Naqshbandi Golden Chain

The Naqshbandi Golden Chain is a lineage of spiritual masters of the Naqshbandi Sufi order related to each other going back to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is a chain in which each scholar was given ijazat or permission of Zikr of Allah, by his own teacher or pir to transmit the knowledge he had received to the next generation of students in the traditional manner of Sufi transmission. The Golden Chain, as different from all other Sufi lineages,is unique in that it stems from the first caliph of Muhammad, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. From Abu Bakr, the secret of this transmission was then passed to Salman the Persian. From Salman the Persian, the transmission passed to Al-Qassim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. From Al-Qassim the transmission passed to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq. From the Imam as-Sadiq, the transmission passed to later shaykhs.

Today, there are many Naqshbandi shaykhs each with his own chain of spiritual transmission.

Naqshbandi Tahiri Golden Chain

Main article: Naqshbandi Tahiri Golden Chain

1. Muhammad (570/571 - 632 CE)
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq
3. Salman al-Farsi
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr
5. Jafar as-Sadiq
6. Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bistami
7. Abul-Hassan Kharaqani
8. Abul-Qasim Gurgani
9. Abu Ali Farmadi
10. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani
11. Abdul Khaliq al-Gajadwani
12. Arif ar-Riwakri
13. Khwaja Mahmoud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi
14. Ali ar-Ramitani
15. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi
16. Sayyad Amir Kulal
17. Imam at-Tariqah Muhammad Baha'uddin Shah Naqshband
18. Ala'uddin al-Bukhari al-cAttar
19. Yaqub al-Charkhi
20. Ubaydullah al-Ahrar
21. Muhammad Zahid Wakhshi
22. Darwish Muhammad
23. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki
24. Muhammad Baqi Billah
25. Mujaddid Alf ath-Thani Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi
26. Muhammad Masum Faruqi
27. Muhammad Sayfuddin Faruqi Mujaddidi
28. Hafiz Muhammad Mohsin Dehlavi
29. Sayyid Nur Muhammad Badawani
30. Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan
31. Abdullah Dehlavi, alias Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi
32. Hafiz Abu Saeed Rampuri
33. Shah Ahmed Saeed Faruqi
34. Haji Dost Muhammad Qandhari
35. Khwaja Muhammad Usman Damani
36. Sayyad Laal Shah Hamdani
37. Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi
38. Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi
39. Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar Naqshbandi, alias Pir Mitha
40. Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Abbasi, alias Sohna Saeen
41. Khwaja Muhammad Tahir Abbasi Bakhshi, alias Sajjan Saeen

Naqshbandi Ghafori Golden Chain

Main article: Naqshbandi Ghafori Golden Chain

1. Muhammad (570/571 - 632 CE)
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq
3. Salman al-Farsi
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr
5. Jafar as-Sadiq
6. Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bistami
7. Abul-Hassan Kharaqani
8. Abul-Qasim Gurgani
9. Abu Ali Farmadi
10. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani
11. Abdul Khaliq al-Gajadwani
12. Arif ar-Riwakri
13. Khwaja Mahmoud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi
14. Ali ar-Ramitani
15. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi
16. Sayyad Amir Kulal
17. Imam at-Tariqah Muhammad Baha'uddin Shah Naqshband
18. Ala'uddin al-Bukhari al-cAttar
19. Yaqub al-Charkhi
20. Ubaydullah al-Ahrar
21. Muhammad Zahid Wakhshi
22. Darwish Muhammad
23. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki
24. Muhammad Baqi Billah
25. Mujaddid Alf ath-Thani Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi
26. Muhammad Masum Faruqi
27. Muhammad Sayfuddin Faruqi Mujaddidi
28. Hafiz Muhammad Mohsin Dehlavi
29. Sayyid Nur Muhammad Badawani
30. Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan
31. Abdullah Dehlavi, alias Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi
32. Hafiz Abu Saeed Ahmed
33. Shah Ahmed Saeed Faruqi
34. Haji Dost Muhammad Qandhari
35. Khwaja Muhammad Usman Damani
36. Khwaja Sirajuddin Naqshbandi
37. Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi
38. Khwaja Abdul Ghafor Abbasi,
39. Sheikh Abdul Haqq Abbasi,
40. Sheikh Lutf Allah Abbasi,

