Naqshbandi Order

Naqshbandi order
الطريقة النقشبندية
al-Ṭarīqa al-Naqshbandīyya
Shrine of the order's founder Baha' al-Din Naqshband in Uzbekistan
AbbreviationNaqshbandīyya
TypeSufi order
ClassificationSunni Islam
RegionCentral Asia, Indian sub-continent, Middle East
FounderBaha' al-Din Naqshband
Origin14th century
Timurid Empire

Naqshbandi (Persian: نقشبندیه) is a major Sufi order within Sunni Islam, named after its 14th-century founder, Baha' al-Din Naqshband. Practitioners, known as Naqshbandis, trace their spiritual lineage (silsila) directly to the Prophet Muhammad through the first caliph, Abu Bakr, via Ja'far al-Sadiq. The Naqshbandi order is distinct for its strict adherence to Sharia (Islamic law) and silent dhikr practices adopted from earlier Central Asian masters.