Mahdavia

Mahdavia (Arabic: مهدوي ‎ mahdawi) or Mahdavism, is a Mahdiist Muslim sect founded by Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in India in the late 15th century. Jaunpuri declared himself to be Imam Mahdi at the holy city of Mecca, right in front of Kaaba (between rukn and maqam) in the Hijri year 901(10th Hijri), and is revered as such by Mahdavia community and Zikri Mahdavis in Balochistan.

Beliefs

Mahdavis are found in most parts of India, Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Balochistan, Farah in Afghanistan, Khorasan in Iran, besides some parts of central Asian countries.

Syed Muhammed Jaunpuri (AS) declared himself to be Mahdi, and as such "a caliph of Allah". He claimed to teach the true inner meaning of the Qur'an and strictly adhere to the Sunnah of Muhammad (abū al-Qāsim ibnʿAbd Allāh).

Jaunpuri's declaration was ignored by the ulema of Mecca, but after he repeated his declaration in Gujarat, he gained a group of followers and established a line of caliphs who led the movement after his death. After Jaunpuri's death in 1505, the Mahdavi movement went through a militant phase, lasting during the reign of the first five Mahdavi caliphs. The movement was persecuted under the Gujarati sultan Muzaffar II (r. 1511–1526). The second Mahdavi caliph, Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir led an army against Muzaffar and was killed in 1523.

Zikri (name)

Zikri is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:

See also