Said Afandi al-Chirkawi (Avar: ЧӀикӀаса СагӀид афанди, Russian: Шейх Саид Афанди Чиркейский, Arabic: سعيد أفندي شيركاوي; 21 October 1937 – 28 August 2012) was a prominent scholar in Shafii mazhab and a spiritual master, or murshid.
He was an Islamic scholar, a spiritual leader of Dagestani Muslims, and Sufi Shaykh of Naqshbandi and Shazali tariqahs.
Tens of thousands of Muslims gather annually at Chirkey for brotherhood majlis — Mawlid celebrations — which were organised by Afandi.
[2][3] Said Afandi was considered one of the Russia's top spiritual leaders whose tens of thousands of followers include influential officials, clerics and businessmen.
He served in the Soviet Army and worked as a firefighter at Chirkey Dam before beginning his religious education at the age of 32.