A Pir (Persian: پیر) is a Sufi teacher. The path of Sufism starts when a student takes an oath of alleigance with a teacher (called Bai'ath). After that, the student is called a Murid. Persian (known variously as: فارسی Fârsi, local name in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, پارسی Pârsi, older, local name still used by some speakers, Tajik, a Central Asian dialect, or Dari, another local name in Tajikistan and Afghanistan) is a language spoken in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Armenia... Sufism (Arabic تصوف taṣawwuf) is a system of esoteric philosophy commonly associated with Islam. ... Sufism (Arabic: تصوف, tasÌ£awwuf), a part of Islamic studies, is a mystic tradition of Islam based on the pursuit of spiritual truth as it is gradually revealed to the heart and mind of the Sufi (one who practices Sufism). ... A Murid MÃœRÃŽD (Arabic: مريد ),willpower, self esteem, one of the 99 names of ALLAH ( الله ) also known as a Salik (Arabic: سالك ), is an initiate into the mystic philosophy of Sufism. ...

The Pir's role is to guide and instruct his disciples on the Sufi path. This is often done by general lessons (called Suhbas) and individual guidance.

Other words that refer to a Pir include, Murshid, Shaikh and Sarkar. A Murshid is the teacher and guide to his disciples (Mureedh). ... Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ),(also rendered as Sheik, Shaykh or Sheikh) is a word in the Arabic language meaning elder of tribe, lord or a revered old man. ...

A Pir usually has authorisations to be a teacher for one (or more) Tariqas (paths). A Tariqa may have more than one Pir at a time. A Pir is accorded that status by his Shaikh by way of Khilafath. Khilafath is the process in which a Shaikh identifies one of his disciples as his successor (Khalifa). A Pir can have more than one khalifa. Emir Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ...

See also

Murshid A Murshid is the teacher and guide to his disciples (Mureedh). ...