Life and the religious thought of Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth of Shattari Silsilah

Abstract

The Shattari silsila of Sufism made its inroad into India from the late 15th century under the leadership its founder Shaikh Siraj al-din Abdullah Shattar. However, the order became popular among the masses of the Indian subcontinent under the charismatic leadership of Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth of Gwalior. He spread the ideal of shattari’s into the region of Gujrat Malwa, and Deccan. Probably Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth was the only Sufi saints who tried to understand the ideals of Hindu Yogis. Unlike the popular Chisti saints of the day, the Shaikh did participate in the political affairs of the States. It was by his help Babur was able to secure the fort of Gwalior. The Shaikh maintained a cordial relation with both emperors Humayun and Akbar, however, Akbar’s inclination towards the teaching of Shaikh Salim Chisti made the shaikh withdraw from the Mughal imperial capital Agra to Gwalior. The Shaikh was as pious as humble, as Mullah Badauni noted that the Shaikh made no distinction between the masses and nobles. Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth was one of the forerunners in the science of exorcism. This paper aims to shed light on various aspects of the teaching of Shaikh Muhammad Ghawth and his relationship with the ruling class of the day.