What is Tarikat in Islam?

Islam is a religious trend that interests the whole world. Unfortunately, very often terrorists and bandits use it for their dirty purposes, justifying with the words and messages of Allah the mass killings of people. Therefore, it is now very important to understand what is really Islam and its offshoots. This knowledge can save many souls from ill-considered acts and temptations. It is difficult to deceive the one whose heart, through the will of Allah, is perspicacious. To be closer to the Supreme help various spiritual practices, the most famous of them are the tariqas. In this article we will tell you what a tarataka is and how it arose. And also we will describe in detail the way of spiritual enlightenment, spread in the North Caucasus.

General characteristics of tariqa

Many people are not immediately available to understand what a tarakat is. After all, this term has a very ancient and rich history, which includes many events that have affected the life of the entire Muslim society.

It is impossible to distinguish between such concepts as "Sharia" and "Tarikat". Initially, they were very closely related, because the sharia contains a set of laws and rules that regulate the whole life of the orthodox. Due to this, a Muslim can live in harmony with himself and the Most High every minute of his existence. He thinks, works, eats and does many other things as God pleases. But it's not enough just to follow certain rules, you need to mentally feel your connection with the Almighty every second, and Tarikat can help in this.

If sharia is the foundation of Muslim society, then tarikat is a set of knowledge and practices aimed at purifying the soul. It's only in this way that you can maximize yourself to Allah.

What is Tariqa: the meaning of the term

If you translate this term from Arabic into Russian, the most approximate value will sound like a "path". It is he who leads a person to purification from all worldly and gives an incredible sense of happiness and harmony from rapprochement with the Almighty.

Islamic scholars argue that nothing in this world should displace thoughts of Allah from the human mind. A Muslim can occupy different hands, but his head and heart must always be filled with thoughts and feelings of a different kind. Many theologians remind the devout that it is not enough to perform prayer according to established rules - prayer should always be sincere and without a single hint of worldly affairs and problems.

Of course, this is not easy and is not accessible to every believer, but the tarikat is able to lead a Muslim through a complex path of purification of the soul and heart. He who enters this road, gets rid of bad thoughts, unworthy deeds and unrestrained emotions. People of the tariqa remember every second of Allah, who is also in their hearts. This is the ultimate goal of the faithful, to which every Muslim should strive.

The emergence of tariqa

Today's meaning of the term has not been strengthened at first. If you tried to find out what a Tarikat is, in the 9th century, the very different meaning of this complex religious term would appear before you.

Initially, the tariqah was followed by Sufi communities. They were referred to the esoteric branches of Islam, who preached abstinence, asceticism and spiritual enlightenment by delivering from worldly passions. Many modern Islamic scholars speak of Sufism as a kind of Muslim philosophy, which has a serious impact on the very understanding and significance of Islam.

Tariqats of steel are especially common in the 9th-10th centuries. Followers of Sufism entered the path of spiritual self-knowledge and finding the truth, which became known as the tarikat. This path was accompanied by a combination of practical methods and spiritual exercises that led to the purification and renewal of the soul. The highest pleasure was the achievement of hakikata - the realization of the divine essence in all its manifestations. The followers of Sufism were sure that it was possible to comprehend it only by practical methods and by asceticism.

Development of Tariqa

By the 20th century, the concept of tariqa began to change significantly. This is due to the formation of numerous communities and circles, in which the main importance was acquired by the tandem "teacher-pupil". The latter, the Murid, had to be completely subordinate to his teacher, because he was the only one able to follow the complex path of purification. Over time, such communities were formed throughout the Muslim world, and the tariqas acquired the importance of a school in which the most enlightened murshids (teachers) could be trained.

Until the thirteenth century, the Tarikat becomes more complicated, it grows with different rules and rituals. Murid was to be initiated, and every moment of his life was strictly controlled and clearly regulated. Each of the Tariqahs could have their own spiritual practices, techniques, and exercises. Gradually, Sufism ceased to have the status of a chosen teaching and passed to the masses. Many Muslims took a great interest in it, taking the path of knowing the truth.

Tariqats in the XIII-XV centuries

Over time, schools have acquired a clear hierarchical structure and a special organizational system. Approximately to the XIII century, they began to transform into brotherhoods, where discipline prevailed and secret practices were used. Usually at the head of the brotherhood became one enlightened, and all other members of the community were considered his followers and disciples. The essential difference between the fraternity and the schools of the tariqah was precisely a clear organization and a certain set of methods. If previously Muslims used a wide range of practices to achieve enlightenment, then it was common in the brotherhood to follow the path that had already passed the senior mentor. This was introduced in the rank of mandatory. Most of the techniques were mystical and carefully guarded from prying eyes.

By the fifteenth century, the system of brotherhoods was finally becoming the only version of the Tariqah adopted in Islam. It is interesting that every Muslim should take a tariqa, because this is what Allah wants from a man, according to Islamic scholars. Over time, the "teacher-student" system is forgotten, the tandem "saint-novice" comes to replace it. Each founder of the brotherhood is elevated to the rank of saint and has unlimited power in the brotherhood. As history showed, this is the format most acceptable. After all, many brotherhoods could not survive because of the lack of a clear hierarchy and the use of diverse methods borrowed from other communities.

