Salman Chishty brings 800 Years of Sufi Wisdom to Canada Lit Fest
Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 20-05-2026
Syed Salman Chishty with other speaks at the Canada Literature Festival (CLF) 2026,
Mississauga/Toronto (Canada)
Haji Syed Salman Chishty, the 26th-generation Gaddi Nashin of the revered shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty at Ajmer Sharif, conveyed the timeless message of Sufism — “Love towards all, malice towards none” — during his participation in the Canada Literature Festival (CLF) 2026.
Addressing audiences at the festival, Haji Salman Chishty said the Chishty Sufi tradition has, for over 800 years, upheld the values of unconditional love, compassion, and service to humanity.
“The Chishty Sufi tradition has taught for 800 years that unconditional love and service towards creation is the path leading us to the Creator. From the blessed Dargah of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz in Ajmer Sharif to the shores of Lake Ontario, the message remains the same — ‘Love Towards All, Malice Towards None,’” he said.
Haji Salman Chishty, who is also Chairman of the Chishty Foundation, participated in the festival held from May 13 to 18 across Mississauga and Toronto in Ontario, Canada.
During the festival, he took part in interfaith panel discussions, Sufi poetry sessions, and spiritual discourses. He also attended the Canadian launch of the acclaimed book Seeking the Infinite by Yakub Mathew. The festival aimed to bring together India’s 800-year-old Sufi heritage and Canada’s multicultural ethos while promoting a shared vision of peace, unity, and interfaith harmony.
Syed Salman Chishtyshared some pictures of the event on X:
— Haji Syed Salman Chishty (@sufimusafir) May 17, 2026
Haji Salman Chishty joined discussions surrounding the release of Seeking the Infinite: Maha Kumbh 2025, a multi-faith coffee-table book authored by Yakub Mathew and featuring contributions from more than 50 global thought leaders. The panel explored themes of interfaith dialogue, spiritual unity, and humanity’s universal quest for meaning before a distinguished gathering of the Indian diaspora in Toronto.
At another event titled A Confluence of Faiths: Seeking the Infinite in Mississauga, Haji Salman Chishty shared the stage with author Yakub Mathew, Lama Aria Drolma, Rakesh Kaul, and Harry Mann, while Professor Prabhu Guptara of Cambridge University moderated the interfaith discussion.
At the prestigious Noel Ryan Theatre in Mississauga, Haji Salman Chishty also presented an evening of timeless Sufi poetry and spiritual reflections, offering Canadian audiences a glimpse into the living traditions of the Chishty Sufi Order and its mystical heritage.
Speaking at the event, Yakub Mathew said, “The Infinite is not a place to reach, but a truth to remember — that within you lies a horizon without end. This gathering in Toronto proves that the quest for the Infinite transcends every border.”
India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, said the Canada Literature Festival had emerged as an important platform for strengthening interfaith understanding and cultural dialogue.
“Platforms like the Canada Literature Festival demonstrate that interfaith peace and harmony are the true foundations of lasting bilateral relations. The mystic traditions and spiritual culture of India embody the shared values of pluralism and mutual respect that India and Canada are committed to strengthening together,” he said.
Ajaay Modi, organiser of Canada Literature Festival 2026, said the festival was conceived as a celebration of dialogue and knowledge beyond barriers of race, language, religion, and culture.
“CLF 2026 has shown that literature festivals can become powerful instruments of interfaith peace and global understanding, reaffirming the deep civilisational bond between India and Canada as a meeting point of cultures and meaningful conversations,” he said.
