Which of the following Sufi orders was most closely associated with orthodox Islamic principles and discouraged music (Sama) in spiritual practice during the medieval period?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Naqshbandi Sufi order, popularized in India by figures like Khwaja Baqi Billah and Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, maintained a strict adherence to Islamic orthodoxy and overtly discouraged musical gatherings or Sama. In contrast, orders like the Chisti silsila actively incorporated musical assemblies into their devotional practices to induce spiritual ecstasy. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was imprisoned by Emperor Jahangir for his puritanical religious assertions and opposition to liberal state policies.