XV century: a turning point in the history of the Tariqahs

By the fifteenth century, the brotherhood had finally become the only embodiment of the path of enlightenment. In the Muslim world, twelve major brotherhoods took shape that could lead a person to spiritual purification. Subsequently, four more communities were added to them. All of them became the starting point for the formation of various branches. Over time, they became independent tariqats and acquired their followers.

Each of the Tariqah had its own territory of spread and influence. Quite often, several brotherhoods could peacefully exist in one territory. Interestingly, their structure was almost always the same. And the differences were in the techniques and zikre, which is a special prayer, which is accepted to complete the prayer.

Characteristics of the Brotherhoods

By the 17th century, the tariqas had acquired a fairly clear structure, according to which the novice was subordinate not only to the founder of the brotherhood, but also to a greater extent to the internal regulations and regulations. They become predominant on the path to spiritual purification and enlightenment.

The following are the main characteristics of the communities:

• Unconditional submission to the founder of the brotherhood;
• Clear hierarchy;
• Followers were divided into initiates and simple;
• Initiation rituals;
• Tarikat has a special system of exercises, practices and techniques, the implementation of which is regulated by the charter of the brotherhood;
• A special cult of veneration of the burial of saints;
• Ritual of dhikr, uniting all members of the brotherhood.

Classification of Tariqahs

Tariqa is divided into Shiite and Sunni, but in addition, they are all divided into three groups:

• Ayar. This tariqa practices spiritual purification through numerous additional namaz. Prayer is performed up to fifty times a day and must necessarily end with a collective zikr.
• Abrar. This group of Tariqahs is fighting for purity within the brotherhood and spiritual purification of all its members.
• Schuttar. In such communities, special methods of spiritual meditation are practiced, the purpose of which is to achieve the state of religious ecstasy.

We have already said that many of the fraternities have their own region, where they enjoyed and enjoy the greatest influence. In more detail, we decided to consider Nakshbandi - a tarikat, which is very common in Chechnya. Of course, he is not the only one, but still has the most followers here.

Nakshbandi Tarikat: the history of creation

Traditionally it is believed that this brotherhood has its history from the middle of the 14th century. Its founder was Bahauddin Naqshbandi, who partly borrowed some spiritual practices from the tariqa of Yasawiya, combining them with the mystical teachings of other Sufi scholars. As a result, a very special direction turned out, which quickly spread in Turkey, Central Asia and the territory of the modern North Caucasus.

From his earliest childhood, Bahauddin was brought up in the spirit of Sufism, so he was well versed in all his subtleties. Narikbandi's tarikat was based on several principles that followers strictly observed. It is interesting that the gold chain of the Naqshbandi tariqa (line of succession) goes back to the Prophet Muhammad himself and has two branches.

Principles and Basics of Tariqa

First of all, all the followers of Naqshbandi practice silent dhikr, that is, the prayer is pronounced to itself. The founder of the tariqah believed that ostentatious piety does not bring the necessary result, and the ability to concentrate and address the Supreme without words is the right way to purify the soul.

Bahauddin himself formed the first three principles of his brotherhood, his successor supplemented them and brought them to eleven:

• Cherish time and live every moment with profit;
• The quality of dhikr;
• Limiting concentration on zikre;
• Understanding of the closeness of Allah;
• Never look at the taboo and avoid temptation;
• Gradual distance from society, which simultaneously brings to Allah;
• The ability to be among people alone with the Most High;
• The mention of Allah only in the heart;
• Prayer should be pronounced only with thoughts of the Supreme;
• Blocking of extraneous emotions and sensations;
• Constant occupation of spiritual practices.

These rules are observed and to this day without change.

Chechnya: features of the formation of tariqa

When Islamic scholars talk about Chechen Muslim society, the notion of "Vainakh society" is mentioned, which unites numerous tribes and communities.

Who of the Vainakh aulia was the first to distribute the taikat of Naqshbandi in Chechnya, is well known. Just like the names of those who faithfully served the spread of Islam on these lands. Usually the sheikhs and saints came to the political arena exactly when the future of the people was under serious threat. Sheikh Mansur, who came from a simple family living in a mountain village, was the first who brought the Naqshbandi doctrine to Chechnya. First of all, he is perceived as a fighter for freedom, and only then do he remember his religious services to the people of Chechnya.

Tarikat at this time was not yet formed and even after the formation had its own special features inherent in this region. For example, members of the community pay little attention to the graves of saints. They revere the very image of their founder more than the place of his burial. Tarikat Naqshbandi in Chechnya is a special Sufism, which primarily identifies the personalities and achievements of the sheikhs themselves, and the issue of continuity is already secondary to all members of the community.

The question of the tariqah is rather multifaceted, but we tried to present it as simply and clearly as possible. The main thing that every believer should understand is that the path of enlightenment and purification is the main goal and reward of a Muslim.