A building used for Sufi gatherings, where a Sufi master lived and taught his disciples, is called a:

A "khanqah" (also spelt "khanqah" or "khanaqah") is a hospice or lodge where a Sufi master (shaikh or pir) lived with his disciples (murids). It was a centre for spiritual training, prayer, gatherings and hospitality.

About the khanqah:

• The word is of Persian origin.
• It served as a residence, a place of worship and a meeting place.
• The Sufi master taught the disciples, guided them on the spiritual path, and held gatherings ("majlis") and devotional music sessions ("sama").
• It was open to people of all religions, castes and classes, including the poor and travellers.
• It usually had a "langar" (community kitchen), run on charity ("futuh", unasked-for gifts), where everyone could eat.
• Famous khanqahs included those of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya at Ghiyaspur (near Delhi), visited by nobles, ordinary people and poets such as Amir Khusrau.

Related Sufi terms:

• Dargah: the tomb or shrine of a Sufi saint, which becomes a place of pilgrimage ("ziyarat").
• Urs: the death anniversary of a Sufi saint, celebrated as the "wedding" (union) of the saint's soul with God.

Silsila: a chain (lineage) of masters and disciples; a Sufi order. Major silsilas in India: Chishti, Suhrawardi, Naqshbandi and Qadiri.

Pir/Shaikh/Murshid: the spiritual master; Murid: the disciple.

Wali: a friend of God; a Sufi saint (plural: Auliya).

Sama: devotional music and singing, especially qawwali, used by the Chishtis to reach a state of spiritual ecstasy.

Zikr: the remembrance of God by repeating His names.

Fana: the annihilation of the self in God.

Ba-shara: those who follow Islamic law (Sharia); Be-shara: those who do not strictly follow it (such as the qalandars).

Khalifa: a successor of a Sufi master, authorised to train disciples.

Other Islamic buildings:

• Madrasa: a school for Islamic education.
• Masjid: a mosque, a place for prayer.
• Idgah: an open-air prayer ground used for Eid prayers.
• Imambara: a hall used by Shia Muslims for Muharram ceremonies, such as the Bara Imambara in Lucknow (1784).
• Jama'at Khana: an assembly hall; the Ismaili prayer hall.

Sufism in India:

• It spread in India from the 12th century onwards.
• The Chishti order was brought to India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Why not the other options?

• ✗A madrasa is an Islamic school.
• ✗A dargah is the tomb of a Sufi saint.
• ✗An idgah is an open prayer ground for Eid.