Atlas

Chains of transmission from the Prophet, read as the sources give them.

About this atlas

The atlas holds the chains of transmission from the Prophet as the standard references and the classical sources record them: the Sufi orders, the chains of Qurʾān recitation, the teachers of the schools of law and ḥadīth, and the lines of the Prophet's family, with the places they spread and the living houses and teachers who carry them today. Every link shows its sources; where they differ, both readings are shown, and we do not rule on any community's claims. Ibn ʿArabī's own life, teachers and readers are on their own page.

أحمد الغزالي

Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

Died 520/1126 · Isfahan

Sufi of Qazvin; cited in the Mevlevi chain via Bahāʾ Walad

Sources for this person

TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (3 entries)

Suggest a correction

The chain up to the Prophet

Dates are given where the sources give them. Years are CE; the Hijri year is in each name's detail.

Route 1 of 6, the best-sourced: Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî). Tap a rule to read its basis, sources and checks.

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
al-Junayd al-Baghdādīالجنيد البغدادي909
two sourcesin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · al-Junayd al-Baghdādī to Muḥammad al-Zajjāj · Two independent sources
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye. TDV relays the chain without comment on the interval it spans between Junayd and Aḥmad al-Ghazālī.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- al-Sulamī, Ṭabaqāt al-ṣūfiyya (OpenITI), 0412Sulami.TabaqatSufiyya.Shamela0006686BK1-ara1.mARkdown#L4940 · agreesal-Zajjājī accompanied Abū ʿUthmān, Junayd, Nūrī and Ruwaym.
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Zajjājī (d. 310/922 or 348/959) under al-Junayd.
Muḥammad al-Zajjājمحمد الزجاج
the community's own accountin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)omits: intermediaries the data does not name
initiation · Muḥammad al-Zajjāj to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · The community's own account
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye. [omits: Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī (d. 373/984); Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī]
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- al-Sulamī, Ṭabaqāt al-ṣūfiyya (OpenITI), 0412Sulami.TabaqatSufiyya.Shamela0006686BK1-ara1.mARkdown#L5540 · differsAbū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī accompanied al-Zajjājī (d. 373); he comes between.
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · differsChart: Zajjājī, then Maghribī (d. 984), then al-Gurgānī (d. 1076); Nassāj sits beneath.
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesSuhrawardī chart: Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094) then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

Other routes (5)

Route 2 of 6: Suhrawardiyya

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribīأبو عثمان المغربي
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī to Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Gurgānī (d. 1076) under Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī.
Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānīأبو القاسم الجرجاني
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Gurgānī then Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094).
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyyasources differ
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Nassāj then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Fasīḥ Aḥmad-i Khwāfī adds Muḥammad al-Ghazālī between Nassāj and Aḥmad al-Ghazālī.TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

Route 3 of 6: Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
al-Junayd al-Baghdādīالجنيد البغدادي909
two sourcesin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · al-Junayd al-Baghdādī to Muḥammad al-Zajjāj · Two independent sources
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye. TDV relays the chain without comment on the interval it spans between Junayd and Aḥmad al-Ghazālī.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- al-Sulamī, Ṭabaqāt al-ṣūfiyya (OpenITI), 0412Sulami.TabaqatSufiyya.Shamela0006686BK1-ara1.mARkdown#L4940 · agreesal-Zajjājī accompanied Abū ʿUthmān, Junayd, Nūrī and Ruwaym.
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Zajjājī (d. 310/922 or 348/959) under al-Junayd.
Muḥammad al-Zajjājمحمد الزجاج
the community's own accountin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)omits: intermediaries the data does not name
initiation · Muḥammad al-Zajjāj to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · The community's own account
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye. [omits: Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī (d. 373/984); Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī]
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- al-Sulamī, Ṭabaqāt al-ṣūfiyya (OpenITI), 0412Sulami.TabaqatSufiyya.Shamela0006686BK1-ara1.mARkdown#L5540 · differsAbū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī accompanied al-Zajjājī (d. 373); he comes between.
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · differsChart: Zajjājī, then Maghribī (d. 984), then al-Gurgānī (d. 1076); Nassāj sits beneath.
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesSuhrawardī chart: Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094) then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

