The Qadiriyya is one of the oldest and most widespread Sufi orders, founded by Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (1077–1166 AD) in Baghdad. Abd al-Qadir was a Hanbali scholar and preacher who attracted massive popular followings through his asceticism, eloquence, and reputed miracles. The Qadiriyya spread across the Islamic world — to Anatolia, the Indian subcontinent, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. It is today the largest Sufi order globally. The Qadiriyya was one of the primary vehicles for the spread of Islam in sub-Saharan Africa. In West Africa, Qadiri scholars led major reformist movements in the 18th–19th centuries (including Usman dan Fodio’s Sokoto Caliphate in northern Nigeria). The order is notable for its relative openness and lack of a single centralized authority — local branches have considerable independence.