World of Tasawwuf
In the time of the Prophet, Tasawwuf was a reality without a name, today Tasawwuf is a name, but few know its Reality
Khawaja Gharib Nawaz
SULTAN AL HIND
Khawaja Muin al-Din Hasan Chisti Ajmeri [d.627 H]
Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu
Hadrat Khawaja
Muinuddin Chisti Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, 'The Supporter of the Poor' is the mujaddid (reviver) of the Chistiya Order of Sufis. He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of
Islam.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
BIRTH EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
MEETING WITH KHAWAJA UTHMAN HAROONI
HAJJ & THE BELOVED PROPHETS COMMAND
KHAWAJA SAHIB ARRIVES AT AJMER
KHAWAJA SAHIB BREATHES HIS LAST
MISSION AND TEACHING OF KHAWAJA SAHIB
SAYINGS OF KHAWAJA GHARIB NAWAZ
SILSILA CHISTIYA | SILSISA QADIRIYA | SILSILA ASHRAFIYA | SUFIS & SHAYKHS
Introduction
The personal touch is important in guidance of the Ummah. Mere book
knowledge leads to varied translations and further division. A sick person needs
both the physician and the prescription. Often he needs the Doctor more than the
prescription. Unless there is a competent physician to administer the
prescription properly, the prescription remains useless. Allah gave us both the
physician and the prescription, The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala
alayhi wa Sallam and the Glorious Qur'an. The Qur'an without The Beloved
Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam would not have ushered
in the marvellous transformation, in Arabia, which is the pride of Islam.
The functions of the Noble Physician have been described in the quoted verse of the Qur'an al-Kareem. Accordingly the duties of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam consist of the following:
1. To read the signs (ayah) of Allah from the Qur'an and the environment,
and thereby communicate the message of Allah ta'ala.
2. To purify their souls, which is different from merely conveying the
message. That is to purify them to understand the message.
3. To explain the real significance of the passages of the Qur'an al-Kareem,
such understanding is received when the purification process synchronises their
insight (basirah) and eyesight.
4. Finally to bring them face to face with the wisdom which follows this knowledge of the signs and action of purification.
The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam combined in himself the leadership of all the various functions. He was the religious teacher, spiritual guide, social reformer, commander in chief and political head. The four Caliphs that followed inherited this leadership in totality. The temporal power and spiritual lead were centred in the same personality.
Unfortunate events subsequent to the Martyrdom of Imam Hussain radi allahu ta'ala anhu sounded the death knell of amalgamated leadership. The Bani Umayya usurped the temporal power, and the incident of Karbala and its aftermath paved the way for the modern ‘so called’ Islamic Nation States’ and the external (zahiri) brand of Islam, as followed by these leaders. Those who could see the reality however, continued to flock around the ahle bait to drink from the fountain of knowledge and reality. Under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphs these expounders of the internal true Islam, or the Sufi Dervishes, were persecuted and that is why these spiritual lessons were given secretly. The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam is the ocean, Hadrat Ali radi allahu ta'ala anhu is the outlet and the ahle bait are the canals that carry the water to the thirsty. The analysis of the events after Karbala shows clearly how wealth and power corrupted the morals and respect for the Ahl al-bayt. How deep this rot has set in today. Fortunate are those that are attached to Sufi Orders that have devised effective mechanisms to keep the love of Ahl al-Bayt, and thus the soul of true Islam, alive in the heart of its adherent.
Spiritual Link
On
the return journey from his 'Farewell Pilgrimage' the Beloved Prophet
Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam,
on the 18 Dhul Hijjah stopped at Ghadir-e-Khum, (which is close to
today's Juhfah), an Oasis between
Makkah and Madinah. It was a place where people from different regions would
depart from each other and take different routes for their home provinces. He
called the gathering of Companions from the various tribes and after addressing
them on important matters he announced that he had received a message from Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala to declare as follows :-
The Messenger of Allah Salla
Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam declared:
"Well done Ibn Abi Talib! Today you became the Spiritual Guide, (Mawla) of all believing men and women."
