Zahabiyyah Sect and a Review and a Critique of Some of Its Beliefs

"Zahabiyyah" is one of the active Sufi sects in Iran. Jonayd Baghdadi, Sari Sayghati, Ahmad Ghazali and Najmuddin Kubra are among the Sheikhs of this sect. Although various accounts are related about the founder of this sect, it seems that its founder is Seyyed 'Abdullah Borzeshabadi. The followers of this sect say that they are related to the Infallible Imams and believe that the proof of the partial lunar sainthood of this chain traces back to Imam Reza (peace be upon him) through Maroof Karkhi. However, there is no such a title in Islamic Shariah like lunar sainthood. Moreover, the relationship between Maroof Karkhi and Imam Reza (peace be upon him) and Karkhi's conversion to Islam by Imam Reza is according to historical evidence and other evidence is a questionable assumption. Among the important shortcomings of this sect is its chain of Sheikhs and Poles, which suffers from a conflict and inter-sect coup d'état. Using a descriptive method, the present paper is conducted with the aim of giving an idea about and criticizing this sect, tries to take into consideration the views of critics and pundits.