The well- known Sufi order of the Shadhiliyya derives its name from Abul Hasan at Shadhili who was born in Ghumarah, intoday’s Morocco, around A.H 583 or A.D.1187. Ibn Mashish, a venerable teacher, identified the saintly qualities of Shadhili and advised him to refrain from people and to depart to Tunisia. As per this order, Sheikh Shadhili migrated to Shadhilah, in Tunisia, after then he is known as Shadhili. During his stay in Tunisia, his personal influence acquired a great fame and his teachings became very popular in the land. Moreover he attracted many followers and established his first Zawiyah in Tunis in the year 1228. It was the starting period to the formation of Shadhiliyya Sufi order, which could attract people from all walks of life including the sulthan’s family. After several years of settlement in Tunisia, Sheikh Shadhili permanently departed to Egypt in 1244. He settled in Alexandria, along with many of his own disciples, where he set up both his residence and Shadhili Zawiya in a tower that was given by Ayyubid Sulthan. Egypt was the real birthplace of the Shadhiliyya order. As Shadhiliyya order met with great succes, Alexandria attracted numerous pupils from distant parts of the Islamic world who travelled to there for spiritual and ascetic training from him. The Sheikh Shadhili did not compose any books or treaties on ‘Tasawwuf’, but he did compose a number of litanies (Ahzab) one of which, Hizb al Bahr, was widely used as a prayer. The Sufi order founded by Sheikh Abul Hasan was based on the metaphysical and spiritual contents of the Islamic doctrine of (tawhid) the absolute oneness of Allah. The goal of Shadhiliyya was ‘Gnostic realization of Allah Almighty’ (marifah) implying perfect wisdom and sanctity of soul in the contemplative. The marifah which Shadhili has preached was strictures on the Islamic law (shariah) and on the dogmatic formulation of faith (aqidah). The Shadhiliyya advocates an attitude of continual actions of gratitude and avoidance of ascerticism that leads to rejections of Allah’s blessings. That is the reason why this order is called Tariqathu Shukr (order of gratitude). The Excellence of Shadhiliyya Shadhiliyya is the only Sufi order which is called the way of richness or (Thariqu Shukr) way of gratitude, because unlike other Sufi orders, Shadhiliyya preaches to enjoy all permitted things (halah). Other Sufi orders preach to kill the desires of soul, to be on fasting regularly, to take to the path asceticism (zuhd) to shun sexual desires, to wear only shabby dresses and to practice self-denial so as to unite with Allah Almighty through all things. While almost all Sufi orders preached this way, Shadhiliyya order does not prohibit its disciples from enjoying the permitted things and it insists to thank (Shukr) to Allah who has provided all the things. The followers of this order need not wear shabby dresses, instead wear elegantly and thank Allah who provided that. Hence all the instructions of Shadhiliyya are to enjoy the permitted things and thank Allah so as to reach him; this Sufi order is called Tariqu Shukr. Basic teachings of Shadhiliyya The Shadhili order is based on the metaphysical and spiritual contents of the Islamic doctrine of Tawhid (the absolute oneness of Allah Almighty). The goal of this path was the gnostic realization of Allah al mighty (marifah) implying perfect wisdom and sanctity of soul in the contemplative. The marifah which Sheikh Shadhili preached reposed on simple faith, on the strictures of the Shariah and the dogmatic formulation of Aqida. Basic teachings of Shadhiliyya are explained in detail in different Shadhili books’ (Taqwa-mindfulness of Allah, Privately and Publicly) (Adherence to the Sunnah in word and deed) (Indifference to whether others accept or reject) (Contentment with Allah in times of both hardship) (Turning to Allah in prosperity and adversity) According to Sheikh Abul Hasan Shadhili, “the Sufi order (Tariqa) is holding of one’s course towards Allah Almighty by four things. The first of these four is remembrance of Allah, the basis of which is righteous works, and the fruit of which is illumination. The second is meditation, the basis of which is perseverance, and the fruit of which is knowledge. The third is poverty, the basis of which is thankfulness, and the fruit of which is an increase of it. The fourth is Love, the basis of which is dislike of the world and its people, and the fruit of which is union with the beloved”. The one who accomplishes these four things is included in siddiqin al Muhaqqiqin (veritable saint well-versed in the science of reality. One who accomplishes three of them is one of the friends of Allah (wali) (who have been drawn near to him. One who accomplishes two of them is one of the firmly believing martyr’s shuhada (and one who accomplishes one of them is one of the upright servants of Allah. The teachings of Shadhiliyya are very much easy to be followed by each and every Muslim. So a great number of Muslims follow Shadhiliyya Sufi order. A Muslim who strictly follows the above mentioned teachings after receiving a vow (baiath) is considered to be a follower of Shadhiliyya.