Amir Khusrau and Sufism

• 03 Mar 2025

For Prelims: Amir Khusrau, Sufism, Khayal, Hindustani music, Bhakti Movement, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.         

For Mains: Contributions of Amir Khusrau. Spread of Sufism and its impacts in India. 

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

The Prime Minister praised Amir Khusrau and Sufism, highlighting it as India’s pluralistic heritage. 

Who is Amir Khusrau? 

• About: He was a 13^th century Sufi poet and musician who was bestowed with the title of Tuti-yi-Hind, the ‘Parrot of India’.  
  • His real name was Abu'l Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrau and was born in Patiali, Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. 

• Contributions: He made lasting contributions to Indian classical music, Sufi qawwali, and Persian literature.  
  • Language: He is credited for developing Hindavi, a precursor to modern Hindi and Urdu. 
    • His literary works blended Persian, Arabic, and Indian traditions, enriching Indian linguistic heritage. 
    • His literary works include Divans (poetry collections), Mathnawis (narrative poetry), and treatises. 
  • Music: He is credited with creating new ragas and developing musical forms like Khayal (a form of classical Hindustani music), and Tarana (a rhythmic, fast-paced vocal composition),  
    • It is said that Amir Khusrau was one of the first expounders of the art of making Ghazal and Qawwali (devotional Sufi music traditions). 
    • He is believed to have invented musical instruments such as the sitar and tabla. 
• Role in the Delhi Sultanate: He served at least five Sultans i.e., Muiz ud din Qaiqabad, Jalaluddin Khalji, Alauddin Khalji, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, and Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, and many other powerful patrons over five decades. 
  • Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji honored him with the title of Amir in recognition of his literary excellence. 
• Sufi Influence: Amir Khusrau was the beloved disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya and drew spiritual inspiration from him, shaping his poetry and music. 

What is Sufism? 

• About: Sufism is the mystical and spiritual dimension of Islam, focusing on inner purification, love, and direct connection with God (Allah).  
  • It emerged in the 7th and 10th centuries CE against the rigidity of institutionalised religion and emphasizes devotion, self-discipline, and renunciation of materialism to attain spiritual enlightenment.  
  • It ran parallel to the spiritual Bhakti movement in Hindu tradition emphasizing devotion (bhakti), love, and inner realization over ritualistic practices. 
• Core Practices: Sufis organized themselves into communities centered around khanqahs (hospices), led by a master (shaikh or pir).  
  • Sufis established silsilas (Orders of Sufi ) linking disciples to the God, and Sufi tombs (dargahs) became pilgrimage sites for spiritual blessings. 
  • Sufis practice self-mortification, zikr (remembrance of God), sama (musical recitals), and Fana-o-Baqa (dissolution of self for union with God) to induce mystical states of ecstasy.  
• Sufism in India: Al-Hujwiri was the earliest prominent Sufi in India, settled in Lahore, and authored Kashf-ul Mahjub.  
  • The 13^th and 14^th centuries marked the growth of Sufism, spreading messages of compassion and love for all, known as sulh e-kul. 
• Sufi Orders in India: By the 12th century, the Sufis were organised in 12 orders or Silsilas. Major Sufi Orders are: 
  • Chishti Order: It is the most influential Sufi order in India and was founded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.  
    • Key persons associated with it were Akbar (follower of Salim Chishti), Qutbuddin Bhaktiyar Kaki, Baba Farid, Nizamuddin Auliya, and Amir Khusrau. 
  • Suhrawardi Order: It was founded by Bahauddin Zakaria in Multan and embraced luxury and state support. 
    • It combined religious knowledge with mysticism, stressing personal experience and inner purification for divine knowledge. 
  • Naqshbandi Order: It emphasised the primacy of Shariat and opposed innovations (biddat) and rejected Sufi traditions like musical assemblies (sama) and pilgrimages to saints’ tombs. 
    • Mughal emperor Aurangzeb followed the Naqshbandi Order. 
  • Rishi Order (Kashmir): It was established by Shaikh Nuruddin Wali and flourished in Kashmir during the 15th and 16th centuries.. 
    • It draws inspiration from the popular Shaivite bhakti tradition and being rooted in the socio-cultural milieu of the region. 
• Impact: 
  • Religious: Emphasized personal devotion, tawhid (oneness of God), and equality, fostering Hindu-Muslim coexistence.  
    • The Chishti order welcomed all faiths. 
  • Social: Attracted marginalized groups, weakened caste hierarchies, and established khanqahs and madrasas as learning centers. 
  • Cultural: Influenced Indian music, notably qawwali, and enriched vernacular literature through poets like Bulleh Shah and Sultan Bahu. 
  • Political: Inspired Sulh-i-Kul, shaping Akbar’s religious tolerance policies. Rulers patronized Sufis to reinforce authority and manage religious diversity 

Similarities Between Bhakti and Sufi Movements 

Aspect	Bhakti Movement	Sufi Movement
Core Belief	Devotion to a personal God (Saguna/Nirguna Bhakti)	Love for God (Ishq-e-Haqiqi) and inner purification
Rejection of Rituals	Opposed caste-based discrimination and idol worship	Provided alternative to orthodox Islamic legalism.
Emphasis on Love and Devotion	Bhakti as a path to liberation (Moksha)	Love as a way to unite with God (Fana – merging with God)
Simple Language for Masses	Used vernacular languages (Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, etc.)	Composed poetry in Hindavi, Persian, and Urdu
Music and Poetry	Bhajans and Kirtans (Mirabai, Tulsidas)	Qawwalis and Sufi poetry (Amir Khusrau, Rumi)

Conclusion 

Amir Khusrau’s contributions to literature, music, and Sufism reflect India’s pluralistic and syncretic traditions. His works bridged Persian and Indian cultures, while Sufism, alongside the Bhakti movement, fostered social harmony. These traditions played a crucial role in shaping India’s composite cultural and religious ethos. 

Drishti Mains Question: 

Discuss the contributions of sufism in shaping India’s cultural and social heritage.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Prelims 

Q. Consider the following statements: (2019) 

1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 only 

(c) Both 1 and 2  

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Ans: (d)

Q. With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? (2012) 

1. Meditation and control of breath.
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place.
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

(a) 1 and 2 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d)

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Mains 

Q. Evaluate the nature of the Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (2021)

Q. Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment. (2014)