A khanqah, also known as a khaniqah, is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood or tariqa, and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation. It is a place of spiritual teaching through discourses on spirituality by a murshid (spiritual mentor or guide). Khanqahs are often associated with dargahs or tombs of Sufi saints or shaykhs. They are found throughout the Persian-influenced Islamic world, especially Iran, Central Asia, and South Asia. In South Asia, the words khanqah and dargah are used interchangeably for Sufi shrines.

Khanqahs serve as hospices for Sufi travelers and Islamic students. They are state-sponsored housing for Sufis and provide them with a space to practice social lives of asceticism. Buildings intended for public services, such as hospitals, kitchens, and lodging, are often attached to them. Khanqahs were funded by Ayyubid sultans in Syria, Zangid sultans in Egypt, and Delhi sultans in India in return for Sufi support of their regimes.

Although khanqahs are Sufi structures, they are very inclusive. Visitors from different cultures and religions could visit the khanqah and receive a blessing.