Sufism has penetrated into the Western world at two far removed periods of history if we exclude the Muslim population of Europe in such lands as Albania and Bosnia. The first was what in the West is called the medieval period and in such lands as Spain and Sicily where Sufi orders flourished and even influenced certain esoteric currents of both Judaism and Christianity elsewhere in Europe.

The second is the present century when Sufism has expanded much more widely into the Occident, including both Europe and America. During this second period, it was first of all the Shadhiliyyah Order which sank its roots seriously into the soil of the West and created a ‘space’ for Sufism in that world. 

Other orthodox and traditional orders …soon followed the Shadhiliyyah Order in creating branches in the West, including the Chrishtis, Rifa’is, Qadiris., Ni’matullahis and Khalwati-Herrahis.

Finally, one of the most widespread of Sufi orders, the Naqshbandiyyah, has come to Europe and American and begun to spread its teachings extensively especially during the past two decades.

The Naqshbandiyyah Order was founded by Shaykh Baha al-Din Naqshband born in the 14th century near Bukhara in what is now called Central Asia, but which, at that time, was culturally a part of the Persian-speaking world. The Order spread rapidly from its original home into the Eastern areas of Persia and present-day Afghanistan, and from there, into India which became the home of some of its greatest later figures.

Also it spread eastward to China where it remains strong to this day and westward to the Ottoman Empire expanding rapidly into the Balkans as well where it survives to this day in Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia.

The name of the Order, derived from its founder, means on one level, what is related to an embroiderer or literally one who casts patterns upon cloth (naqshband). But on a deeper level, it means bonding the heart with God through the imprint of His Name upon the human heart.

The Naqshbandis have always been very orthodox, staunch defenders of the Shari’ah and emulators of the Sunnah. Throughout Islamic history they have played a most important role in the preservation and spread of Islam especially under conditions of duress while of course having as their central aims the spiritual, inner perfection of their followers. But they have always sought to preserve a balance between the esoteric and exoteric, avoiding excesses which one might observe elsewhere. This fact is also reflected in the active role they have played politically on the one hand, and in their cultivation of the most esoteric doctrines of Sufism, on the other.

Seyyed Hossein Nasr
From his Foreword to the book
The Naqshbandi Sufi Way
By Shaykh Hisham Kabbani