The Life, Activities and Views of Khoja Bahauddin Nakshband: Return to Gijduvani and Improvement of Nakshbandiya Teaching

Abstract

Bahauddin Nakshband improved the teaching of Khoja Abdulkhaliq Gijduvani in the 12th century and made it one of the most influential teachings. Khoja Bahauddin Nakshband re-introduced the zikri khafi, which was introduced by Gijduvani but abandoned by the following pillars for the favor of zikri jahri. He also added three new rashha (wuqufi zamoniy, wuqufi abadiy, wuqufi qalbiy), to the existing eight rashha developed by Yusuf Hamadani and Abdulkhaliq Gijduvani, and increased the number of rashha to eleven. Bahauddin Nakshband denounced solitude and isolation, encouraged people to be professionally active, while not forgetting God for a moment. This article seeks to provide more accurate information about the life, activities and the doctrine of Khoja Bahauddin Nakshband, and draws new conclusions based on historical sources and contemporary research.