Sufis(mystics) have played the most important role in spreading Islam all over this globe.They have been serving the religion since the prophet muhammad (s.a.w) migrated from Mecca and the islamic calendar started.The first group of those representatives of islam were known as Sahabees(the companions of Muhammad(s.a.w).There number was around 124,000.The prophet(s.a.w) was the center of all islamic activities till 631 A.D.His life was the perfect of all and has been the ideal for every human being till date.He trained all his sahabees in their respective field of interest on his own.Mnay like Hazrat Abu BakrRz.a, Hazrat Umar Faruq Rz.A, Hazrat Usman Ghani Rz.A, Hazrat Ali Rz.A, Hazrat Khalid-bin-Walid Rz.A and Hazrat Ubaidullah ibn al Jarrah Rz.A were the versatile ones.They spread the light of Islam all over globe Their work is unparalled as of yet.After Sahabees cone tabaeen(those who were trained by sahabees) and they were followed by Tabe-Tabaeen(those trained by Tabaeen).
The end of Tabe-Tabaeen marks the end of an era but the propagation of Islam will continue till the day of judgement by the means of Sufis and Auliallahs who have been serving the humanity, spreading the message of Islam all over globe.The first group of sahabees was the Ashab-e-suffa(from where the name sufi originated),the selected sahabees who were trained by Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W).There have been thousands and lakhs of sufis in almost every country.
Among those comes the name of Shah-e-Ata who came from Medina by the order of Hazrat Ali(Rz.A) to spread Islam in an entire non-muslim locality now known as Gaya,Bihar,India.Though there were sufis and Khanqahs in the nearby localities of Gaya like Bithosharif,Amjhersharif and Chota sheikhpura, but there was none amidst the non-muslims,in urban region.Shah-e-Ata was the first to spread Islam over there.Due to his endeavours message of Islam reached at all the streets of Gaya.Both Hindus and Christians accepted Islam on his hands,even the Sadhus became a practising muslim and started living life of a sufi.
