Question

Which one of the following is the correct meaning of ziyarat?
1. Pilgrimate to the tombs of sufi saints
2. The practice of revenue farming
3. The death anniversary of a sufi shaikh
4. A form of Islamic divorce

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Pilgrimate to the tombs of sufi saints

The correct answer is pilgrimage to the tombs of Sufi saints.

• During the Medieval period in India Sufism emerged as a powerful movement.
• Sufis were so-called because of the purity (safa) of their hearts. 
• Unity in God, complete self-surrender, charity, Ibadat, love for mankind, etc. are the main teaching of Sufism.
• Ziyarat means the pilgrimage to the tomb on the death anniversary of the Sufi saint. 
• Its main objective was to seek spiritual grace from the Sufi.
• Music and dance are an important part of Ziyarat.

• Some of the prominent Sufi Shaikhs in India:
  • Data Gunj Bakhsh
  •  Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti
  • Shaikh Qutbuddin
  • Bakhtiyar Kaki
  • Fariduddin Gunj-i Shakar
  • Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya