Nimatullahi
Encyclopedia
The Ni'matullāhī or Ne'matollāhī (also spelled as "Nimatollahi", "Nematollahi" or "Ni'matallahi) is a Sufi order (or tariqa) originating in Iran. According to Moojan Momen, the number of Ni'matullāhī in Iran in 1980 was estimated to be between 50,000 and 350,000. Following the emigration of Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh and other dervishes after the 1979 Iranian Revolution
, the tariqa has attracted numerous followers outside Iran
, mostly in Europe
, West Africa
and North America
, although the first khaniqa outside of Iran was formed in San Francisco, California, United States in 1975, a few years before the revolution in Iran.
), who settled in and is buried in Mahan
, Kerman Province, Iran, where his tomb is still an important pilgrimage site. Shah Ni'matallahi was a disciple of the Qadiri sufi 'Abdallah Yafi'i: a chain of succession of masters (silsilah
) has been claimed that extends back to Maruf Karkhi
. Originally a Sunni order, the Ni'matullahi became Shia in the 16th century C.E. with the general conversion of Iran
. The order has four main sub-orders;
The last two, like many Qadiri orders, emphasise a way founded upon strict observance of sharia
law.
Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh took the lead of the Ni'matullahi Order in 1953 upon the death of his predecessor Munis 'Ali Shad Dhu al-Riyastain. Dr.Nurbakhsh undertook a major expansion of the order in Iran. In the 1970s visitiors from the United States
joined the order while in Iran. In 1974 Dr. Nurbakhsh went to the United States and decided that there was a need to establish regular khaniqas there. In 1979 Dr.Nurbakhsh left Iran to flee the repressive government that did not appreciate alternate religious authorities. He lived in the United States until he moved to England in 1983. By the early 1990s there were nine Ni'matullahi khaniqas in the United States. The ones in the East Coast such as Boston, New York and Washington were almost completely attended by Americans, while the ones in California were about half American and half Iranian, with members coming from diverse religious backgrounds, not restricted to Shi'i Islam.
Today, the Order has expanded to places such as Mexico, Russia, Western Africa, and Spain.
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, the tariqa has attracted numerous followers outside Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, mostly in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, although the first khaniqa outside of Iran was formed in San Francisco, California, United States in 1975, a few years before the revolution in Iran.
History
The order is named after its 14th century CE founder Shah Nimatullah (Nur ad-Din Ni'matullah WaliWali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
), who settled in and is buried in Mahan
Mahan
Mahan may refer to:*Mahan confederacy, chiefdoms in ancient Korea*Mahan, Iran, a city in Kerman province*Mahan District, an administrative subdivision of Kerman Province*Iranian male first name*Mahan Air, an airline based in Kerman province...
, Kerman Province, Iran, where his tomb is still an important pilgrimage site. Shah Ni'matallahi was a disciple of the Qadiri sufi 'Abdallah Yafi'i: a chain of succession of masters (silsilah
Silsilah
Silsila is an Arabic word meaning chain, often used in various senses of lineage. In particular, it may be translated as " order" or "genealogy". It is derived from the notion of apostolic succession.- Historical importance :...
) has been claimed that extends back to Maruf Karkhi
Maruf Karkhi
Maruf Karkhi , known also by his full name Abu Mahfuz Maruf Ibn Firuz al-Karkhi, was a Sufi Saint who is a pivotal figure in Sufism. He came from a Christian background and the story of his conversion to Islam is one of the most famous in Islamic lore....
. Originally a Sunni order, the Ni'matullahi became Shia in the 16th century C.E. with the general conversion of Iran
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
. The order has four main sub-orders;
- The Khaniqahi Ni'matullahi or Dhu'r-riyasateyn (Munis 'Ali Shah) Ni'matullahiya, known in the West due to its former shaykh, Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh.
- The Safialishahi, named after Sheikh Safi 'Ali Shah Isfahani (d. 1316AH/1899C.E.).
- The Khanekhah Maleknia Naseralishah, named after its Sheikh Pir Malikniya, known as Nasir Ali Shah (d.1998 C.E.).
- The Gonabadi or Bonyad Erfan Gonabadi, centered in Iran in the city of Gonabad, whose primary 20th century shaykh was Sultan Husayn Tabandah and the present qotb being Dr.Nur Ali Tabandah "Majzoub Ali Shah" residing in Tehran.
The last two, like many Qadiri orders, emphasise a way founded upon strict observance of sharia
Sharia
Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...
law.
Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh took the lead of the Ni'matullahi Order in 1953 upon the death of his predecessor Munis 'Ali Shad Dhu al-Riyastain. Dr.Nurbakhsh undertook a major expansion of the order in Iran. In the 1970s visitiors from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
joined the order while in Iran. In 1974 Dr. Nurbakhsh went to the United States and decided that there was a need to establish regular khaniqas there. In 1979 Dr.Nurbakhsh left Iran to flee the repressive government that did not appreciate alternate religious authorities. He lived in the United States until he moved to England in 1983. By the early 1990s there were nine Ni'matullahi khaniqas in the United States. The ones in the East Coast such as Boston, New York and Washington were almost completely attended by Americans, while the ones in California were about half American and half Iranian, with members coming from diverse religious backgrounds, not restricted to Shi'i Islam.
Today, the Order has expanded to places such as Mexico, Russia, Western Africa, and Spain.