RAS question
The Sufi order that emphasized strict adherence to Sharia (Islamic law) was:
Correct answer: (D) Naqshbandi order.
The Naqshbandi order was the Sufi order known for strict adherence to Sharia, or Islamic law.
Explanation
The answer is the Naqshbandi order because its defining features included strong adherence to Sharia and silent dhikr. Encyclopedia.com describes the Naqshbandi order as a major Sufi order whose distinctive characteristics included a chain traced to Abu Bakr, silent invocation of God, and strong adherence to Islamic law. In India, Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi, also known as Mujaddid Alf-i-Sani, reformed the order, opposed Akbar's syncretic tendencies, and stressed Sharia compliance. The same orthodox profile explains why the order rejected sama, or musical audition, and why it is treated in medieval Indian history as the most conservative of the major Sufi orders.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The Suhrawardi order was not defined by strong Sharia adherence and silent dhikr.
- (B) The Qadiri order is not linked to Ahmad Sirhindi's reformist stress on Sharia compliance in India.
- (C) The Chishti order does not match the orthodox profile of rejecting sama and stressing strict Sharia compliance.
Concept
This tests medieval India's Sufi orders, especially how different silsilas related to Islamic law, devotional practice, and Mughal-era politics. RAS often asks such distinctions because they connect Bhakti-Sufi history with broader debates on orthodoxy, syncretism, and state power.