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Q11 (CDS-I/2003) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh movements Answer Verified

Which one of the following terms was used by the Sufis for the successor nominated by the teacher of particular order or silsilah?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

In the Sufi tradition, the term 'Khalifah' (or Khalifa) refers to the spiritual successor nominated by the teaching master of a particular order or silsilah [1]. The Sufi institutional structure was organized around a hospice known as a khanqah, controlled by a teaching master referred to as a Shaikh, Pir, or Murshid [1]. This master enrolled disciples, known as 'Murids', and formally appointed a 'Khalifah' to carry forward the spiritual lineage and authorize them to impart training to others [1][t1]. While 'Pir' refers to the master himself and 'Murid' to the disciple, 'Wali' is a broader term for a Muslim saint or someone 'near to God' [c2][t7]. The silsilah represents a continuous spiritual chain or genealogy, and the Khalifah ensures the continuity of this link from the master to future generations [1].

Sources

  1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 6.1 Khanqahs and silsilas > p. 153
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