The word Silsila literally means a chain. In sufi terminology, sisila means one's spiritual genealogy from one's spiritual guide (sheikh/murshid) to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam).

One enters into a silsila when one takes Bai'ah (Pledge of allegiance) upon the hands of a Kaamil Sheikh (perfect spiritual guide) whose spiritual genealogy links him to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam), and is a recipient of the faiz (spiritual Blessings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam).

This tradition is since the era of the Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam), and is also mentioned in the Holy Quran. Verily Those who do Bai'ah (pledge to remain steadfast on the principles of Islam on your hand (Prophet Muhammad) they in reality are pledging their Bai'ah to Allah.

The hand of Allah is above their hands. (S.48.V.10). The sahaaba regularly did Bai'ah on the hands of the Hoy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) with the specific intention of receiving faiz and renewing their pledge to Islam.

This became an established sunnah. After the demise of the Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) the most senior sahaaba who were renowned for their piety, knowledge and closeness to Rasullulah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) assumed this role.

Sayyiduna Ali (radiallahu anhu) is a leading figure in this field and the other leading figure is Sayyiduna Abu bakr Siddiq (radiallahu anhu), from whom flows the Naqshbandia Silsila.

Origin of the Chishtia Silsila Chisht is a well known town in Khurasan where some leading saints set up a khanqah (spiritual centre) for spiritual training. Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami is the first saint to be known as Chishti. When he arrived at the Khanqah of Sheikh Mamshaad Ali Deenwari, the sheikh asked him his name.

When Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami gave his name, the sheikh predicted: From today people will refer to you as Abu Ishaq Chishti. People in and around Chisht will receive spiritual guidance from you. All those who enter your silsila will be called Chishti till the day of Qayaamah.

The most famous Chishti saint is Khwaja Muinudeen Chishti who lies buried in Ajmer in India. It is from him that the chishti silsila in South Africa flows. The specific branch of our silsila is the Nizaami branch, which flows from Khwaja Nizamudeen Awlia of Delhi, India.

The patriarch of the Chishti Habibi silsila is Hazrat Sayed Khwaja Habib Ali Shah who lies buried in Hyderabad, India. His most senior Khalifa (spiritual successor) Hazrat Shah Goolam Muhammad Soofie Siddiqi Habibi brought this chishti habibi silsila when he arrived in South Africa in 1895 to spread the message of Islam.

We now quote the spiritual genealogy of the Chishti Habibi Silsila in South Africa.