The Impact of Zakariya Multani’s Sufism on the Expansion of Islam and Sufism in the Indian Subcontinent

Meghdadian, Adel; Akhtar, Kolsoum

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Volume 1, Issue 60 (winter 2025)

islamhistory 2025, 1(60): 50-54

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The Impact of Zakariya Multani’s Sufism on the Expansion of Islam and Sufism in the Indian Subcontinent

Adel Meghdadian ^*

, Kolsoum Akhtar

Abstract: (2 Views)

Zakariya Multani (1170–1268) was a prominent Sufi mystic and the founder of the Multani branch of the Suhrawardiyya Sufi order in the Indian subcontinent. He played a pivotal role in the expansion of Islam and Sufism throughout the region. Employing an analytical-historical approach, this article examines the influence of his Sufi beliefs and teachings in the Indian subcontinent. The findings indicate that Zakariya’s success was rooted in five principal factors: his Hashimite and Quraysh lineage, which contributed to his legitimacy and popularity; his wealth and astute economic outlook, which he employed to promote public welfare and protect Multan against the Mongols; his distinctive educational system and school, which integrated religious sciences with the skills of commerce and oratory; his ethical political engagement and relations with rulers without becoming implicated in oppression; and, finally, his mystical character and spiritual self-discipline, which endowed him with wilāyī tasarruf (spiritual authority and influence) over people’s hearts. By establishing a khanqah (Sufi lodge) and a religious school in Multan, Zakariya developed a coherent network of missionary-merchants whose activities extended to more distant regions. The influence of his teachings was so extensive that Multan came to be known as Madinat al-Awliya (“the City of Saints”), while his followers continued to propagate Islam for centuries. Drawing on library-based sources and Sufi biographical and hagiographical works (tadhkiras), this study demonstrates that the key to Zakariya’s success lay in his capacity for “institution-building” and in his development of a model of socially engaged Sufism firmly grounded in adherence to the Sharia. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Bourdieu and Stark, this study historically investigates the factors underlying the expansion of Multani Sufism and interprets its success as the outcome of a form of religious marketing.

Keywords: Sufism, Zakariya Multani, Suhrawardiyya, Indian subcontinent, Multan

Full-Text [PDF 673 kb] (1 Downloads)

Type of Study: case report | Subject: Special
Received: 2025/09/1 | Accepted: 2025/12/16

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RefWorks

Meghdadian A, Akhtar K. The Impact of Zakariya Multani’s Sufism on the Expansion of Islam and Sufism in the Indian Subcontinent. islamhistory 2025; 1 (60) :50-54
URL: http://journal.isihistory.ir/article-1-1575-en.html

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