Atlas
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.
نورعلی تابنده
Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)
Died 2019-12-24 · born 1927-10-13 · Tehran, Bidokht (Gunābād)
Gunābādī pole 1992/1997-2019; buried at Bidokht (Wikipedia)
Sources for this person
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 3, the best-sourced: Niʿmatullāhiyya. Tap a rule to read its basis, sources and checks.
- The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
- Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāhرحمت علیشاه1861
one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh (Iranica summary) and Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ (Trimingham)sources differ
successor of · Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh to Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād · One source
Iranica summary: after Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh three claimants competed (Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh, Ṣafī ʿAlī Shāh, Munawwar ʿAlī Shāh); the Gunābādī line goes through Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh to Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh.
Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, Ni'matullahiyya, pp. 101-102Checked against
- Iranica in summary, Ne'matollāhiya · agreesDispute over whether Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh named Saʿādat; three claimants.
- Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L5906 · agreesFootnote lists the sequence Raḥmat, Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ Iṣfahānī, Mullā Sulṭān of Gunābād; Ṣafī-ʿAlī-Shāh a separate shoot.
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Iranica (summary): the Munawwar ʿAlī-Shāhī line has the strongest claim to the main Niʿmatullāhī descent and its members call themselves exclusively Niʿmatullāhī. The Gunābādī line records Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh as Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh's successor. Reported as the branches' own claims; no winner named here.Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)
Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābādسلطان علیشاه گنابادیone sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Gunābādī poles between Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh and ʿAlī Tabandeh (the same article names Ṣāliḥ ʿAlī Shāh, Tabandeh's father, only as guide)
successor of · Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Gunābādī poles after Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh lead to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh, d. 16 Jan 1997); the intervening poles were not read.
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, infobox · agreesLists Ali Tabandeh as predecessor of Nur Ali Tabandeh.
ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh)محبوب علیشاه تابنده1997one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyya
successor of · ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) to Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Authorised by decree on 20 Oct 1992; took charge of guidance after ʿAlī Tabandeh's death on 16 Jan 1997 (Wikipedia).
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, accession · agreesDecree 1992; officially in charge after January 1997.
Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)نورعلی تابنده2019
Other routes (2)
Route 2 of 3: Niʿmatullāhiyya
- The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
- Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāhرحمت علیشاه1861
one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh (Iranica summary) and Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ (Trimingham)sources differ
successor of · Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh to Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād · One source
Iranica summary: after Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh three claimants competed (Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh, Ṣafī ʿAlī Shāh, Munawwar ʿAlī Shāh); the Gunābādī line goes through Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh to Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh.
Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, Ni'matullahiyya, pp. 101-102Checked against
- Iranica in summary, Ne'matollāhiya · agreesDispute over whether Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh named Saʿādat; three claimants.
- Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L5906 · agreesFootnote lists the sequence Raḥmat, Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ Iṣfahānī, Mullā Sulṭān of Gunābād; Ṣafī-ʿAlī-Shāh a separate shoot.
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Iranica (summary): the Munawwar ʿAlī-Shāhī line has the strongest claim to the main Niʿmatullāhī descent and its members call themselves exclusively Niʿmatullāhī. The Gunābādī line records Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh as Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh's successor. Reported as the branches' own claims; no winner named here.Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)
Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābādسلطان علیشاه گنابادیone sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Gunābādī poles between Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh and ʿAlī Tabandeh (the same article names Ṣāliḥ ʿAlī Shāh, Tabandeh's father, only as guide)
successor of · Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Gunābādī poles after Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh lead to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh, d. 16 Jan 1997); the intervening poles were not read.
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, infobox · agreesLists Ali Tabandeh as predecessor of Nur Ali Tabandeh.
ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh)محبوب علیشاه تابنده1997one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyya
successor of · ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) to Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Authorised by decree on 20 Oct 1992; took charge of guidance after ʿAlī Tabandeh's death on 16 Jan 1997 (Wikipedia).
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, accession · agreesDecree 1992; officially in charge after January 1997.
Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)نورعلی تابنده2019
Route 3 of 3: Niʿmatullāhiyya
- The Prophet Muhammadمحمد632
- Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāhرحمت علیشاه1861
one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh (Iranica summary) and Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ (Trimingham)sources differ
successor of · Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh to Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād · One source
Iranica summary: after Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh three claimants competed (Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh, Ṣafī ʿAlī Shāh, Munawwar ʿAlī Shāh); the Gunābādī line goes through Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh to Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh.
Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, Ni'matullahiyya, pp. 101-102Checked against
- Iranica in summary, Ne'matollāhiya · agreesDispute over whether Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh named Saʿādat; three claimants.
- Trimingham, The Sufi Orders in Islam (1971), local .txt, trimingham_sufi-orders-in-islam_1971.txt#L5906 · agreesFootnote lists the sequence Raḥmat, Ṭāʾūs al-ʿUrafāʾ Iṣfahānī, Mullā Sulṭān of Gunābād; Ṣafī-ʿAlī-Shāh a separate shoot.
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Iranica (summary): the Munawwar ʿAlī-Shāhī line has the strongest claim to the main Niʿmatullāhī descent and its members call themselves exclusively Niʿmatullāhī. The Gunābādī line records Saʿādat ʿAlī Shāh as Raḥmat ʿAlī Shāh's successor. Reported as the branches' own claims; no winner named here.Encyclopaedia Iranica, Ne'matollāhiya, as summarised in search results (full text not read; 403)
Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābādسلطان علیشاه گنابادیone sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyaomits: Gunābādī poles between Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh and ʿAlī Tabandeh (the same article names Ṣāliḥ ʿAlī Shāh, Tabandeh's father, only as guide)
successor of · Ḥājjī Mullā Sulṭān (Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh) of Gunābād to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Gunābādī poles after Sulṭān ʿAlī Shāh lead to ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh, d. 16 Jan 1997); the intervening poles were not read.
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, infobox · agreesLists Ali Tabandeh as predecessor of Nur Ali Tabandeh.
ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh)محبوب علیشاه تابنده1997one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyya
successor of · ʿAlī Tabandeh (Maḥbūb ʿAlī Shāh) to Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Authorised by decree on 20 Oct 1992; took charge of guidance after ʿAlī Tabandeh's death on 16 Jan 1997 (Wikipedia).
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, accession · agreesDecree 1992; officially in charge after January 1997.
Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)نورعلی تابنده2019
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 Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)
1 recorded, each with the chain set it belongs to.
one sourcein Niʿmatullāhiyyasources differ
successor of · Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh) to Alireza Jazbi (Sābit ʿAlī Shāh) · One source
Wikipedia names Alireza Jazbi (Sābit ʿAlī Shāh) as Tabandeh's successor after his death on 24 Dec 2019. One source; the order's own statement was not read.
Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)Mohammad Mohebi, peace-mark.org (Human Rights Activists in Iran), 20 Apr 2018Checked against
- Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh, infobox · agreesSuccessor: Alireza Jazbi.
- Mohebi, peace-mark.org (Apr 2018), article · silentPre-dates the death; says state pressure on the choice of successor caused a division in the order, naming no one.
Where the sources differ, side by side. We do not rule between them.
- Peace-mark (Mohebi, 2018, human-rights activists' site): government pressure around Tabandeh's residence affected the choice of a successor and divided the order. No claimants named; no rival to Jazbi located in sources read.Mohammad Mohebi, peace-mark.org (Human Rights Activists in Iran), 20 Apr 2018
- As reported: Amnesty (2011) links the arrests of Gunābādī dervishes to the Supreme Leader's Oct 2010 speech on 'false mysticism'; Wikipedia's Tabandeh article reports over 300 Sufis arrested after the Feb 2018 protests and Tabandeh held under house arrest for two years until his death. Reported attributions, not our finding.Amnesty International, Iran: Gonabadi dervishes (2011 report, search excerpt)Wikipedia, Noor-Ali Tabandeh (tertiary; cites Mehr, BBC Persian, HRW, Amnesty, UK Parliament 2020)
How to cite
Mashraba Reader, Atlas of transmission, “Nūr ʿAlī Tabandeh (Majdhūb ʿAlī Shāh)”, https://www.mashraba.org/atlas/figure/nur-ali-tabandeh (data of 31 October 2026).