User:Sufidisciple/sandbox/Khalifa of Ghaus-e-Azam Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi

The term Khalifa খলিফা means a deputy, caliph, successor or apostle of a Sufi sheikh. The Khalifa is to act as an authorized successor of own Sufi Master/ Pir (Sufism). Though, as the founder of Maizbhanderi Sufi Order মাইজভাণ্ডারী তরীকা, the universal Sufi Saint Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi আহমদ উল্লাহ মাইজভাণ্ডারী (1826–1906) had a millions of followers, affectionate and Sufi Disciples/ Murid vastly in South Asia as well as all around the world. He also appointed hundreds of Khalifa to continue his Sufi teachings and thought among the society. They were form different territories and religions too. This list has entitled as Khalifa of Ghaus-e-Azam Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi in fact, he is vastly denoted as Ghaus-e-Azam গাউছুল আজম by various writers in their Parisian, Urdu, Bengali and English works. Meanwhile, among the Sufi communities he is well-known as Ghaus-e-Azam in the perception of spiritual hierarchy.

It is firmly believed that, some of them remain unidentified till today because, they went away to different part of the region desiring to remain unknown due to self-will and kept themselves engage in introspective thought and practices. On the other hand, some of them became as famous by a surname as their original name generally remain unknown or unspecified among most of the people likewise: Baba Bhanderi বাবা ভাণ্ডারী, Harvangiri হারভাঙ্গীরি, Mandakini মান্দাকিনী, Forhadabadi ফরহাদাবাদী, Rahe Bhanderi রাহে ভান্ডারী etc.

A list of his Successors; firstly became published by one of his descendant Delwar Hossain Maizbhanderi in his famous work 'Gausul Azam Maizbhandarir Jiboni O Karamat' গাউছুল আজম মাইজভাণ্ডারীর জীবনী ও কারামত (Life sketch of Hazrat Kebla Kaba). In that book the author expressed his sorrow for such an incomplete list. Meanwhile, many among those of his Khalifa latterly became famous in the society for their own works and Sufi activities. As a continuous process, that list became published twice more in recent days. Once at the preface of Rahe Bhander Sufi Order 'Noxar Shondhane' নকশার সন্ধানে as a descending followers apart of the Maizbhanderi Sufi Order and latterly at a publication on the 100th Disappearance Anniversary of Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi. Here, a spiritual successors' (Khalifa) list of Ahmed Ullah Maizbhanderi is being written following all those and other published lists.

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' 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.