Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Life History of the Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, (R.A) Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Rajasthan, India
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty (R.A) (Persian/Urdu: خواجہ معین الدین چشتی ) also known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (Urdu: غریب نواز ), is the most
famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order of South Asia. He is also known as "Sultan-e-Hind". Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti was born in Asfahan and brought up in Sanjar, Persia, in the year 530 AH / 1135 AD. He was the
son of Khwaja Ghiyas Uddin Hasan and Bibi Mah Nur. In 544 AH / 1150 AD, his father passed away leaving him a garden and a
grinding stone as inheritance. Soon thereafter, Khwaja Sahib came in touch with a mystic, Hazrat Ibrahim Qandoozi. The meeting
bought about a noticeable change in his condition and he became absorbed in the search for Truth. He sold his inheritance and left for Khorasan.
Khwaja Moin-uddin Hasan Chisti (R.A) occupies a prominent place among the spiritual Healers of the world.
In his temperament as in the circumstance of his life Khwaja Sahib was destined for an extra ordinary career.
Into a tottering civilization, fraught with material acquisition, which guaranteed no safety to human life and which conferred no spiritual freedom on human beings he burst forth all the masterful force of his personality, There is a complete blending of greatness and grace, mediation and action precept, practice, indifference of the mystic and idealism of a Saint.
He stands for all that is true, Beautiful and Noble..
He is a SYMBOL OF LOVE, HARMONY AND TRUTH.
The sources of this power may be traced to his own exceptional endowments.
Throughout his life, he exhibited the noble traits of character so peculiar to the house of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) to which he belonged.
He traveled far and wide and during his search, he met Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir of Jilan, better known as Ghous-ul-Azam, and also Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni. His search for a spiritual guide was rewarded when Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni took him as a mureed (spiritual disciple).
He spent several years under the guidance of Khwaja Usman Harooni and traveled widely with him, seeking Truth and meeting mystics and adding to his spiritual treasures. In the year 582 AH / 1186 AD, he was appointed spiritual successor by his spiritual guide, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni. Later, upon his visit to Medina in 583 AH / 1187 AD, he received a mandate from the Holy Prophet to proceed to Ajmer.
Mandate from the Holy Prophet
Hazrat Khwaja Moin Uddin Hasan Chishti came to India as the harbinger of peace and humanism and as an ambassador of unity and goodwill. He ultimately came to be identified as the Spiritual Sovereign of India.
Hazrat Khwaja Moin Uddin Hasan Chishti received the mandate from the court of the Holy Prophet Mohammed to the effect that: -
"O, Moin Uddin! Thou art a helper of my religion. I entrust to thee the country of Hindustan (India) where prevails darkness. Proceed on to Ajmer, and spread there our gospel of Truth."
Receiving this mandate, Khwaja Sahib was immensely pleased but wondered, as to where Ajmer was situated. In the meantime, he felt drowsy. He fell asleep and was blessed by the vision of the Holy Prophet Mohammed in a dream, who showed him the city, the fort and the location of Ajmer. He was bid farewell, and was given a pomegranate from heaven.
Thus began his journey to Ajmer, India
Travels of khawaja moinuddin hasan chisthi
famous Sufi saint of the Chishti Order of South Asia. He is also known as "Sultan-e-Hind". Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti was born in Asfahan and brought up in Sanjar, Persia, in the year 530 AH / 1135 AD. He was the
son of Khwaja Ghiyas Uddin Hasan and Bibi Mah Nur. In 544 AH / 1150 AD, his father passed away leaving him a garden and a
grinding stone as inheritance. Soon thereafter, Khwaja Sahib came in touch with a mystic, Hazrat Ibrahim Qandoozi. The meeting
bought about a noticeable change in his condition and he became absorbed in the search for Truth. He sold his inheritance and left for Khorasan.
Khwaja Moin-uddin Hasan Chisti (R.A) occupies a prominent place among the spiritual Healers of the world.
In his temperament as in the circumstance of his life Khwaja Sahib was destined for an extra ordinary career.
Into a tottering civilization, fraught with material acquisition, which guaranteed no safety to human life and which conferred no spiritual freedom on human beings he burst forth all the masterful force of his personality, There is a complete blending of greatness and grace, mediation and action precept, practice, indifference of the mystic and idealism of a Saint.
He stands for all that is true, Beautiful and Noble..
