carried the title “Kibrisi” (the Cypriot). His lineage traces back to two great Sufi masters: the 11th-century saint Abdul Qadir Jilani and the 13th-century mystic Jalaluddin Rumi. Both his maternal and paternal grandfathers were shaykhs in the Qadiri and Mevlevi orders, shaping his spiritual heritage from an early age.
Current Shaykh of Tariqa - The 41st Master
Shaykh Muhammad Adil
Shaykh Muhammad Mehmet Adil was born on 29 March 1957 in Damascus, Syria. He is the oldest son of Shaykh Nazim Adil and of Hajja Amina Adil Sultan Hanim. As Mawlana Shaykh Nazim’s successor, Shaykh Muhammad is now the 41st Shaykh of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandiyya Aliyya Tariqa.
Shaykh Muhammed Adil spent his youth in Syria’s capital, Damascus, under the guidance of both Shaykh Abdullah Fa’iz ad-Daghestani (QS) and Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil, training in the manner and discipline of the Naqshbandi Tariqa. He received his madrasa Islamic education from the Ahle Sunnah scholars of Damascus...
Representative in the USA & Canada
Shaykh Ali Elsayed
Shaykh Ali Elsayed is the appointed representative of Shaykh Muhammad Adil in the United States and Canada, and he is also a member of the Canadian Council of Imams. He teaches Islamic spirituality on behalf of his shaykh, and conducts weekly dhikr circles. Shaykh Ali is also an author, an accomplished nasheed artist, vocalist, and writer of devotional poetry - having produced multiple Arabic and English Nasheed Albums...
