A Mission Statement
The Zahuri Sufi Website exists to promote the aims and ideals of
Truth, Love, and Humanism whose source is the Infinite Mercy of
All-mighty God, whose roots can be found in the life and universal
teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and his beloved caliph
Hazrat Ali; and that were taught and propagated by all the great
Sufi saints such as Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti and
by the Saints of the Chishti and Gudri Shahi Orders. Also as by
many true Prophets and holy men and women throughout
mankind's history.
Specifically the site aims to continue the work of Hazrat Zahurul
Hassan Sharib Gudri Shah Baba in extending the benefits of this
message in the West.
Some Terms Explained
Truth finds many forms of expression and is the monopoly of no
individual, religion, group or ideology, but is singular and
indivisible. Truth is nonnegotiable and will not be denied. When
we refer to truths in the plural we refer to manifestations or
expressions of the singular Truth.
Love and Humanism
When it comes to Love the pen breaks - as the saint and poet
Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi says. A manifestation of Love is
'Humanism' - this does not refer to any specific philosophical
system or to a world view that denies the Ultimate Reality, but to a
concern with the development of individual men and women and
with the society within which they live. Man is regarded as created
in the image of his Maker and to have been given the potential for
development beyond his lower nature and guidance towards that
end. Universal Brotherhood is one of the distinguishing features of
humanism. Social service and practical concern to show kindness
to others are two of its expressions.
Sufis and Sufi Orders
True Sufis are those who live only to serve the purpose of
All-mighty God (who has no need of them but they have need of
Him). To this end some of them have established orders which
have developed particular methods to purify individuals from the
contamination of their lower natures and this present world.
The Chishti Order originates from Hazrat Abu Ishaq Chishti of
Syria. It is widely prevalent in the Indo-Pak subcontinent where its
greatest exponents include Khawaja Muin Uddin Hasan Chishti
(the successor of Khawaja Uthman Harooni), Hazrat Qutubuddin
Bakhtiar Kaki, Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar, Hazrat
Nizamuddin Aulia, and Hazrat Nasiruddin Chirag Dehlawi.
The Gudri Shahi Order was founded in Ajmer, India well over a
century ago by Hazrat Saeen Ji Saheb Gudri Shah Baba whose
work was continued by Hazrat Qazi Saheb and by Hazrat Nawob
Saheb; and then from 1970 by Hazrat Zahurul Hassan Sharib.
Since 1996 the Head of the Gudri Shahi Order has been Inaam
Hasan. The Gudri Shah Order is seen as primarily a Chishti order
but has close spiritual connections with the Qadiri (an Order
founded by Hazrat Abdul Qadir Al-Jillani) and Suhrawady orders
(through Hazrat Samauddin Suhrewady).
Sufis are one brotherhood and links with other orders have
inevitably developed and no doubt by the Grace of God will
continue to do so.
The term Zahuri was coined by Zahurmian (as Hazrat Zahurul
Hassan Sharib is affectionately known) on his death bed, and has
been adopted, as a mark of affection and respect, by some of his
closest followers, particularly those who live in the 'west'.