<P> The other major function of a khanqah was of a community shelter . Many of these facilities were built in low caste, rural, Hindu vicinities . The Chishti Order Sufis in India, especially, crystallized khanqahs with the highest form of modest hospitality and generosity . Keeping a "visitors welcome" policy, khanqahs in India offered spiritual guidance, psychological support, and counseling that was free and open to all people . The spiritually hungry and depressed caste members were both fed with a free kitchen service and provided basic education . By creating egalitarian communities within stratified caste systems, Sufis successfully spread their teachings of love, spirituality, and harmony . It was this example of Sufi brotherhood and equity that drew people to the religion of Islam . Soon these khanqahs became social, cultural, and theological epicenters for people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds and both genders . Through a khanqah's humble services, Sufis presented the true form of Islam and forged a way for voluntary large scale conversions of lower class Hindustanis . </P> <P> The Madariyya are members of a Sufi order (tariqa) popular in North India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, the Mewat region, Bihar and Bengal, as well as in Nepal and Bangladesh . Known for its syncretic aspects, lack of emphasis on external religious practice and focus on internal dhikr, it was initiated by the Sufi saint' Sayed Badiuddin Zinda Shah Madar' (d . 1434 CE), called "Qutb - ul - Madar", and is centered on his shrine (dargah) at Makanpur, Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh . </P> <P> Shadhilyya was founded by Imam Nooruddeen Abu Al Hasan Ali Ash Sadhili Razi . Fassiya branch of Shadhiliyya was brought to India by Sheikh Aboobakkar Miskeen sahib Radiyallah of Kayalpatnam and Sheikh Mir Ahmad Ibrahim Raziyallah of Madurai . Mir Ahmad Ibrahim is the first of the three Sufi saints revered at the Madurai Maqbara in Tamil Nadu . There are more than 70 branches of Shadhiliyya and in India . Of these, the Fassiyatush Shadhiliyya is the most widely practised order . </P> <P> The Chishtiyya order emerged from Central Asia and Persia . The first saint was Abu Ishaq Shami (d . 940--41) establishing the Chishti order in Chisht - i - Sharif within Afghanistan Furthermore, Chishtiyya took root with the notable saint Moinuddin Chishti (d . 1236) who championed the order within India, making it one of the largest orders in India today . Scholars also mentioned that he had been a part - time disciple of Abu Najib Suhrawardi . Khwaja Moiuddin Chishti was originally from Sistan (eastern Iran, southwest Afghanistan) and grew up as a well traveled scholar to Central Asia, Middle East, and South Asia . He reached Delhi in 1193 during the end of Ghurid reign, then shortly settled in Ajmer - Rajasthan when the Delhi Sultanate formed . Moinuddin Chishti's Sufi and social welfare activities dubbed Ajmer the "nucleus for the Islamization of central and southern India ." The Chishti order formed khanqah to reach the local communities, thus helping Islam spread with charity work . Islam in India grew with the efforts of dervishes, not with violent bloodshed or forced conversion . Chishtis were famous for establishing khanqahs and for their simple teachings of humanity, peace, and generosity . This group drew an unprecedented amount of Hindus of lower and higher castes within the vicinity . Until this day, both Muslims and non-Muslims visit the famous tomb of Moinuddin Chishti; it has become even a popular tourist and pilgrimage destination . Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (d . 1605), the 3rd Mughal ruler frequented Ajmer as a pilgrim, setting a tradition for his constituents . Successors of Khwaja Moinudden Chishti include eight additional saints; together, these names are considered the big eight of the medieval Chishtiyya order . Moinuddin Chishti (d . 1233 in Ajmer, India) Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki (d . 1236 in Delhi, India) Fariduddin Ganjshakar (d . 1265 in Pakpattan, Pakistan) Nizamuddin Auliya (d . 1335 in Delhi). Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi Bande Nawaz (d . 1422 in Gulbarga, India) Syed baqaullah shah kareemi safipur, unnao (1269H1362H) Akhi Siraj Aainae Hind (d . 1357 in Bengal, India Alaul Haq Pandavi Ashraf Jahangir Semnani (d . 1386, Kichaucha India) </P>

Who were the sufis and what role did they play in converting new populations to islam