Naqshbandi Haqqani Golden Chain

Main article: Naqshbandi-Haqqani Golden Chain

1. Muhammad (570/571 - 632 CE)
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, (r)
3. Salman al-Farsi, (r)
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr
5. Jafar as-Sadiq, (a)
6. Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bistami, (r),
7. Abul Hassan Ali al-Kharqani, (q)
8. Abu Ali al-Farmadi, (q)
9. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani, (q)
10. Abul Abbas, al-Khidr,
11. Abdul Khaliq al-Gajadwani, (q)
12. Arif ar-Riwakri, (q)
13. Khwaja Mahmoud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi, (q)
14. Ali ar-Ramitani, (q)
15. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi, (q)
16. as-Sayyid Amir Kulal, (q)
17. Imam at-Tariqah Muhammad Baha'uddin Shah Naqshband, (q)
18. Ala'uddin al-Bukhari al-cAttar, (q)
19. Yaqub al-Charkhi, (q)
20. Ubaydullah al-Ahrar, (q)
21. Muhammad az-Zahid, (q)
22. Darwish Muhammad, (q)
23. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki, (q)
24. Muhammad al-Baqi bi-l-Lah, (q)
25. Mujaddid Alf ath-Thani Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi, (q)
26. Muhammad al-Masum, (q)
27. Muhammad Sayfuddin al-Faruqi al-Mujaddidi, (q)
28. as-Sayyid Nur Muhammad al-Badawani, (q)
29. Shamsuddin Habib Allah, (q)
30. Abdullah ad-Dahlawi, alias Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (q)
31. Shaykh Khalid al-Baghdadi, (q)
32. Shaykh Ismail Muhammad ash-Shirwani, (q)
33. Shaykh Khas Muhammad Shirwani, (q)
34. Shaykh Muhammad Effendi al-Yaraghi, (q)
35. Sayyid Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni, (q)
36. Shaykh Abu Ahmad as-Sughuri, (q)
37. Shaykh Abu Muhammad al-Madani, (q)
38. Shaykh Sharafuddin Daghestani, (q)
39. Shaykh Abdullah al-Fa'iz ad-Daghestani, (q)
40. Mawlana Sheikh Nazim Al-Haqqani (q)

Naqshbandia Mujaddidia Khalidia Mahmudia Golden Chain in Dagestan

Naqshbandi silsilah beginning from Muhammad is passed in chain till Ismail Kurdumeri (who is No31 in chain). After Ismail Kurdumeri the chain has split in two as he had two Ma'zuns, i.e. Muhammad Salih Shirwani (No32) and Khas Muhammad Shirwani. From Khas Muhammad Shirwani the chain goes to Muhammad Yaraghi ad-Daghestani, from him to Jamaluddin Kumuki ad-Daghestani, who had three Ma'zuns, i.e. Mamadibir ar-Rochi ad-Daghestani, Imam Shamil ad-Daghestani (both had no Ma'zun), and `Abdurrahman as-Sughuri ad-Daghestani. According to Shuaib Afandi Bagini ad-Daghestani, `Abdurrahman as-Sughuri had two ma'zuns, i.e. Muhammad Haji `Obodi ad-Daghestani and Ilyas Tsudakhari ad-Daghestani (d1312 AH). Both had no ma'zuns, and thus the split chain coming from Khas Muhammad Shirwani has ended here. However, there were and still are many people including Sharafuddin ad-Daghestani, Abdullah Fa'izi ad-Daghestani and others claiming that they somehow received Naqshbandi permission in their dream, or by special spiritual experience (rawhani) etc. All these claims and questionable permissions are not recognized and rejected in Daghestan, as permission cannot be given by individuals who themselves had no permission, in dreams or by rawhani or without witnesses. There are strict requirements as to who gives the permission, how it is given and received. The chain from Muhammad Salih Shirwani (No32) on the other hand, is continuous and goes all the way to Mahmud Afandi, Hasan Hilmi Afandi and the rest of the Daghestani Ma'zuns (see below).

