Outside the khanqah

Some Sufis rejected the structured, institutional life of the khanqah. They believed that true closeness to God required breaking away from all social and religious conventions, not just following the path laid out by the shari‘a.

These mystics launched their own movements based on a radical interpretation of Sufi ideals. They openly scorned the khanqah, choosing instead a life of wandering mendicancy. Many took vows of celibacy, ignored all rituals, and practised extreme forms of asceticism — far beyond what mainstream Sufis considered necessary.

Because they deliberately defied the shari‘a, they were known as be-shari‘a Sufis. This set them apart from the ba-shari‘a Sufis, who complied with Islamic law. The be-shari‘a mystics were known by several names, including:

• Qalandars
• Madaris
• Malangs
• Haidaris …