Historical Sketch
It is a well known historical fact that in spreading the ethical and spiritual values of Islam, major and effective contributions have been made by the walis (saints) of Allah. It was their humanism, disposition and piety which won over the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people. They contacted the masses directly. They served and loved them. They lived with them and inspired them in the realisation of Eternal Truth. The proof of this is more than evident from the history of the growth of Islam in India. Although India was penetrated in the first century of Hijra, the noble task of inspiring the people to its tenets and values was accomplished by Hadrat Khawaja Muin al-Din Chishti, radi Allahu anhu popularly known as Khawaja Sahib and Khawaja Gharib Nawaz. He did it all through his own great moral power, glorious and appealing character, with love and dedication to mankind, without any worldly resources of wealth, power, force or support.
Khawaja Sahib was a scholar of great repute. He interpreted the true Islamic message of love for mankind and through that, love for the Almighty Creator. He preached the Qur'anic philosophy of unity of religion and worked out its potentialities for the whole of humanity. He was the greatest mystic of his time. He laid the foundation of the liberal Chishtiya order of Sufis in India, and inspired millions of souls to be his followers, and thus served the masses of the Indian sub-continent.
Birth: Early life & Education
Hadrat Khawaja Muniuddin Chisti Radi
Allahu ta'ala anhu popularly known as Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (The
Supporter of the Poor) is the mujaddid (reviver) of the Chistiya Order of Sufis.
He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Islam.
The Chistiya Silsila [2] is one of
the most popular and influential Sufi orders in Islam. It derives its name from
Chist, a village near Heerat, Afghanistan, where the founder of the Order,
Khawaja Abu Ishaq Rahmatullahi alayhi of Syria, settled. Hadrat Khawaja
Muniuddin Chisti Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu brought the Silsila to India
at the close of the 11th century Common Era and established its centre in Ajmer,
whence the order spread far and wide in India and became a force in the
spiritual life of the Muslims.
Hadrat Khawaja Muniuddin Chisti Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was born in 536 A.H./1141 Common Era., at a place called Sanjar, in Sijistan (Persia or present day Iran). He was in direct lineage of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam being paternally descended from the Beloved Prophet's grandson, Imam Hussain Radi allahu ta'ala anhu and maternally from the Beloved Prophet’s grandson, Imam Hasan Radi allahu ta'ala anhu. Thus he is a Hasani and a Husayni Sayyad [3]. He was brought up in Khorasan, Iran and received his early education at home from his father, Hadrat Sayyad Gheyasuddin Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu. At the age of 9; he committed the Qur’an al-kareem to memory. He was 16 yrs old when his father passed into the realm of Divine Beauty; he inherited a grinding stone and an orchard, which formed a source of his livelihood.
Spiritual Guidance
A Mahzoub [4]
saint, Hadrat Ibrahim Qandoozi Rahmatullahi alaihi paid Khawaja Sahib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu a visit at his orchard. Khawaja
Sahib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu laid out a sheet for him to sit on and
offered him a few grapes from the garden. The wali [saint] ate some grapes, and then
took out a piece of bread from his sack and chewed on it. He then took out the
chewed bread from his mouth and placed it in Khawaja Sahib's Radi Allahu
ta'ala anhu mouth. An instant transformation occurred, in keeping with the
Sunnah [5] of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa
Sallam.
It is stated in at-Tabarani, that:
The saints of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala also practice the internal, spiritual Sunnah of the
Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam. On eating the
bread from Hadrat Ibrahim Qandoozi Rahmatullahi alayh, Khawaja
Sahib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu penetrated the thin line separating the
material world from the unseen: the inner organs of perception opened and so did
his universe expand. The veil of worldly imagination was lifted from his mind
and he found himself in quite a strange world radiating with divine
manifestation. The intellectual proof of Islam is found among the Ulema
or scholars whilst the personification of 'surrender to the Will of Allah' or
the visible proof are the Awliya. The truth of the Beloved
Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam's integrity is
manifested through these Awliya.
With this expanded view of the universe, Khawaja
Sahib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu went to his mother and with her
permission left to acquire more knowledge of Islam (ilme din).
