Khanqah

Khānqāh (Arabic: خانقاه) is the Arabized form of the Persian compound noun "Khān-gāh" (Persian: خانگاه) as the place of worship and holding Sufi rituals. There are two views about where the first khanqah was built. Some followed Khwaja Abd Allah Ansari and considered it in Ramla, Palestine and some others accepted Ibn Taymiyya's opinion considering it in Abadan.

After almost three centuries from the beginning of Islam, Sufism was established and officially recognized. Since the early fourth/tenth century, centers special to Sufis were officially built in Khorasan, Fars, Baghdad and other places. Important residents of a khanqah were three groups: shaykh of khanqah, resident Sufis and Sufi travelers. The traditions of a khanqah were many, especially since the fifth/eleventh century and are mentioned in the books of the positions of Sufi shaykhs and the manners of khanqah.

Khanqah and Shah Hamdan mosque in Kashmir

Definition

Khanqah is the Arabized form of the Persian compound noun "Khan-gah" made up of two parts of "khana" (house) and "gah" (place). The term "khanqah" means a house where Sufis, dervishes and shaykhs live and worship. Khanqah is also called "sawmi'a", "ibadatgah", "ribat", "tikiya", "zawiya", "qalandar", "langar", "duwayra" and "jama'at khana". Also, the name of some villages in Iran is Khanqah.

Although khanqah is a new phenomenon and dates back to some centuries after Islam, they say that it has a connection and likeness with Suffa which was the place of gathering and living of poor companions of the Prophet (s) in Medina.

History

Before khanqah emerged, Sufis used other places for worship and practice of ascesis, including caves, cemeteries and mosques. But, when Sufis found a special tradition for themselves, they went out of the official mosques and made mosques special of their own. Shuniziyya mosque in Baghdad is among the oldest proofs the followers of Junayd of Baghdad found. After mosques, ribats (border guard posts) were more appropriate places for the gathering of Sufis.

There are two views about where the first khanqah was built. Some followed Khwaja Abd Allah Ansari and considered it in Ramla, Palestine and some others accepted Ibn Taymiyya's opinion considering it in Abadan.

After almost three centuries from the beginning of Islam, Sufism was established and officially recognized. Since the early fourth/tenth century, centers special to Sufis were officially built in Khorasan, Fars, Baghdad and other places. Also, after fifth/eleventh century, when Sufism was spread, special centers for women were formed as well.

The share of khorasan in Sufism was more than other Islamic regions. Even great Sufis of Baghdad and other places were born and grown up in Khorasan. Karramiyya, an order of Sufis were influential in the first khanqahs of Khorasan. Also, more than other cities of Khorasan, Sufis paid more attention to Nishapur and building khanqah there. Abu Sa'id Abu l-khayr (d. 440/1048) built the first official khanqah which had a plan. Some considered him the founder of khanqah system.

Residents and the Building

The most important residents of khanqah are three groups:

1. Shaykh of khanqah (murid, pir) who is a model for wayfarers and supervise the manners of murids (disciples).
2. Present Sufis who were always residents of khanqah.
3. Sufi travelers who stayed in khanqahs. Also, sometimes travelers who were not Sufis lived in khanqahs for a while, and had to observe its manners. Sufi travelers usually tried to enter khanqah in the evening, otherwise they stayed the night in a mosque or elsewhere and in the next morning went to khanqah at sunrise.

After spreading of khanqah traditions, different places were made in khanqahs, the most important ones of which were: the entrance of travelers, rooms for residents, halls for group rituals (such as Sama', prayer and worship), preaching place, special place for the murshid and the manager of khanqah, eating place, the center for teaching and library, kitchen, supply storage, bathroom, place for nursing patients, stables, surrounding lands and gardens.

Sources of khanqah's income were different and numerous including: nadhrs, politicians and rich people's donations, loaning, income from endowments and begging. However, about the life of Sufis, the two issues of trust in God and poverty should also be emphasized.

Traditions

Traditions of khanqah were many after the fifth/eleventh century and are mentioned in the books of the positions of Sufi shaykhs and the manners of khanqah. A group of these traditions have been held in the structure of khanqahs, such as:

• Majlis-gu'i (speech making): When shaykh of the khanqah or another shaykh sat on a chair or upon the pulpit and spoke for those in the khanqah and other people.

• Sama': Dancing with a rhythmic song which was sometimes included ecstasy and tearing clothes.

• Zawiya-nishini (seclusion): Seclusion and retreating from others lasting from one hour to forty days or more.

• Sufra (food spread): Special manners of food spread and eating in the khanqah.

References

• The material for this article is mainly taken from خانقاهin Farsi WikiShia.