7 pirs Bukhara

 In the XIV-XV centuries in Asia, many currents and orders of Sufism were formed, but the Sufi community of Maverannahr gathered their diversity into a single whole.

  "Hadjagan" which means "hadja" - "lord" in Persian, is an independent Islamic movement that originated in Bukhara. Abd al-Khaliku al-Gijduwani, a native of Bukhara, is its founder and spiritual parent. Later on the movement is modernized and accepted by the “Naqshbandiya order" - Bahauddin Naqshband, wins the supremacy and becomes the basis of spiritual life, uniting under its wing many great people of that time.

There are many Sufi abodes on the territory of Uzbekistan, but there is very little knowledge of them. Many centuries have passed since then, great empires have collapsed, life has changed, and mentions of the great men who served the highest truths remained only in the lines of historical textbooks.

Who were these spiritual fathers who contributed so much to the development of religion and society?

They are the famous "Seven pirs of Hadjagan - Naqshbandi", born in the outskirts of Bukhara. Here they spent a great life filled with high aspirations and spiritual values. It is also where their graves are Islamic shrines, places of pilgrimage for a great multitude of Muslims from all over the world.

1. Bahauddin Naqshband

Baha ad-Din Muhammad al-Bukhari, Bahauddin Naqshband (1318-1389), was born into a family of craftsmen, in the village of Qasri-Hinduwan, also known as Shahi Naqshbandi and Hodjai Buzur. This man was one of the spiritual fathers of Sufism and the founder of the Naqshbandiya Sufi order.

2. Ali Ramitani. St. Hadja Azizon

Khoja Ali Ramitani (1195-1321) was born in Ramitan, a large city 20 kilometers from Bukhara, and later lived in the village of Kurgon, mastering and perfecting the craft of weaving. This religious leader was popularly nicknamed Azizon, the Honored Sheikh.

3. Mahmud Anjir Fagnaviy

Mahmud Anjir Faghnavi (his date of birth is unknown, his date of death 1317), was born in the village Fagnaviy, located 20 km from Bukhara. He was a famous Sufi of that time who had unquestioned authority.

4. Muhammad Arif ar-Rivgariy

Khoja Arif ar-Rivgariy (1156 - 1262) was born in Hadja Arif Rivgar, located 38 km from Bukhara. Despite his great recognition during his lifetime and his elevation to the rank of saint, he was a very modest and non-public person.

5. Muhammad Babai Simasi

Khoja Muhammad Babai Simasi (1259-1354) was born in Simas, a small village located 15 kilometers from Bukhara. This Sufi was an ardent follower of the Hadjagan school, who contributed greatly to its development, occupying the fifth link in the chain of Bukhara's holy feasts.

6. Sayyid Amir Kulal

Khoja Sayyid Amir Kulal-Bukhari (1287 - 1370) was born in the village of Sukhor, which is located 11 km from Bukhara, in a family of potters, he lived 92 years. During his life he was called Kalon, which means great. He was a scholar of Hanafi theology, a Sufi murshid, a pir and a spiritual instructor of Bahauddin Naqshbandi. Before his youth he was fond of folk wrestling, kurash, where he also achieved success.

7. Al-Gijduwani.

Khoja Abd al-Khalik Abd al-Djamil Gijduvani (1103-1179) was born in Gijduvan, which is located 52 kilometers from Bukhara. His father was a clergyman, as were his other ancestors. Pir's family came to Maverannahr from Byzantium (Rum). He was a co-confessor of the Hadjagan order, a bright representative of Sufism, who left his invaluable contribution to the development of religion and society.