Ali Khan

Pir-o-Murshid Muhammad Ali Khan (7 July 1881 – 29 September 1958) was an Indian musician and Sufi teacher who led the International Sufi Movement from 1948 until his death.¹ He was a second cousin of Inayat Khan, the movement's founder — the grandson of Inayat's grandfather, and therefore, by Indian custom, regarded as a brother.¹

He was born in Baroda on 7 July 1881.¹ Besides Indian classical music he received training in European music, and he played the trumpet, trombone and bagpipes; as a young man he was also keenly interested in physical culture and wrestling.¹ In the West he continued his musical career, receiving training in operatic singing from Emma Nevada, who recognised great potential in his tenor voice, and he even appeared on the stage of La Scala.¹

After Inayat Khan's death the leadership of his movement passed through other hands before Ali Khan became leader of the International Sufi Movement in 1948, a position he held until his own death ten years later.¹ The Arabic article, a translation of the English text, gives the same account of his leadership.²

Ali Khan was believed by some to possess a natural gift of healing, developed, they say, through his deep devotion; many stories tell of friends and mureeds (disciples) receiving help from his touch, his glance, or by prayers and absent healing.¹ To their thanks he would point to heaven and reply: "Not I. God."¹

He died on 29 September 1958 in The Hague and is buried at the Oud Eik en Duinen cemetery there; his tombstone names him Pir-o-Murshid Mohammad Ali Khan.¹ Wikidata records his birth in 1881 and his death in 1958, with Islam as its only religion value.³

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