Qalandariyah

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The Qalandariyah was a roaming sect of Sufi dervishes. Its members were called Qalandaris.

The term covers variety of sects that were not centrally organized. One of such sects was founded in the 13th century by Qalandar Yusuf al-Andalusi, who came from Andalusia, Spain. The group practised asceticism and the use of hashish, alcohol, and other intoxicants.

First references to the order or it antedecents are mentioned in 11th century prose text entitled Qalandarname attributed to Ansarī Harawī. The term Qalandariyyat appears to be first applied by Sanai Ghaznavi (d 1131) in the seminal poetic works, where the diverse practices are described. Particular to the qalandar genre of poetry are terms that refer to gambling, games and alcohol, pederasty or Nazar ill'al-murd - themes commonly referred to as kufriyyat or kharabat.

The writings of qalandars were not intended as a celebration of plain libertinism in the Western sense of the word, but as antinomial practices of affirmation from negative action. It can only be speculated as to how much these were applied by the dervishes themselves, however this may be the reason while the order was viewed suspiciosly by authorities.