Supreme Leadership of the Naqshbandiyya

The Mahmudian Caliphate is a 400 year old international institution, that constitutes leadership of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order as genetical descendants of the founding father of the order Bahauddin Naqshband.

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The office began with the proclamation by Sayyid Khawand Mahmud after whom the caliphate is called, who according to Naqshbandi believe fulfilled a legendary prophecy of the founding father of the order Bahauddin Naqshband.

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Until the coming of the first Hazrat Ishaan the family of Shah Naqshband, that was lead by "Imams of the family", was urgently waiting for the coming of the promised "Qaim"(One who rises). The second "Qaim" who according to Naqshbandi believe fulfilled a prophecy of Hazrat Ishaan I was Hazrat Sayyid Mir Jan, the 8th male Caliph.

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As the only Caliphate that emphacizes the right of pious women to lead, the Caliphate has both male and female Caliphs. The male Caliphs are known as "Hazrat Ishaan"(One with the divinely blessed presence), whereas the female one´s are called Taj ul Nisaa (Crowns of womenkind) with equal spiritual and political rights and powers.

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The Caliphs intermarried with the Mughal Imperial and Afghan Royal family expanding their political power as Royals significantly in both states.

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After the Communist Coup d´état of Afghanistan in year 1978 the Caliphate has established a greater international presence with vivid influence in the Western political lobby as "Liberal Democratic faces of Sunni Islam".

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The current Caliph is His Highness Prince Sayyid Raphael Dakik, who serves as 14th male Caliph with the regnal title Rafi ul Shaan billah (The one raised in dignity by God)

List of Male Leaders (Hazrat Ishaans)

Supreme Leaders (Amir ul Muminin) of Naqshbandi Sunni Islam

Shah Sayyid Khwaja Khawand Mahmud Naqshband

1st Hazrat Ishaan
Al Qaim ul Shaan bi Amrillah (The one rising by God´s command)

7th generation grandson of Shah Bahauddin Naqshband
Prophecied successor of Shah Naqshband (Shah Naqshband was resurrected again and proclaimed his legitimacy)
Mughal Kingmaker and Oligarch

Amir Sayyid Mir Moinuddin Hadi Naqshband

2nd Hazrat Ishaan
Al Hadi ul Shaan billah (The one who guides through God)

Mughal Oilgarch

Prince Sayyid Nizamuddin Naqshband

3rd Hazrat Ishaan
Al Amir ul Shaan bi Ahkam illah (The Prince who executes God´s commands)

Paternal grandson of the 2nd Hazrat Ishaan
Maternal grandson of Emperor Jahangir
Mughal Royal

Prince Sayyid Nooruddin Naqshband

4th Hazrat Ishaan

Noor ul Shaan billah (The Light who radiates the world though God)

Son of the 3rd Hazrat Ishaan
Maternal grandson of Emperor Aurangzeb
Mughal Royal

Prince Sayyid Kamaluddin Naqshband

5th Hazrat Ishaan
Kamal ul Shaan billah (The one with complete Dignity by God)

Son of the 4th Hazrat Ishaan
Mughal Royal
Patron Martyr of Naqshbandi Islam

Prince Sayyid Mohyuddin Naqshband

6th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Zahir ul Shaan li Izi Din illah (He Who Appears Openly to Strengthen the Religion of God)

Son of the 5th Hazrat Ishaan
Mughal Royal

Amir Kabir Mir Sayyid Hasan Naqshband bin Azimullah

7th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Hasan ul Shaan bi amrillah (The benefactor by God´s order)

Son in law of 6th Hazrat Ishaan
Tribal leader of Afghan Sayyids

Shah Sayyid Mir Jan bin Hasan

8th Hazrat Ishaan "Hazrat Ishaan Muazzam"
Al Qaim ul Shaan bi Amrillah II

Son of 7th Hazrat Ishaan
Promised successor of the 1st Hazrat Ishaan
Highest Hazrat Ishaan (Shah)
(The 1st Hazrat Ishaan was resurrected again and proclaimed his legitimacy)

Prince Mir Sayyid Mahmud Agha Shah bin Hasan

9th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Aziz ul Shaan billah (The Mighty One through God)

Right hand of Shah Sayyid Mir Jan
Mughal Prince
Afghan and British Indian Oligarch

Amir Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha bin Hasan

10th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Hakim ul Shaan bi Amrillah (The Ruler by the Order of God)

Afghan Chief Justice
Supreme Judge of the Emirate of Afghanistan
Grand Mufti
Teacher of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamit II

General Sayyid Mir Muhammad Jan

11th Hazrat Ishaan

Al Muiz ul Shaan lidin illah (The Glorifier of the Religion of God)

Son of the 10th Hazrat Ishaan
Afghan General and Oligarch

Mir Sayyid Assadullah

12th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Mutawakal ul Shaan ala Allah (The one who puts his trust in God)

Son and successor of the 11th Hazrat Ishaan
His older sister acted as leader transferring leadership to him after that
Afghan Pioneer of Accountancy

Mir Sayyid Mustafa bin Assadullah

13th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Mustafa ul Shaan li hukmillah (The Chosen one to rule by God)

Oldest son of Mir Assadullah
Engineer and Architect

Prince Sayyid Raphael bin Nargis bint Assadullah

14th Hazrat Ishaan
Al Rafi ul shaan billah (The one who is raised in dignity by God)

Oldest grandson of Mir Assadullah (mother side)
Paternal grandson of Sayyida Rahima
Afghan Royal, Lawyer and Lobbyist

1st Taj ul Nisaa

Al Amirat ul Shaan bi Ahkam illah (The Princess who executes God´s commands)

Umm Nizamuddin

• Wife of Hazrat Ishaan II

• Mughal Imperial Princess (Daughter of Emperor Jahangir)

• Acted as female caliph upon the death of her husband preparing Sayyid Nizamuddin Hazrat Ishaan for his task as Hazrat Ishaan III

• Centralising her leadership in her Khanqah in Srinagar with the support of her brother Emperor Shah Jahan

• Transferred leadership to her Grandson Sayyid Nizamuddin

2nd Taj ul Nisaa

Al Rafiat ul shaan billah (The one who is raised in dignity by God)

Bibi Sayeda ishaani

• Daughter of Hazrat Ishaan VI

• Wife of Prince Hasan bin Azimullah

• Transferred leadership in divinely inspired unlimited love for her husband Mir Hasan, who took the title Hazrat Ishaan VII as male Caliph

• Mother of the next Hazrat Ishaans

3rd Taj ul Nisaa

Al Siddiqat ul ula billah (The sublime trustworthy through God)

• Mughal and Afghan tribal Princess

• Sister of Hazrat Sayyid Mir Jan

• Succeeded her brother Sayyid Mir Jan and Sayyid Mahmud until she passed away in year 1915, transferring leadership to her brother Mir Fazlullah, who became Hazrat Ishaan X

Sayyida Siddiqa

4th Taj ul Nisaa

Al Amirat ul Rahma bi rahmatullah (The Princes of mercy through God´s mercy)

Sayyida Rahima bint Mir Muhammad Jan

• Daughter of Hazrat Ishaan XI

• Leading the Naqshbandi Sufi Order during the Naqshbandi Interregnum after her father passed away

• Her little brother Hazrat Ishaan XII was an eight year old orphan when their father passed away, so she lead the Naqshbandiyya with strong political influence in Afghanistan until the fall of her monarchy by the Communist coup d´etat

• She is the paternal grandmother of Prince Sayyid Raphael

• Royal Princess by Afghan law through her marriage with the Musahiban prince Abdul Khaliq Khan