Said Afandi al Chirkawi

Biography

Al-Chirkawi was born in 1937 in the village of Chirkey, Buynaksky District, Republic of Dagestan. He was an Islamic scholar, a spiritual leader of Dagestani Muslims, and Sufi Shaykh of Naqshbandi and Shazali tariqahs. Tens of thousands of Muslims gather annually at Chirkey for brotherhood majlis — Mawlid celebrations — which were organised by Afandi. On 28 April 2012 more than 300,000 people from all over Russia and abroad were present at the annual gathering. Said Afandi was considered one of the Russia's top spiritual leaders whose tens of thousands of followers include influential officials, clerics and businessmen. His father died when Afandi was just seven years old. After high school he worked as shepherd to financially support his family. He served in the Soviet Army and worked as a firefighter at Chirkey Dam before beginning his religious education at the age of 32.

In his last years, Said Afandi mostly wrote books, many of which were translated into Russian and English. He was also fond of poetry, and was a keen poet himself.

In one of his books he writes:

The following lines summarize the story of his life:

In one of his latest poems Afandi wrote:

Publications

Books and articles of Said Afandi are translated into Russian, Tatar and English languages.

Books in Russian language

Books in Tatar language

Books in Avar language

Spiritual Chain

A spiritual chain beginning with the Islamic Prophet Muhammad passed through generations until Ismail Kurdumeri (31st in the chain). After Ismail Kurdumeri the chain has split in two as he had two key disciples, Muhammad Salih Shirwani (32nd) and Khas Muhammad Shirwani. From the latter the chain passed to Muhammad Yaraghi ad-Daghestani and from him to Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi ad-Daghestani (1788-1869 CE). He had three key spiritual disciples: Mamadibir ar-Rochi ad-Daghestani, Imam Shamil ad-Daghestani (neither of whom had a disciple to maintain the chain), and `Abdurrahman as-Sughuri ad-Daghestani. According to Shuaib Afandi Bagini ad-Daghestani, `Abdurrahman as-Sughuri had two key disciples: Muhammad Haji `Obodi ad-Daghestani and Ilyas Tsudakhari ad-Daghestani (d. 1312 AH). Neither of them had disciples through whom the chain could continue, and thus the split chain coming from Khas Muhammad Shirwani ended there.

The spiritual chain coming from Muhammad Salih Shirwani (32nd), however, is continuous, and goes all the way to Mahmud Afandi, Hasan Afandi and the rest of the Daghestani ma'zuns. See below:

1. The Prophet Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abdul Muttalib, born in 570 or 571 and died and buried in Medina, Arabia, in 632 (11 AH).
2. Abu Bakr, died and buried in Medina, Arabia, in 13 AH.
3. Salman al-Farsi, died and buried Madaa'in, Arabia, in 35 AH.
4. Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr died and buried in Medina, Arabia, in 107 AH.
5. Jafar as-Sadiq (through whom the chain moved to Iran), died in 148 AH and buried in Medina, Arabia.
6. Tayfur Abu Yazid al-Bistami Bayazid Bastami (804 - 874 CE), died in 261 AH and buried in Bastam, Iran.
7. Abul Hassan Ali al-Kharqani, died in 425 AH and buried in Kin hurqaan, Iran.
8. Abu Ali al-Farmadi (through whom the chain moved to Turkmenistan), died in 477 AH and buried in Tous, Khorasan, Iran.
9. Abu Yaqub Yusuf al-Hamadani, died in 535 AH and buried in Bayram-Ali, Mary, Turkmenistan.
10. Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani, died in 575 AH and buried in Ghajdawan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
11. Arif ar-Riwkari, died in 616 AH and buried in Reogar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
12. Khwaja Mahmoud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi, died in 715 AH and buried in Waabakni, Mawralnahar.
13. Ali ar-Ramitani, died in 715 AH and buried in Khwaarizm, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
14. Muhammad Baba as-Samasi, died in 755 AH and buried in Samaas, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
15. as-Sayyid Amir Kulal, died in 772 AH and buried in Saukhaar, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
16. Muhammad Baha'uddin Shah Naqshband Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari (1318–1389), died in 791 AH and buried in Qasr-e-Aarifan, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
17. Ala'uddin al-Bukhari al-`Attar, buried in Jafaaniyan, Mawranahar, Uzbekistan.
18. Yaqub al-Charkhi, died in 851 AH and buried in Charkh, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
19. Ubaydullah al-Ahrar, died in 895 AH and buried in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
20. Muhammad az-Zahid as-Samarqandi, died in 936 AH and buried Wakhsh, Malk Hasaar.
21. Darwish Muhammad, died in 970 AH and buried in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
22. Muhammad Khwaja al-Amkanaki (through whom the chain moved to India), died in 1008 AH and buried in Akang, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
23. Muhammad al-Baqi bi-l-Lah (Mohhammad Baqi Billah Berang), died in 1012 AH and buried in Delhi, India.
24. Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindi Ahmad Sirhindi (1564–1624), died in 1034 AH and buried Sarhand, India.
25. Muhammad al-Masum, died in 1096 AH and buried in Sarhand, India.
26. Muhammad Sayfuddin al-Faruqi al-Mujaddidi, died in 1096 AH and buried in Sarhand, India.
27. as-Sayyid Nur Muhammad al-Badawani
28. Shamsuddin Habib Allah Djan Djanan al-Mazhar
29. Abdullah ad-Dahlawi (through whom the chain moved to Iraq)
30. Muhammad Khalid Ziyaudin al-Baghdadi (1779 - 1826)
31. Ismail al-Kurdumeri (through whom the chain moved to the Caucasus)
32. Muhammad Salih Shirwani
33. Ibrahim Kudkashani
34. Haji Yunus Afandi Lalali ad-Daghestani (? - 1277 AH)
35. Mahmud Afandi ad-Daghestani
36. Jabrail Afandi ad-Daghestani
37. `Abdurrahman Haji `Asawi ad-Daghestani
38. Hasan Hilmi Afandi ad-Daghestani (1852-1937)
39. Muhammad Ya`sub ad-Daghestani
40. Humayd Afandi Handiqi ad-Daghestani (1868-1952)
41. Husenil Muhammad Afandi `Uribi ad-Daghestani (1862-1967)
42. Muhammad `Arif bin Hasan Hilmi al-Kahibi ad-Daghestani (1900-1977)
43. Muhammad Sa`adu Hajj Afandi Batlukhi ad-Daghestani (1915-1995)
44. `Abdul Hamid Afandi al-Inkhi ad-Daghestani (1891-1977)
45. Hamzat Afandi Tlaqi ad-Daghestani
46. Muhammad Afandi Khuchadi ad-Daghestani
47. Badrudin Afandi al-Botlikhi ad-Daghestani
48. Said Afandi al-Chirkawi ad-Daghestani (1927-2012)
49. `Abdujalil Afandi ad-Daghestani
50. Ahmad Haji Afandi ad-Daghestani