stone and sleeping on the ground. The eagerness of the Sufi-saint to live closer to the hearts of the people shows nothing except his willingness to share their joys and sorrows as members of one family and thus strengthen the integrated setting of the society. Serving as an Imam Some members of the army contingent stationed at Hanamakonda waited upon the Qazi Saheb Afzal Biabani and requested him to lead them in Eid prayer at Hanamakonda. They brought a horse for his ride. He asked for two more horses for his friends. People were taken aback to see that those friends were the Hindu weavers riding along with him. He wanted to share the joys of Eid with his Hindu neighbours. Teachings Afzal Biabani used to teach his disciples high morals like simplicity, social equality and to serve people irrespective of their caste, creed, language, religion and region. For this reason many people belonging to different religions are devotees and followers. Thus he proved himself to be a symbol of national integration, communal harmony, social justice and protector of human rights. Even today, his shrine (Dargah) at Kazipet is much thronged and revered by Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs alike. It is observed that most of the Hindu families of Kazipet and neighbouring villages bring the bride and bride-groom to this shrine (Dargah) immediately after the marriage to get the blessings for the newly married couple before they get to their homes. Family His father was Syed Shah Ghulam Mohiuddin Biabani and mother Qasim Bibi Saheba. Mir Qurban Ali, the then Collector of Warangal suba was his father-in-law. Family Tree of Sufi Masters An indispensable element in Sufi organization is the spiritual master or Murshid, around whom disciples gather and from whom disciples receive the initiation (baiat) which, through a long chain (silsila), is ultimately derived from Mohammad himself. The family tree of Sufi masters, from the earliest times to the present day, is replete with examples of outstanding holiness. The names of these saints have been given to those ‘branches’ of the tree over which their particular radiance shines. These branches are known as turuq (singular tariqa = path), and are indeed so many paths to haqiqa, the inward, divine reality or in other words, to Allah himself. The first great Sufi order to appear in the form in which turuq are now known was the Qadiri tariqa, which