Which of the following terms given below is not related to Sufism?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Mlechchha
Option (1) Qalandar — Related to Sufism. Qalandars, like Madaris, Malangs and Haidaris, were sufi mystics who gave a radical meaning to sufi ideals: they scorned the khanqah, lived by begging, observed celibacy and ignored rituals.
Option (2) Khanqah — Related to Sufism. The khanqah was the hospice around which the sufis organised their communities, under a teaching master known as shaikh, pir or murshid.
Option (3) Ziyarat — Related to Sufism. Ziyarat is the pilgrimage to the tomb-shrine (dargah) of a sufi saint, made especially on his death anniversary or urs.
Option (4) Mlechchha — Not related to Sufism. Mlechchha was a general term in Sanskrit texts for migrant communities such as the Turks and Afghans, showing that they did not observe the norms of caste society and spoke languages not derived from Sanskrit.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.3 Names for communities … Sometimes, terms used for other peoples were applied to the new migrants. For instance, the Turks and Afghans were referred to as Shakas (Chapters 2 and 3) and Yavanas (a term used for Greeks). A more general term for these migrant communities was mlechchha, indicating that they did not observe the norms of caste society and spoke languages that were not derived from Sanskrit. Such terms sometimes had a derogatory connotation, but they rarely denoted a distinct religious community of Muslims in opposition to Hindus.… …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). He established rules for spiritual conduct and interaction between inmates as well as between laypersons and the master.… 6.1 Khanqahs and silsilas … When the shaikh died, his tomb-shrine (dargah, a Persian term meaning court) became the centre of devotion for his followers. This encouraged the practice of pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave, particularly on his death anniversary or urs (or marriage, signifying the union of his soul with God).… 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.…” |