Zikrism: A Historical Study

Abstract

Zikris are the followers of Hanafi school of thought and are an offshoot of Mahdavis, who are the followers of Saiyyid Mohammad of Jaunpur. He was born in India in Uttar Pradesh. He was the one who claimed to be the Mahdi. He claimed to be Mahdi thrice, but his final confirmatory claim was made in 1499-1500. For Jaunpuri, his mission was to purify Islam from impurities. His movement was popularized as Mahdavi Movement. In India, zikris are called Mahdavis but in Pakistan they are called zikris, and it is due to the fact that the zikiris emphasize on the doctrine of zikr, or utter remembrance of God. In Pakistan, majority of the zikris are residing in southern part of Balochistan, especially in the coastal region. Besides Makran region, zikris are also residing in Karachi, interior Sind, Lasbella, and Wadh in Pakistan as well as Iran and in some of Gulf States. The holiest city for zikris is Turbat (Kech) because when Jaunpuri travelled to Afghanistan, he stayed in Turbat at a mountainous place which was later known as Koh-e-Murad (Ko’ay Murad), i.e. the valley/mountain of wishes. The zikris established their rule in Makran region which lasted almost for a century, from 1628 to 1740. Zikrism flourished under the patronage of Buladai rulers of Balochistan. However, the zikri rule ended when Makran was attacked and conquered by Mir Naseer Khan I, the Khan of Qalat.