The Textual Formation of Oral Teachings in Early Chishti Sufism
Document Type : pajoohesh
Authors
Abstract
In the late VI c. AH, when most of the great Sufi orders began to crystalize in different parts of the Islamic world, the Chishti order first became established in India. The Chishtyya originated in the town of Chishti in Afghanistan. The oral teachings of the Chishtis, as revealed in the “oral discourses (malfūzāt)” literature, took a canonical textual form. The transition from oral to written form was reflected in diverse literary styles adapted to different audiences. That oral discourse (malfūzāt) literature spread was mainly because of its success in explaining the Sufi teachings. In the following paper, the author firstly analyzes the transition of mystical teachings from oral to written form. Then, he provides some information about the expansion of the basis of the Chishti Malfūzāt literature. With respect to this, he is going to point out Nezām al-Din Ouliyā’s speeches, and compare them with speeches of CherāghDehli and Borhān al-Din, two of his followers. Therefore, analyzing these texts (the original Malfūzāt) helps understand more about the expansion of Malfūzāt literature.
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