Route 4 of 6: Suhrawardiyya

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribīأبو عثمان المغربي
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī to Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Gurgānī (d. 1076) under Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī.
Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānīأبو القاسم الجرجاني
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Gurgānī then Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094).
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyyasources differ
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Nassāj then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Fasīḥ Aḥmad-i Khwāfī adds Muḥammad al-Ghazālī between Nassāj and Aḥmad al-Ghazālī.TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

Route 5 of 6: Suhrawardiyya

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribīأبو عثمان المغربي
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī to Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Gurgānī (d. 1076) under Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī.
Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānīأبو القاسم الجرجاني
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
initiation · Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Gurgānī then Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094).
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyyasources differ
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Nassāj then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Fasīḥ Aḥmad-i Khwāfī adds Muḥammad al-Ghazālī between Nassāj and Aḥmad al-Ghazālī.TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

Route 6 of 6: Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)

The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribīأبو عثمان المغربي
two sourcesthis step is recorded in Suhrawardiyya, not in Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī to Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L13780-13795 (App. A chart) · agreesChart: al-Gurgānī (d. 1076) under Abū ʿUthmān al-Maghribī.
Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānīأبو القاسم الجرجاني
two sourcesthis step is recorded in Suhrawardiyya, not in Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Abū l-Qāsim al-Jurjānī to Abū Bakr al-Nassāj · Two independent sources
Same silsila (Hulvī, in TDV).
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesChart: Gurgānī then Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094).
Abū Bakr al-Nassājأبو بكر النساج
two sourcesin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Abū Bakr al-Nassāj to Aḥmad al-Ghazālī · Two independent sources
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L1735-1760 · agreesSuhrawardī chart: Abū Bakr al-Nassāj (d. 487/1094) then Aḥmad al-Ghazālī (d. 520/1126).
Aḥmad al-Ghazālīأحمد الغزالي1126

How to read the marks

Two sources: a solid rule. Two independent references give the same link.
One source: a lighter rule, so labelled.
The community's own account: a dotted rule. The order tells it; we have not yet read it against a reference source.
A gap in the rule: the sources omit names between the two. The label says which.
The sources differ: tap the ≠ to read each reading with its source.
A ring: a spiritual link, without a meeting (uwaysī).

Who received from Aḥmad al-Ghazālī

2 recorded, each with the chain set it belongs to.

Abū l-Najīb al-Suhrawardīأبو النجيب السهروردي1168
two sourcesin Suhrawardiyya
companionship (ṣuḥba) · Aḥmad al-Ghazālī to Abū l-Najīb al-Suhrawardī · Two independent sources
TDV: Abū l-Najīb went to Isfahan, became Aḥmad al-Ghazālī's murīd and practised asceticism under him.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, 'Sühreverdî, Ebü'n-Necîb (Reşat Öngören)'
Suggest a correction
Checked against
- Trimingham, Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L2063-2077, chart L1745 · agreesCalls Aḥmad al-Ghazālī Abū l-Najīb's true guide.
Khaṭīb-i Balkhīخطيب بلخي
the community's own accountin Mawlawiyya (Mevlevî)
initiation · Aḥmad al-Ghazālī to Khaṭīb-i Balkhī · The community's own account
Listed in the chain Aflākī gives in Manāqib al-ʿārifīn (II, 998), as reported by TDV Mevleviyye.
TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, MEVLEVİYYE
Suggest a correction
Not yet checked against a further reference.

How to cite

Mashraba Reader, Atlas of transmission, “Aḥmad al-Ghazālī”, https://www.mashraba.org/atlas/figure/ahmad-ghazali (data of 31 October 2026).