Due to the widespread influence of Sufism and Sufi saints across India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, many Halwai communities converted to Islam through prominent figures such as Moinuddin Chishti, Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Nizamuddin Auliya, Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, and Bahauddin Naqshbandi, becoming their murids (disciples).
To express their spiritual connection, they adopted these Sufi saints' names as surnames, such as Chishti, Qadri, Nizami, Misbahi, Razavi, Faridi, and Siddiqui (the latter due to the Naqshbandi order).
In Uttar Pradesh, particularly in cities like Badaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Rampur, Shahjahanpur, Kannauj, and Kasganj, Muslim Halwais adopted surnames derived from their pirs (spiritual guides) and Sufis.
Therefore, individuals with surnames like Farooqui, Siddiqui, Chishti, Faridi, Alvi, or Zaidi are not necessarily direct descendants of these historical figures but rather demonstrate their affiliation with their respective Sufi orders.
While some individuals attribute themselves to the Qadri or Barkaati orders, this does not automatically make them descendants of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghdad or Shah Barkatullah of Marehra Sharif, Uttar Pradesh.