The Knighthood of Purity of the Hazrati Order

Liberte

Hazrat Inayat Khan, from the Alankaras in Vadan, or The Divine Symphony:

Riding on the horse of hope,

Holding in my hand the rein of courage,

Clad in the armor of patience,

And the helmet of endurance on my head,

I started on my journey to the land of love.

A lance of stern faith in my hand,

And the sword of firm conviction buckled on,

With the knapsack of sincerity

And the shield of earnestness,

I advanced on the path of love.

My ears closed to the disturbing noise of the world,

My eyes turned from all that was calling me on the Way,

My heart beating the rhythm of my ever-rising aspiration,

And my blazing soul guiding me on the path,

I made my way through the space.

I went through the thick forests of perpetual desire,

I crossed the running rivers of longing.

I passed through the deserts of silent suffering,

I climbed the steep hills of continual strife.

Feeling ever some presence in the air, I asked, "Are you there, my love?"

And a voice came to my ears, saying, "No, still further am I."

Our Mirror of Chivalry

Pirzadi Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan

January 1st, 1914 — September 13th, 1944

George Cross, Croix de Guerre

The Knighthood of Purity of the Hazrati Order Futuwwat-i Safwa-yi Silsila-yi Hazratiyya

Established September 13th, 1926

Revived September 13th, 2010

The Knighthood of Purity is the order of Sufi chivalry (futuwwa) established by Hazrat Inayat Khan. It is composed of six degrees:

GRAND MASTER (Amir[at] al-Ikhwan)

KNIGHT OF PURITY (Sahab[at] as-Safa)

GOLDEN HERALD (Naqib[a] Zarin)

SILVER HERALD (Naqib[a] Simin)

COPPER HERALD (Naqib[a] Misin)

IRON HERALD (Naqib[a] Ahanin)

All sincere devotees of the Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan seeking to study and practice his philosophy and art of life, irrespective of initiatic affiliation or lack thereof, are eligible to receive the squirely designation of Iron Herald. Designation is by application to the Chancery.

Upon designation, the task of the Iron Herald is to recite the Iron Rules and to apply their morals in daily life. Each Rule is recited once a day, in the morning, over a forty-day period. The completion of the set of ten thus takes 400 days.

The Iron Herald is to notify the Chancellor upon completing the Iron Rules. He or she may then receive the squirely designation of Copper Herald and commence the recitation and practice of the Copper Rules. This procedure is repeated at the completion of each of the remaining three sets of Rules. If no days are missed, the completion of all four sets takes 1600 days (four years and 140 days).

When all forty Rules have been recited and practiced for forty days each, the Golden Herald is qualified to receive, upon invitation, the accolade of Knight of Purity. From the time of notifying the Chancellor of his or her completion of the Golden Rules until his or her knightly investiture, the Golden Herald is to practice the moral embodied in the following Vadan Alankara, words that the newly created Knight is to recite viva voce upon his or her accolade:

My thoughtful self,

Bear all and do nothing,

Hear all and say nothing,

Give all and take nothing,

Serve all and be nothing.

Upon receipt of invitation and prior to investment, the Golden Herald will have the option (although not by any means an obligation) of submitting a draft heraldic design and/or device to the Chancery. Upon Grand Master's approval, such design may be emblazoned into an escutcheon or crest.

The Golden Herald will then have the choice of giving shape to such coat of arms, e.g. as a painting, in sculpture, ceramic, carving (signet ring, chevalière), in print or embroidery (cloth, cape).

In those cases, upon receiving the accolade, the Knight will then be ceremoniously invested with such armorial bearings, the formal grant thereby taking effect.

Members of armigerous families need to apply for agreement to add a new quartering to pre-existing arms, but will be free to replace their earlier crest by a heraldic version of the Sufi emblem.

Any such acquired heraldic knightly identity is personal and for life, whereafter the armorial bearings are to be handed over to the Chancery. However, the recipient Knight is entitled to bequeath them to another Golden Herald as his or her heir or successor. The first two of such bequests shall be subject to Grand Master's approbation. Beyond that, in line with a customary three-generation tradition, inheritance or succession will be at the discretion of the Knights then holding those heraldic honors.

Inquiries and applications may be addressed to the Chancellor, Mr. Hassan Suhrawardi Gebel: sg?Subject=Knighthood of Purity

The Rules

Iron Rules

My conscientious self:
Make no false claims.
Speak not against others in their absence.
Do not take advantage of a person's ignorance.
Do not boast of your good deeds.
Do not claim that which belongs to another.
Do not reproach others, making them firm in their faults.
Do not spare yourself in the work which you must accomplish.
Render your services faithfully to all who require them.
Seek not profit by putting someone in straits.
Harm no one for your own benefit.

Copper Rules

My conscientious self:
Consider your responsibility sacred.
Be polite to all.
Do nothing which will make your conscience feel guilty.
Extend your help willingly to those in need.
Do not look down upon the one who looks up to you.
Judge not another by your own law.
Bear no malice against your worst enemy.
Influence no one to do wrong.
Be prejudiced against no one.
Prove trustworthy in all your dealings.

Silver Rules

My conscientious self:
Consider duty as sacred as religion.
Use tact on all occasions.
Place people rightly in your estimation.
Be no more to anyone than you are expected to be.
Have regard for the feelings of every soul.
Do not challenge anyone who is not your equal.
Do not make a show of your generosity.
Do not ask a favor of those who will not grant it you.
Meet your shortcomings with a sword of self-respect.
Let not your spirit be humbled in adversity.

Golden Rules

My conscientious self:
Keep to your principles in prosperity as well as in adversity.
Be firm in faith through life's tests and trials.
Guard the secrets of friends as your most sacred trust.
Observe constancy in love.
Break not your word of honor whatever may befall.
Meet the world with smiles in all conditions of life.
When you possess something, think of the one who does not possess it.
Uphold your honor at any cost.
Hold your ideal high in all circumstances.
Do not neglect those who depend upon you.

Click here to download The Rules

IMPRIMATUR

Shaikh al-Mashaik Mahmood Khan
Grand Master

Pir Zia Inayat-Khan
Grand Master