1. Imam ul-Ambiyaa Sayyidna Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abdul Muttalib, d 11AH, buried Madinah SA (570/571 - 632 CE)
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, radiya-l-Lahu`anh d 13AH, buried Madinah, SA
3. Salman al-Farsi, radiya-l-Lahu`anh d 35AH buried Madaa'in, SA.
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr d 107AH buried Madinah SA.
5. Jafar as-Sadiq, alayhi-s-salam (after which moves to Iran) d 148AH buried Madinah SA.
6. Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bistami Bayazid Bastami, radiya-l-Lahu canh d 261AH buried Bistaam, Iran (804 - 874 CE).
7. Abul Hassan Ali al-Kharqani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 425AH buried Khurqaan, Iran.
8. Abu Ali al-Farmadi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (after which moves to Turkmenistan) d 477AH buried Tous, Khorasan, Iran.
9. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 535AH buried Bayram-Ali, Mary, Turkmenistan.
10. Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 575AH buried Ghajdawan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
11. Arif ar-Riwkari, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 616AH buried Reogar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
12. Khwaja Mahmoud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 715AH buried Waabakni, Mawralnahar.
13. Ali ar-Ramitani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 715AH buried Khwaarizm, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
14. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 755AH buried Samaas, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
15. as-Sayyid Amir Kulal, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 772AH buried Saukhaar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
16. Muhammad Baha'uddin Shah Naqshband Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 791AH buried Qasr-e-Aarifan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan (1318–1389 CE).
17. Ala'uddin al-Bukhari al-`Attar, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah buried Jafaaniyan, Mawranahar, Uzbekistan.
18. Yaqub al-Charkhi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 851AH buried Charkh, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
19. Ubaydullah al-Ahrar, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 895AH buried Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
20. Muhammad az-Zahid as-Samarqandi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 936AH buried Wakhsh, Malk Hasaar
21. Darwish Muhammad, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 970AH buried Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
22. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (after which moves to India) d 1008AH buried Akang, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
23. Muhammad al-Baqi bi-l-Lah (Mohhammad Baqi Billah Berang), qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 1012AH buried Delhi, India.
24. Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi Ahmad Sirhindi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 1034AH buried Sarhand, India (1564–1624 CE)
25. Muhammad al-Masum, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 1096AH buried Sarhand, India.
26. Muhammad Sayfuddin al-Faruqi al-Mujaddidi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah d 1096AH buried Sarhand, India
27. as-Sayyid Nur Muhammad al-Badawani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
28. Shamsuddin Habib Allah Jan Janan al-Mazhar, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
29. Abdullah ad-Dahlawi, Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (after which moves to Iraq / Damascus)
30. Muhammad Khalid Ziyaudin al-Baghdadi, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1779 - 1826 CE)
31. Ismail al-Kurdumeri, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (after which moves to Caucasus)
32. Muhammad Salih Shirwani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
33. Ibrahim Kudkashani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
34. Haji Yunus Afandi Lalali ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah ( - 1277 AH)
35. Mahmud Afandi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
36. Jabrail Afandi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
37. Abdurrahman Haji Asawi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
38. Hasan Hilmi Afandi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1852-1937 CE)
39. Muhammad Ya`sub ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
40. Humayd Afandi Handiqi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1868-1952 CE)
41. Husenil Muhammad Afandi `Uribi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1862-1967 CE)
42. Muhammad Arif bin Hasan Hilmi al-Kahibi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1900-1977 CE)
43. Muhammad Sa`adu Hajj Afandi Batlukhi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1915-1995 CE)
44. `Abdul Hamid Afandi al-Inkhi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
45. Hamzat Afandi Tlaqi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
46. Muhammad Afandi Khuchadi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
47. Badrudin Afandi al-Botlikhi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah
48. Said Afandi al-Chirkawi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1937- CE)
49. `Abdujalil Afandi ad-Daghestani, qaddasa-l-Lahu sirrah (1949 - CE)

References

• Classical Islam and the Naqshbandi Sufi Tradition, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani, Islamic Supreme Council of America (June 2004), ISBN 1930409230.

External links

• Articles and Video of Shaykh Said Afandi al-Chirkawi
• Website of Sheikh Nazim
• Media Library and Live Broadcast of the Haqqani Golden Chain
• World Listing of Haqqani Golden Chain Associates
• Community Website of the Haqqani Fellowship
• Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order
• Sheikh Nazim's Naqshbandi Journal - Contains articles by Nazim al-Qubrusi