Distributing all his worldly belongings to the poor, he went to Bukhara
and Samarqand to join the famous Nizamia Universities there for his
theological education. He studied under Hadrat Hussamuddin Bukhari Rahmatullahi alayh and other great scholars. He completed his
academic courses brilliantly in 9 years (552 AH to 561 AH). Adorned with the
external knowledge of Islam (ilme zaahir) he felt an urge to acquire
recognition of his Creator (ilme baatin) and thus he sought a Spiritual
Guide.
The Spiritual
Guide is the inheritor of The Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa
Sallam in his inner Spiritual State, in their outward behaviour and in
their roles as guides and protectors within their communities. Their Spiritual
Hearts (qalb) [6] are capable of receiving light and love from Allah and
radiating it to those that are in their attendance. A person may acquire any
amount of external knowledge (ilm) but he cannot reach reality
(haqiqah)[7] until he connects himself to a Silsila [8] via a
physical present Guide of the Silsila, who has the powerful transference
or overflow from the Great Heart (qalb) of the Beloved Prophet Salla
Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam down the unbroken chain of
recipients.
Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rume Rahmatullahi alayhi says:
Ilme Baatin Hamchu masqa, Ilme zaahir hamchu sheer
Ke Buwad sheer masqa, ke buwad be Pir, Pir
Internal Knowledge (ilme baatin) is like butter and External Knowledge (ilme zaahir) is like milk
Like butter cannot be acquired without milk, so to recognition of Allah (ilme baatin) cannot be obtained without a Spiritual Guide.
Once while Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rume Rahmatullahi
alayh was teaching his pupils in the open courtyard next to a fountain, a
shabbily externally dressed but perfectly internally adorned Sufi, Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh came to their assembly and watched them. He saw
Mawlana Rumi referring to numerous handwritten books in the course of his
teaching. Shams asked Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Rahmatullahi alayh
as to what was in the books. Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Rahmatullahi
alayh replied,
''O! Sufi. This
contains knowledge that is beyond your understanding so you continue to read
your rosary (tasbih).'' Unnoticed by Rumi, Hadrat Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh threw all the books into the pond of water. When
Mawlana Rumi's students saw what occurred they began beating Hadrat Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayhi. This and the screams of Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh alerted Mawlana Rumi as to what occurred. He
complained that all his valuable knowledge had been destroyed. Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh said; “Tell your pupils to leave me alone and I
will give back your books.'' A visibly dejected Rumi conceded to the request
thinking that this was impossible. He was surprised to see Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh, recite bismillah, lift the drenched books
from the pond, blew dust of them and returned them to him intact. He asked Shams
Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh as to how he did this. Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh replied, “This knowledge is beyond your
understanding so you continue to teach your pupils.'' Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Rahmatullahi alayh fell at his feet and was swept into the currents
of love. The presence of this ragged Sufi, Shams Tabrez Rahmatullahi
alayh, changed Mawlana Jalal al-Din Rumi Rahmatullahi alayh
from a respected professor of theology into a lover of God, one who summed up
his whole life with the phrase, "I burnt, and I burnt, and I burnt." Shams
Tabrez Rahmatullahi alayh, targeted Mawlana Rumi Rahmatullahi
alayh since he knew that Rumi was
ready for receiving Spiritual Training but the veil of conceit, regarding his
knowledge, had to be lifted.
Mawlana Jalal 'al-Din Rume Rahmatullahi alayh
says :
Sad kitaboh, sad waraq, dar nare kun
Aur jaanoh dil rah, janibeh, dil daar kun
Throw all your books into the fire
And turn with heart and soul to the Awliya
For without them one cannot reach perfection.
Maulvi hargis na shud Maula e Rume
Ta ghulame Shams Tabrizi na shud
Mawlana (religious teacher) Rume could never have become Maula Rume (Spiritual Guide)
Without submitting
to Spiritual Guide Shams Tabrez
Khawaja Uthman Harooni
Meeting With Hadrat Khawaja Uthman Harooni Rahmatullahi 'alayhi
Khawaja Muin al-Din Chisti Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu undertook a journey to a
place called Harwan or Haroon. Here he became a disciple of Hadrat
Khawaja Uthman Harooni Rahmatullahi alayh; who was a great Sufi of his time. Khawaja Sahib Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was then
consigned to a hujra [9] to worship Allah (ibaadat) and
strive on the path (riyaazat). A day later his Guide asked him as to what
he could see and he replied,
Khawaja Uthman Harooni Rahmatullahi alayh said, ''You are not ready
yet.'' and sent him back into the hujra. Another day passed and he was
asked as to what he could see and he replied,
Again he got
the reply ''You are not ready yet'' and was sent back into the hujra.
