Hazrat Shaikh Abu Ishaq Shami R.A

A Sufi Sheikh Abu Ishaq Shami is one of the first among the sufi order, namely Chishti Order to call himself Chisti. This indicates that he belongs to the Chishti Order.The name Shami implies he came from Syria or even from Damascus (ash-Sham). Abu Ishaq Shami is supposedly to have met a Sufi who directed him to settle in Chisht,and acccordingly he is known as Abu Ishaq Shami Chishti. He died in 940 C.E. in Damascus and lies buried on Mount Qasiyun, where later on also Ibn al-Arabi was buried. Looking at the date of his death it is considered that the Chishti Order is one of the oldest, if not the oldest now still existing sufi order. However according to most of the Sufi orders it is considered that their orginations are directly from the time period of the Prophet Mohammad and the Prophet him self.

His Masters and Students Shaikh Ilw Mumshad Dinwari was his Master. He may had many Khalifa's but Abu Ahmad Abdal carries the Chisti Chain to South Asia.