This article is a list of Khalifas (successors) of Sufi religious leader Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi. The term Khalifa (Arabic: خليفة ḫalīfah/khalīfah) derives from the Arabic خليفة Khalīfa . Its etymological root word is Arabic: خلف (Khalf) means, behind, relates to someone surviving her or his predecessors. In Sufism, Khalifa (Bengali: খলিফা) means a deputy, caliph, successor or apostle of a Sufi sheikh who is to act as an authorized successor of his Sufi Master/ Pir (Sufism) to lead the Sufi Order (Tariqa).
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Apostle nomination
As the founder of Maizbhanderi Sufi Order Bengali: মাইজভাণ্ডারী তরীকা, the universal Sufi Saint Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi Bengali: আহমদ উল্লাহ মাইজভাণ্ডারী (1826–1906) had millions of followers in South Asia and elsewhere. He appointed hundreds of Khalifa/ Spiritual Sufi Successors to continue his Sufi teachings and thought among society. These successors came from different territories in addition to disciples from different religions. This list also can be said as Khalifa of Ghaus-e-Azam Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi in fact, he is vastly denoted as Ghaus-e-Azam Bengali: গাউছুল আজম by writers in Parisian, Urdu, Bengali and English works. Among Sufi communities he is known as Ghaus-e-Azam in the perception of spiritual hierarchy.
Importance of sobriquet
Some Khalifa remain unidentified because they went to different parts of the region; they wanted to remain anonymous because of self-will and to keep themselves engaged in introspective thought and practices. Some of them became famous by pseudonyms; their original names generally remain unknown, examplease are: Baba Bhanderi (Bengali: বাবা ভাণ্ডারী), Harvangiri (Bengali: হারভাঙ্গীরি), Mandakini (Bengali: মান্দাকিনী), Forhadabadi (Bengali: ফরহাদাবাদী) and Rahe Bhanderi (Bengali: রাহে ভান্ডারী).
Limitation
This list is unable to show neither their seniority nor superiority nor even dignity but names and the place where they born or placed to rest in peace based on available information. It is to note that, none of them are alive now but most of them still have thousands of followers and affectionate. All of them are well known as 'Maizbhaderi' Bengali: মাইজভাণ্ডারী in a common identification purpose. A research report prepared by the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT)of Australia reported; today there have over 10 millions of Maizbhanderi Sufi followers across the globe.