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MYSTICISM OF DARVISHES: DARVISH ORDERS IN INDIA
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The Sayyid families next mentioned are Qādariyā and Rifā'iä particulars of which have been already given in the previous section hereof.
Then come four families. Mashhadi Sayyids were sons of Sayyid Sharaf-ud-din, the son-in-law of Makhdum-e-Jahanian; they are buried at Broach. Tirmizi Sayyids were descendants of Makhdum' Sayyid Yahya, successor of Makhdum-e-Jahanian. Makhdum Sayyid Yahya was buried outside Baroda. Bhaktari Sayyids were descendants of Sayyid Badr Bhaktari, another successor of Makhdum-e-Jahanian. Zaidia Sayyids were followers of Sayyid Usman, surnamed' Sham'-eBurhani', the eldest son of Qutb-e-'Alam.
Then come Idrusia Sayyids sons of Sharif Abu Bakr Idrūs, chief of Hadramaut in Arabia. He was buried in Jhaveri wādā of Ahmedabad. His descendants are found in Broach and Surat to this day.
The remaining two families are Shirazi and Arizi (Uraizi ?)Sayyids.
Readers interested in details of the lives of these saints are referred to Mirat-e-Ahmadi published in G. O. Series, Baroda.
A number of Darvishes belonging to different religious orders introduced into India became influential guides of sovereigns, not only in spiritual but in political affairs as well. During life thay enjoyed popular and royal favour; and after their death their tombs became places of pilgrimage for multitudes of devout Moslems.
“The khānqāh (monastery) exercises extensive influence for good or ill in the religious life of the Moslems of India who have elected to follow a spiritual guide, for the various darvish fraternities touch all classes, excepting those who have been influenced by modern education or extreme Wahhabi teachings.
"The effort to effect union of man's soul with God, which is deemed the highest bliss, is the chief function of the religious orders. Thus Sufism has provided the objective or philosophy of life while it remains for the darvish orders to apply the philosophy to the every day needs of the man in the street."
One who guides a pupil for the purpose is called Murshid, Shaikh or Pir and the pupil Murid. The pupil is a traveller (sālik) on the way tariqah). He is to be guided by the Pir until he has advanced
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