The world’s most iconic Sufi shrines

Sufi shrines

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The shrine of one of Sufism's most revered
figures, Nizamuddin Auliya, and his favourite
disciple, Amir Khusrau, is a Delhi landmark. It
is surrounded by hole-in-the-wall eateries serving
up delicious kababs and biryani, stalls selling
flowers and chadars, and shops selling ittars, skull
caps, prayer beads and more.

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Housing the maqbara (tomb) of Khwaja
Moinuddin Chishti, who founded the Chishti order
of Sufism in the subcontinent, this 13th-century
dargah is one of Rajasthan's top tourist
attractions. Built by Mughal emperor Humayun,
the dargah is made of marble and features an
ornate golden finial atop its dome.

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The historic city of Sehwan Sharif in Sindh houses
the shrine of the 13th-century saint immortalised
in the popular qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.
The pilgrimage site, whose dhamaal celebration
is a must-do, is also much loved by Hindu devotees,
who called the saint Jhule Lal.

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This site in Konya is the final resting place of one
of the world's most loved poets, Jalaluddin
Muhammad Rumi. The 13th-century site was
transformed into a museum in the 1920s, and now
features displays such as musical instruments,
ancient prayer rugs and a Quran so tiny, its maker
is said to have gone blind.

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Located in the city of Turkestan, this UNESCO
World Heritage site was commissioned by Timur
in 1389 to honour Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a Sufi
mystic, poet and philosopher. The dome,
featuring lovely green glazed tiles with gold work,
is the largest extant brick dome in Central
Asia (18.2m in diameter).

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Cheikh Amadou Bamba, who founded the
Mouride Brotherhood movement of Sufism, also
led a peaceful struggle against French colonial
rule. Built in the 1920s to honour his
contribution to Senegalese culture, this mosque
is one of African Islam's most holy sites.

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Shah Jalal was a major driving force behind the
spread of Islam in then-unified Bengal. Located in
Sylhet, his brocade-encased tomb is part of a
gorgeous complex that includes a hillside
graveyard and a pond with catfish, who are said to
be avatars of the black magicians of a Hindu king
whom Shah Jalal defeated in 1303.

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Located in Alexandria, this mosque houses a
shrine to Spain-born scholar and teacher, Abbas
al-Mursi, who lived here for over 40 years and
spread his teachings across the region. The
mosque interiors are all marble and teak, with
Quranic verses inscribed in the minbar in gold.

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Sufi shrines

The world’s most iconic

BY Samira Sood

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi

Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan

The historic city of Sehwan Sharif in Sindh houses
the shrine of the 13th-century saint immortalised
in the popular qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.
The pilgrimage site, whose dhamaal celebration
is a must-do, is also much loved by Hindu devotees,
who called the saint Jhule Lal.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
shrine, Pakistan

Mevlana Museum, Turkey

Located in the city of Turkestan, this UNESCO
World Heritage site was commissioned by Timur
in 1389 to honour Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a Sufi
mystic, poet and philosopher. The dome,
featuring lovely green glazed tiles with gold work,
is the largest extant brick dome in Central
Asia (18.2m in diameter).

Shrine of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi,
Kazakhstan

Cheikh Amadou Bamba, who founded the
Mouride Brotherhood movement of Sufism, also
led a peaceful struggle against French colonial
rule. Built in the 1920s to honour his
contribution to Senegalese culture, this mosque
is one of African Islam's most holy sites.

Great Mosque of Touba, Senegal

Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar,
Bangladesh

Located in Alexandria, this mosque houses a
shrine to Spain-born scholar and teacher, Abbas
al-Mursi, who lived here for over 40 years and
spread his teachings across the region. The
mosque interiors are all marble and teak, with
Quranic verses inscribed in the minbar in gold.

Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi
Mosque, Egypt

FOr more such articles

Photo: Joel Filipe/ Unsplash

Sufi shrines

The world’s most iconic

BY Samira Sood

Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi

Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan

The historic city of Sehwan Sharif in Sindh houses the shrine of the 13th-century saint immortalised in the popular qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Qalandar. The pilgrimage site, whose dhamaal celebration is a must-do, is also much loved by Hindu devotees, who called the saint Jhule Lal.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, Pakistan

Mevlana Museum, Turkey

Located in the city of Turkestan, this UNESCO World Heritage site was commissioned by Timur in 1389 to honour Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a Sufi mystic, poet and philosopher. The dome, featuring lovely green glazed tiles with gold work, is the largest extant brick dome in Central Asia (18.2m in diameter).

Shrine of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Kazakhstan

Cheikh Amadou Bamba, who founded the Mouride Brotherhood movement of Sufism, also led a peaceful struggle against French colonial rule. Built in the 1920s to honour his contribution to Senegalese culture, this mosque is one of African Islam's most holy sites.

Great Mosque of Touba, Senegal

Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar, Bangladesh

Located in Alexandria, this mosque houses a shrine to Spain-born scholar and teacher, Abbas al-Mursi, who lived here for over 40 years and spread his teachings across the region. The mosque interiors are all marble and teak, with Quranic verses inscribed in the minbar in gold.

Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi Mosque, Egypt

FOr more such articles

Photo: Joel Filipe/ Unsplash

The historic city of Sehwan Sharif in Sindh houses
the shrine of the 13th-century saint immortalised
in the popular qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Qalandar.
The pilgrimage site, whose dhamaal celebration
is a must-do, is also much loved by Hindu devotees,
who called the saint Jhule Lal.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
shrine, Pakistan

Located in the city of Turkestan, this UNESCO
World Heritage site was commissioned by Timur
in 1389 to honour Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a Sufi
mystic, poet and philosopher. The dome,
featuring lovely green glazed tiles with gold work,
is the largest extant brick dome in Central
Asia (18.2m in diameter).

Shrine of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi,
Kazakhstan

Cheikh Amadou Bamba, who founded the
Mouride Brotherhood movement of Sufism, also
led a peaceful struggle against French colonial
rule. Built in the 1920s to honour his
contribution to Senegalese culture, this mosque
is one of African Islam's most holy sites.

Hazrat Shah Jalal Mazar,
Bangladesh

Located in Alexandria, this mosque houses a
shrine to Spain-born scholar and teacher, Abbas
al-Mursi, who lived here for over 40 years and
spread his teachings across the region. The
mosque interiors are all marble and teak, with
Quranic verses inscribed in the minbar in gold.

Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi
Mosque, Egypt