Another day passed and on being questioned by his Pir he replied,
Khawaja Uthman Harooni Rahmatullahi
alayh then held out two fingers and asked him to look through them and
say what he sees. He replied,
Although some reports say the training lasted
three years many say it lasted three days, and I favour this, since Khawaja
Uthman Haruni Rahmatullahi alayh is reported to have said in
Anis al-Arwah [10], ''in our followers there is Spiritual Striving
(mujaheda) of one day and one night only.''
Allama Iqbal says:
Har kasse shayane ee dargae nesst
The secret of love is not for everyone
In Madinah the Illuminated, while at the Noble Court
of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala alayhi wa Sallam, Hadrat
Khawaja Uthman Harooni Rahmatullahi alayh instructed Hadrat Khawaja
Muinuddin Chisti Radi
Allahu ta'ala anhu to offer his homage and salutations respectfully. In
doing so, a voice was heard saying,
(Peace be upon you also, O, the Head of the Pious of the earth and the sea)
On hearing this his Pir-o-Murshid said to
him, "Now indeed you have reached perfection"
Hajj & the Prophet's Command
As the great Khawaja Sahib became accomplished and perfect in every respect, the divine tutor honoured him with the robe [khirqa] and took him to the pilgrimage of Hajj. Both then proceeded to Makkah and performed the Hajj, and then went to Madina Shareef and stayed there for some period to receive blessings from the Beloved Prophet of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam.
One night, whilst Khawaja Sahib was in a trance, he was ordered by the Most Beloved Prophet Muhammad Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam :
In compliance with the above spiritual command, Khawaja Sahib left Madina Shareef for India. He continued his journey, passing through Isfahan, Bokhara, Herat, Lahore and Delhi meeting several prominent Sufis of that period. He arrived at the barren and desolate land of Rajputana which is now known as Rajasthan. On his way to India, he enrolled large numbers of people into his fold and blessed thousands of others with spiritual power.
Khawaja Sahib at Ajmer Shareef
Khawaja Muin al-Din Chishti Radi Allahu anhu, arrived in Ajmer at the age of 52 years around 587 Hijri (1190 C.E.), on his divine mission, unique in the annals of Islam. His only armour for the success of his great mission was the greatest "invisible power" that pervades and sustains the whole universe. At that time, Ajmer was ruled by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, a famous Rajput king. In his court, he had a large number of powerful magicians with a certain Ajai Pal as their leader.
Khawaja Sahib stayed on a hill close to Ana Sagar lake now known as the 'Chillah Khawaja Sahib'. When the news spread that a very pious dervish had come to Ajmer, people began to flock to him in increasing numbers. Whoever came to him, received the kindest treatment and blessings. People were so much inspired by his divine teachings and simplicity that they began to embrace Islam in huge numbers. Many became his disciples. Even Ajai pal submitted himself to the divine powers of Khawaja Sahib, gave up all his magic and became his disciple [mureed].
Meanwhile, Shahab al-Din Ghori again attacked India, in 1192 C.E., and in the famous battle of Tarain, defeated Prithvi Raj. When Shahab al-Din Ghori came to know of the presence of Khawaja Sahib at Ajmer, he personally came to see him at his resting place, and enjoyed the graceful occasion of his meeting.
Khawaja Sahib continued his noble magnificent mission, showing the Path of Truth to the people. He also sent his mureeds [disciples] and khalifas [successors] to the different parts of the country who also served the people and preached the tenets of Islam. A few of his prominent successors are:
1. Khawaja Qutb al-Din Bakhtiyar Khaki (Delhi. ob. 1236)
2. Shaykh Farid al-Din Ganj-e-Shakar (Pak Pattan ob. 1265)
3. Shaykh Nidam al-Din Awliya (Delhi, ob. 1325)
Khawaja Sahib Breathes His Last
After achieving the objectives of his mission and complying with the command given to him by the Beloved Messenger of Allah Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam, Khawaja Sahib's noble soul left his mortal body on the 6th of Rajab 627 A.H. (1230) at the grand age of 97. He was buried in the same room which was the centre for his divine activities, throughout his stay at Ajmer.
