Qayyum (Sufism)
A Qayyum (pronounced Qayyoom, Arabic/Urdu: قیوم) is a special spiritual position in Sufism, especially in the Naqshbandi tradition. The term was first coined by Ahmed Sirhindi, who was the first qayyum. According to him, a qayyum is a dignitary upon whom the whole order of existence depends. The word is derived from Al-Qayyum, a name of God in Islam that has the same meaning. According to the doctrine, only one qayyum is alive at any particular time.
The first four qayyums
The first qayyum was Ahmed Sirhindi (d. 1034 AH). The second was Ahmed Sirhindi's third son, Khwaja Muhammad Masum Faruqi (d.1099 AH), who was followed by his son Khwaja Muhammad Hujjat-ullah Naqshband (d.1115 AH). The fourth qayyum was Khwaja Muhammad Zubair (d.1152 AH), the grandson of Khwaja Naqshband.[1]
Other claimed Qayyums
Several other influential Sufis have claimed the title of qayyum.
Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan Shaheed
Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan (d. 1195 AH) was an important saint of the Naqshbandi Sufi order in the 18th century. He was also a renowned poet of modern Urdu. Shah Waliullah, an Islamic scholar contemporary with Mirza Mazhar, is quoted as saying, "As far as I can see, and I can see the seven continents, there is no saint today like Mirza Mazhar."
Shah Muhammad Safiullah Faruqi (d.1222 AH)
Muhammad Safiullah Faruqi was the son of Ghulam Masoom Faruqi Mujaddidi. He died in Dhu al-Qi'da in 1222 AH on his return journey from the hajj.[2]
Shah Ghulam Ali Dehlavi
Ghulam Ali Dehlavi (d.1240 AH) is also claimed to be the mujaddid, a person supposed to restore Islam every century, for the 13th century of the Islamic calendar.[3]
Shah Abu Saeed Faruqi Mujaddidi
Abu Saeed Faruqi Mujaddidi (d.1250 AH) was predicted to be the next qayyum by Ghulam Ali Dehlavi, his own shaykh.[3]
Hazrat Ahmed Miya Sarkar Naqshbandi Mujadidi Ganj Muradabadi
Hazrat Ahmed Miya Sarkar Ganj Muradabadi(rehmatullah alaih) The son Of Gaus-E-Zaman Hazrat Sarkar Fazle Rehma Ganj Muradabadi(rehmatullah alaih) who was the biggest master of Naqshbandi golden chain was also Qayyum of his time.
Qayyum today
Today, numerous shaykhs belonging to the Naqshbandi Sufi order claim or are claimed by others to be the current qayyum.
