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Sufi lodge
Building for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Sufi lodge[lower-alpha 1] is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood or tariqa and is a place for spiritual practice and religious education.[1] They include structures also known as khānaqāh, zāwiya, ribāṭ, dargāh and takya depending on the region, language and period (see § Terminology).[2][3] In Shia Islam, the Husayniyya has a similar function.[4][5]
The Sufi lodge is typically a large structure with a central hall and smaller rooms on either side.[3] Traditionally, the Sufi lodge was state-sponsored housing for Sufis.[6] Their primary function is to provide them with a space to practice social lives of asceticism.[7] Buildings intended for public services, such as hospitals, kitchens, and lodging, are often attached to them.[7] Sufi lodges were funded by Ayyubid sultans in Syria, Zangid sultans in Egypt, and Delhi sultans in India in return for Sufi support of their regimes.[8][6][9]