Today his tomb is popularly known as the Dargah Shareef (holy tomb). People of all walks of life and faith from all over the world, irrespective of their caste, creed and belief, visit this great shrine to offer the flowers of their esteem and devotion. The rich and the poor stand side by side to pay homage and respect to this divine soul.
Mission &Teaching of Khawaja Sahib
The life and mission of Khawaja Sahib has been of an exceptional character as compared with any other saint in India. His simple teaching penetrated even the stoniest of hearts, his affectionate look silenced his fiercest of enemies. His matchless piety and blessings knew no distinction and his "Spiritual Power", amazed and defied his bitterest adversaries who came in order to harm him, but were inspired instead to embrace Islam and become his devotees for the rest of their lives. He brought the message of Universal Love and Peace. He chose the way of non-compulsion in the true spirit of the Noble Qur'an, which says:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." [al Qur'an 2:256]
Khawaja Muin al-Din Chishti Radi Allahu anhu followed this dictum strictly throughout his mission. It is because of this that he became popularly known as Gharib Nawaz, which means 'the one who shows kindness to the poor'. This was later reinforced by succeeding Chishti Sufis, who became religious pioneers in national integration in the country. They fulfilled the objectives of bringing together the various castes, communities and races, elevating humanity from the swamp of materialistic concerns, which is leading mankind to destruction even today.
The teachings of Khawaja Sahib have been recorded in several books on TASAWWUF. The essence of his teachings are:
The true friend of Allah is one who has these three qualities:
1]. A friend of God must have affection like the sun. When the sun rises, it is beneficial to all. All persons derive heat and light from it irrespective of whether they are Muslim, christian, sikh, etc.
2]. A friend of God must be generous like an ocean or a river. We all get water from the river or sea to quench our thirst. No discrimination is made whether we are good or bad or whether we are a relation or a stranger.
3]. A friend of God is one who has the quality of hospitality like the earth. We are raised and cradled in its lap, and it is always spread below our feet.
The noblest of characters is possessed by one who is:
1. Bountiful in poverty,
2. Content in hunger,
3. Cheerful in grief,
4. Friendly in hostility.
The surest way to ward off the eternal punishment of hell is:
1. To feed the hungry,
2. To redress the aggrieved,
3. To help the distressed.
Some Sayings of Khawaja Sahib
2. If all the rules of Namaz were not followed properly, it is struck back on the face of him who offers such a Namaz.
3. The heart of a lover (True lover of Allah) constantly burns with the fire of love, so much so that whatever intrudes upon its sanctity is burnt to ashes.
4. A sin committed does not harm an individual so much as looking down upon one's own fellow human beings.
5. Of all the worship that pleases Almighty Allah, the most is the granting of relief to the humble and the oppressed.
6. Performance of charity is the key of attaining the estate of a philanthropist.
7. The one who does not perform devotion of Allah is engaged in the career of earning a sinful living.
8. There are four cardinal virtues of the individual self:
(ii) showing the attitude of being well-fed when feeling hungry;
(iii) maintaining a cheerfulness in the time of sorrow; and
(iv) befriending the enemy.
9. That man is a true devotee of Almighty Allah, who resigns with pleasure to the misfortune that comes from his Beloved (Almighty Allah).
10. The path of Love of God is such a path that whosoever steps into it, loses himself.
11. For a follower of the path of Truth, it is worse than sin to disdain or look down upon anyone.
12. Those who are true Lovers of God give away both of the worlds for the sake of their Beloved and even then feel that they have done nothing worthy.
13. Perfection in faith is evident by three things:
(i) Fear,
(ii) Hope, and
(iii) Love
Inside the Dargah, Ajmer Shareef
Notes:
[1] A book entitled "Muinul Arwah" (in Urdu), written by Nawab Gudri Shah Baba,
describes the life of Khawaja Moin ad-din Chishti Radi Allahu anhu
and that the sources of information appearing in any part be appropriately acknowledged and cited.