In the sufi environment of medieval period, some mystics initiated movements based on a radical interpretation of sufi ideals. Many scorned the 'khanqah' culture and observed extreme forms of asceticism. They were known as:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Qalandars and Malangs
Option (1) Qalandars and Malangs — Correct. Some mystics initiated movements based on a radical interpretation of sufi ideals; many scorned the khanqah, took to mendicancy and observed extreme forms of asceticism. They were known by different names – Qalandars, Madaris, Malangs, Haidaris, etc.
Option (2) Khojas and Khaliphas — Incorrect. The Khojahs were a branch of the Ismailis (a Shi‘a sect), and a khalifa was the successor appointed by a sufi master. Neither term names the radical ascetics.
Option (3) Pir and Murshid — Incorrect. Pir and murshid are Persian names for the teaching master who controlled the khanqah, the very institution the radical mystics scorned.
Option (4) Ba-sharia and Murid — Incorrect. The ba-shari‘a sufis complied with the shari‘a, unlike the radical mystics, who were called be-shari‘a; murids were the disciples a master enrolled in the khanqah.
NCERT (2026-27): “6.2 Outside the khanqah … Some mystics initiated movements based on a radical interpretation of sufi ideals. Many scorned the khanqah and took to mendicancy and observed celibacy. They ignored rituals and observed extreme forms of asceticism. They were known by different names – Qalandars, Madaris, Malangs, Haidaris, etc. Because of their deliberate defiance of the shari‘a they were often referred to as be-shari‘a, in contrast to the ba-shari… 6.1 Khanqahs and silsilas … Institutionally, the sufis began to organise communities around the hospice or khanqah (Persian) controlled by a teaching master known as shaikh (in Arabic), pir or murshid (in Persian). He enrolled disciples (murids) and appointed a successor (khalifa).… 5.2 The popular practice of Islam … For example, the Khojahs, a branch of the Ismailis (a Shi‘a sect), developed new modes of communication, disseminating ideas derived from the Qur’an through indigenous literary genres.…” |