ابدال

abdāl (pl. of بدل badal, or بدیل badīl), m. Lit. 'The substitutes or lieutenants';—1˚. Certain righteous persons of whom the world is never destitute, and by whom God rules the earth: 2˚. The substitutes and successors of the prophets: (hence,) 3˚. A religious person, hermit, devotee, saint, enthusiast: 4˚. A religious fraternity; a class of wandering Mohammadan saints.