For more than 50 years, Dr. Nurbakhsh has established over one hundred khaniqahs and numerous libraries and museums throughout Iran.

In the 1970's a number of Americans and Europeans came to Iran and were initiated into the Nimatullahi Order. On their return to their respective countries they needed a place to congregate. Accordingly, the first khaniqah outside Iran was founded in San Francisco in 1975. Since that time more khaniqahs in the United States, Western Europe, Africa and Australia have been established.