His Holiness the Effendi emphasized Islamic attire and, opposing the tendency of Muslims to westernize, would say, "We are those who do not live like infidels, but resemble our ancestors." Some individuals who took heed of this call would attend his gatherings while wearing turbans, despite the ban on growing beards.

Sufism is a field concerning the reflection of Quranic concepts upon individual understandings and human life. Having gained an institutional structure through Sufi orders, Sufism has influenced millions of people. Among these orders, the most prominent is the Naqshbandi order. The Naqshbandi order, under the influence of Mawlana Khalid al-Baghdadi, became the most influential order within the borders of the Ottoman Empire. His Holiness Khalid al-Baghdadi achieved significant success in ensuring unity and solidarity by highlighting the consciousness of the Ummah and in attaching the subjects to the Ottoman State. His Holiness Mahmud Effendi also served by remaining loyal to the teachings of the Naqshbandi/Khalidi order and prioritized Islamic education.