Qutub (Sufism)

:"This article is about a Sufi term. For other uses, see Qutb, a disambiguation page."

Quṭub or Kutb ( _ar. قطب) is a Muslim Sufi word for the highest form of master. In Arabic it literally means "pivot, hub, or axis." The Qutub is the "shaykh" who provides a focus for spiritual teachings. [Ahmed, Nazeer. "Islam in Global History: From the Death of Prophet Muhammed to the First World War", Xlibris Corporation, ISBN 0-7388-5966-4] Other terms include "Pir" and "Sarkar".

According to the "Institute of Ismaili Studies" (Ismailism is a branch of the Shīˤa sect of Islam), "In mystical literature, such as the writings of al–Tirmidhi, Abd al–Razzaq and Ibn al–‘Arabi (d. 1240), (Qutub or Qutb) refers to the most perfect human being (al–insan al–kamil) who is thought to be the universal leader of all saints, to mediate between the divine and the human and whose presence is deemed necessary for the existence of the world." [ [http://www.iis.ac.uk/glossary_list.asp?f=l&t=q&l=en A glossary of terms, The Institute of Ismaili Studies] ]

The term quṭub was used by Meher Baba in reference to the five perfect masters: Sai Baba of Shirdi, Upasni Maharaj, Hazrat Babajan, Hazrat Tajuddin Baba and Narayan Maharaj. [Kalchuri, Bhau: "Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher, The Biography of the Avatar of the Age, Meher Baba", "Manifestation, Inc." 1986. p. 944]

The state of a quṭub is "quṭubiyyah". ["God Speaks", Meher Baba, Dodd Meade, 1955, 2nd Ed. p.315]

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