Q.What were the similarities and differences between the be-shari‘a and ba-shari‘a sufi traditions?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The be-shari‘a and ba-shari‘a Sufi traditions differed fundamentally in their relationship with the Islamic Shari‘a, but both shared a common goal of mystical union with God and a critique of empty religious formalism.
To understand these two streams within Sufism, you first need to see the big picture. By the medieval period, Sufism had become a powerful force across the Islamic world, including the Indian subcontinent. But not all Sufis walked the same path. The central question that divided them was this: how strictly must a mystic follow the external code of Islamic law (the Shari‘a) in order to reach God?
The ba-shari‘a Sufis (literally, "those with the Shari‘a") answered that the law was essential. They believed that the inner, spiritual journey (tariqa) could only be built on the solid foundation of outward religious observance. For them, the Shari‘a was the boat, and the mystical path was the voyage — you could not have one without the other. Most of the famous Sufi orders (silsilas) that emerged in India, like the Chishtis, Suhrawardis, and Qadiris, belonged to this tradition. Their khanqahs (hospices) were centres where disciples prayed, fasted, and observed all the rituals of Islam while also engaging in meditation, dhikr (remembrance of God), and service to humanity.
The be-shari‘a Sufis (literally, "those without the Shari‘a") took a radically different view. They argued that the external law was a mere shell, a preliminary stage meant for ordinary believers. For the true mystic who had already achieved union with God, they claimed, such rules became irrelevant. This put them in direct conflict with the orthodox ulema (religious scholars). Be-shari‘a Sufis often rejected mosques, formal prayers, and pilgrimage. Instead, they emphasised extreme asceticism, wandering, and practices that sometimes shocked mainstream society — like the Qalandars who shaved their hair, eyebrows, and beards, or the Madaris who wore iron chains and lived naked.
The NCERT textbook specifically mentions the Qalandars and Madaris as examples of be-shari‘a Sufis. These groups deliberately flouted social and religious norms as a form of spiritual rebellion, believing that the "true" path lay beyond all conventions. …
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