What was a silsilah in a Sufi order?

In a Sufi order, the silsilah refers to the chain of mystical succession and transmission. This lineage is fundamental to the order's legitimacy, as it traces the spiritual authority of the master back through generations—often via figures such as Junayd—to the Prophet Muhammad himself.1

A disciple officially becomes part of this chain upon their investiture with the khirqah, the frock of the master. Because each order maintains its own unique lineage, the silsilah serves as a defining characteristic that distinguishes one Sufi fraternity from another.1