Analyzing the Development of the Chishti Silsilah in Delhi: A Case Analysis of the Role Played by Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya

In the early medieval period, Delhi emerged as the nerve-centre of Islam. With the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate, the city came to be regarded as a safe haven for not only the rulers and the nobility but also the scholars and men of piety. Gradually, Delhi became a focal point of Sufism. The most prominent silsilah in Delhi was the Chishti silsilah and the most popular Sufi saint was Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya. This paper aims to analyze the rise and development of the Chishti silsilah and the role played by Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya in popularizing Sufism in the city.