The 5 largest Sufi orders in the world
This article presents five of the most influential Sufi tariqas in the contemporary Muslim world. Each tariqa has several local branches, but all share the same goal: tazkiya — the purification of the soul.
1. Tijānīyya (التجانية)
Origin: Aḥmad al-Tijānī (1737–1815), Algeria then Morocco.
Area of influence: West Africa, North Africa, diaspora.
Specificity: emphasis on Salat Fatih, collective discipline, and communal spiritual teaching. Major influence in Senegal, Morocco, and Asia.
2. Qādiriyya (القادرية)
Origin: ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī (1077–1166), Baghdad.
Area of influence: Arab world, Africa, South Asia.
Specificity: one of the oldest tariqas, known for its doctrinal tolerance and the richness of its mystical heritage.
3. Shādhiliyya (الشاذلية)
Origin: Abū al-Ḥasan ash-Shādhilī (13th century), Morocco then Egypt.
Area of influence: Egypt, Maghreb, East Africa.
Specificity: integration of spirituality into active life, balance between dhikr and social responsibility.
4. Mouridiyya (المريدية)
Origin: Cheikh Amadou Bamba (1853–1927), Senegal.
Area of influence: Senegal, Mauritania, West African diaspora.
Specificity: valorization of work ( khidma ), patience and service to God through the community. Exemplary social and economic organization (e.g., the city of Touba).
5. Naqshbandiyya (نقشبندية)
Origin: Bahāʾ ad-Dīn Naqshband (14th century), Central Asia.
Area of influence: Turkey, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent.
Specificity: silent dhikr ( khafī dhikr ), inner discipline and rigorous initiatory transmission.
This overview is not an absolute ranking: it offers a general view of the most widespread tariqas, each bearing its own unique light. Sufism, in all its forms, remains a school of the heart — madrasat al-qalb .
