Origin from 1960
The Azeemi Sufi order, known in Urdu as Silsila Azeemia, is a Sufi spiritual order in Pakistan founded by Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya, also known as Qalandar Baba Auliya, who lived from 1898 to 1979. The order was officially established in July 1960 in Karachi, and after Barkhiya's death in January 1979 leadership passed to his disciple Shamsuddin Azeemi, who led until his own death in February 2025, when Waqar Yousuf Azeemi, a trained disciple of both predecessors, became the order's third head. Members commemorate Qalandar Baba Auliya's death anniversary each 27 January with a pilgrimage to his tomb in Karachi's Surjani Town, and followers are present not only in Pakistan but also in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Europe, the United States, Canada, Russia and Turkey, with more than 100 Azeemi centers operating internationally.
Facts
Status
Status TodayLiving tradition, practised today 1 Classification
Kind of order ApostolateSpiritual Direction and Dhikr 2 Who may join Origins
Origin Period FounderMuhammad Azeem Barkhiya 1 Practice
Liturgical Language Belief
Defining Doctrinal PositionAn interior path (tasawwuf) pursued within the schools of law 2 Organisation
OrdinationAuthority conferred by initiation rather than by ordination 2 Connections
Belongs to Tradition
Governed By Polity
Source New World Encyclopedia: Sufism
Rooted In
Uses Liturgical Language
Sources
1. Silsila Azeemiyya - Wikipedia
Infobox, founder
Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya
Article text
The Silsila Azeemia was officially established in July 1960 (1380 AH) in Karachi, Pakistan.
Introduction, kind of order
The Azeemi Sufi Order, known in Urdu as Silsila Azeemia (سلسلہ عظيمیہ), is a well-known Sufi spiritual order in Pakistan, The founder of this spiritual order is Muhammad Azeem Barkhiya (1898-1979), also known as Qalandar Baba Auliya.
View the Source2. Islamic Mysticism: A Short History
Alexander Knysh, Brill- Defining Doctrinal Position: An interior path (tasawwuf) pursued within the schools of law
- Ordination: Authority conferred by initiation rather than by ordination
- Liturgical Language: Classical Arabic
- Apostolate: Spiritual Direction and Dhikr
- Who may join: Open to All Genders
New World Encyclopedia: Sufism
New World EncyclopediaGoverned By Polity: Silsila (The Chain of Spiritual Descent), Sufism article, Sufi orders and their chains of transmissionQuote, Governed By Polity: Silsila (The Chain of Spiritual Descent), Sufism article, Sufi orders and their chains of transmission
Almost all traditional Sufi orders trace their "chains of transmission" back to the Prophet via his cousin and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib (except the Naqshbandi order which traces its origin to caliph Abu Bakr ).
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