The Sufi Lineage & Our Spiritual Leader
A Light for Our Times
The Unbroken Chain of Light (Silsila)
Sufism is not a path of abstract theories learned from books. It is a living science of the soul, a sacred knowledge transmitted from one heart to another through an unbroken chain of masters known as the Silsila. This "golden chain" is the very backbone of a Sufi order, ensuring that its teachings, practices, and spiritual grace (barakah) are authentic, potent, and trace directly back to the ultimate source of all spiritual light: the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
This living connection is the seeker's guarantee. It ensures that the guidance they receive is not based on personal opinion but is the inherited wisdom of countless saints and enlightened masters who have successfully traversed the path themselves. To take the hand of a true Sheikh is to connect oneself to this entire chain of luminous souls, receiving their collective support on the journey home to God.
The Qadriya Fazliya order is a major branch of the illustrious Qadiriyya Tariqa, one of the oldest and most widespread Sufi orders in the world. It derives its name and immense spiritual power from the "Sultan of the Saints," Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) of Baghdad, whose teachings and grace have illuminated the hearts of millions for nearly a millennium.
Our specific branch, the "Fazliya," traces its spiritual authority through the great 19th-century master, Hafiz Muhammad Fazal-ud-Din, and his successors, including the revered saint, Peer Syed Barkat Ali Shah. This lineage is a river of divine mercy, flowing directly from the ocean of Prophetic knowledge, through the heart of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, and down through generations of saints to the present day.
In every era, the Silsila is embodied by a living master who serves as the authorized guide for that time. Today, the Sajjada Nasheen (hereditary successor) and spiritual leader of the Darbar-e-Aliya Qadriya Fazliya is Syed Ishfaq Mohy Uddin Shah.
As the current link in this sacred chain, he is more than a teacher; he is a spiritual doctor, a guide, and a living embodiment of the prophetic character. His mission is to transmit the timeless message of love, inner purification, and selfless service in a way that resonates with the challenges of modern life. He is a bridge between the profound spiritual heritage of the past and the pressing needs of the present.
"The true Sheikh connects you not to himself, but to the source from which he draws. He is a window, not the view."
Through his discourses, his personal example, and the spiritual energy that flows through him, he helps seekers to polish the mirror of their own hearts, guiding them away from the darkness of ego and towards the light of their true, divine potential.