Meaning & use
tariqa
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalreligion
A Sufi order or spiritual path followed under a teacher toward mystical union with God.
Grammar: Countable; often used with the name of the order, e.g. the Qadiri tariqa.
Patterns
- the X tariqa
- a tariqa within Sufism
- follow a tariqa
He joined a tariqa in Cairo that traces its lineage back to the Prophet's family.
Each tariqa has its own methods of prayer and remembrance.
She wrote her thesis on the role of women in a West African tariqa.
Word forms
| plural | tariqas |
|---|
Common combinations
- Sufi tariqa
- The Sufi tariqa emphasizes inner purification.
- follow a tariqa
- Many followers follow a tariqa under a living master.
- tariqa leader
- The tariqa leader welcomed new disciples.
- tariqa practices
- Tariqa practices include recitation and silent meditation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- order
- General term for a religious community; 'tariqa' is more specific to Sufi Islam.
- brotherhood
- Sometimes used for Sufi groups, but 'tariqa' emphasizes the spiritual path and lineage.
Commonly confused: tariqa or sharia?
tariqa vs sharia
Sharia is Islamic law, while a tariqa is a mystical order or path.
Practice
In Sufism, what is a tariqa?
Choose one answer.
A tariqa is a Sufi order or path focused on mystical union, not a legal school (which is a madhhab), a building, or a route.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tariqa”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.