1.9.3 - Famous Sufi Ways

However, although Sufism started with the beginning of Islam as we mentioned above, the various Sufi methods, or Ways: traiqas, known today were shaped only at a later time parallel to the period of Shaykh Muhyiddin. One of the most important Sufi methods is the Qadiriyah, attributed to Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (471/1078-561/1165) and al-Rifaiyah, attributed to Ahmad al-Rifai (512/1118-578/1182) and al-Shadhiliyah, attributed to Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili (593/1196-656/1258), and al-Naqshbandiyah, attributed to Muhammad Bahaa al-Din al-Naqshbandi (718/1318-791/1389), in addition to al-Dusukiyah, al-Mawlawiyah, al-Badawihay, and many other Ways attributed to the great shaykhs in the history of Sufism.

Some Later Prominent Sufis

After Shaykh Muhyiddin Ibn al-Arabi, many famous Shaykhs of Sufism came to be known in history, including: Shaykh Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili, mentioned above, and Shaykh Abdul Ghani al-Nabulsi (1050/1641-1142/1731), who was greatly influenced by Shaykh Muhyiddin and wrote many books about him. We can also mention Abu al-Huda al-Sayyadi al-Rifai (1266/1850-1328/1909) and Ahmad al-Tijani (1148/1735-1230/1815), amongst many other famous contemporary Sufis.