He is a SYMBOL OF LOVE, HARMONY AND TRUTH.
The sources of this power may be traced to his own exceptional endowments.
Throughout his life, he exhibited the noble traits of character so peculiar to the house of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) to which he belonged.
He traveled far and wide and during his search, he met Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir of Jilan, better known as Ghous-ul-Azam, and also Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni. His search for a spiritual guide was rewarded when Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni took him as a mureed (spiritual disciple).
He spent several years under the guidance of Khwaja Usman Harooni and traveled widely with him, seeking Truth and meeting mystics and adding to his spiritual treasures. In the year 582 AH / 1186 AD, he was appointed spiritual successor by his spiritual guide, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni. Later, upon his visit to Medina in 583 AH / 1187 AD, he received a mandate from the Holy Prophet to proceed to Ajmer.
Mandate from the Holy Prophet
Hazrat Khwaja Moin Uddin Hasan Chishti came to India as the harbinger of peace and humanism and as an ambassador of unity and goodwill. He ultimately came to be identified as the Spiritual Sovereign of India.
Hazrat Khwaja Moin Uddin Hasan Chishti received the mandate from the court of the Holy Prophet Mohammed to the effect that: -
"O, Moin Uddin! Thou art a helper of my religion. I entrust to thee the country of Hindustan (India) where prevails darkness. Proceed on to Ajmer, and spread there our gospel of Truth."
Receiving this mandate, Khwaja Sahib was immensely pleased but wondered, as to where Ajmer was situated. In the meantime, he felt drowsy. He fell asleep and was blessed by the vision of the Holy Prophet Mohammed in a dream, who showed him the city, the fort and the location of Ajmer. He was bid farewell, and was given a pomegranate from heaven.
Thus began his journey to Ajmer, India
Travels of khawaja moinuddin hasan chisthi
"Ganj Bakhsh-e-Har Do Alam Mazhar-e-Noor-e-Khuda, Na Qisan Ra Peer-e-Kamil, Kamilan Ra Peshwa"
Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty (R.A.) popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) , "The founder of Chishty Order of Sufis" in India was born in 1142 A.D. in Sijistan (Iran). His paternal genealogy is related to Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.) and that of his maternal to Hazrat Imam Hassan (A.S.) and thus he is a direct descendant of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.).
His father, Sayyid Ghiyas-u’d-din, a pious man of some means, died when his son was in his teens. He left as legacy an orchard and a grinding mill. Once Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chishty (R.A) was looking after the plants in his garden that a mystic, Shaikh Ibrahim Qanduzi, happened to pass by. Shaikh Mu’in-u’d-din entertained him in his garden. Hagiologists trace the germination of mystic attitude in him to the blessings of this Saint. In fact, the most powerful factor in giving a mystic touch to his personality at this early stage was the condition of Sijistan which had suffered terribly at the hands of the Qara Khita and the Ghuzz Turks. It drove the Khwaja’s mind inwards and he realized the futility of hankering after worldly glory or looking after worldly goods. He sold all his assets, gave the proceeds in charity and took to itineracy. He visited the eminent scholars of his age. While on his way to Iraq, he passed through Harvan, in the district of Naishapur. Here he met Khwaja ‘Usman Harwani’ and was so deeply impressed by his spiritual eminence that he decided to join the circle of his disciples. For twenty years he accompanied him on his arduous mystic journeys and performed all sorts of personal services to him. Shaikh Mu’in’d-din once told his disciples. “I did not give myself a moment’s rest from the service of my Peer-o-Murshid, and carried about his night clothes during his journeys and stoppages”.
Haj and Prophet’s command:
As the great Khwaja become accomplished and perfect in every respect, the divine tutor (Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harwani (R.A.)) honored him with his robe and took him to Haj. Both then proceeded to Makkah and performed the Haj, and then went to Madina and stayed there for sometime, to get the blessings of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.W.)
One night in a trance he was ordered by the Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.W.)
“O Moinuddin! You are a prop of our faith. Proceed to India and show the path of truth to the people there. That is why he is known as Ataye Rasul/Naib-e-Rasul.” (Lieutenant of Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.)
Later he undertook independent journeys and came into contact with eminent Saints and scholars like Shaikh Najm-u’d-din Kubra, Shaikh Najib-u’d-din ‘Abdul Qahir Suhrawardi, Shaikh Abu Sa’id Tabrizi, Shaikh Mahmud Ispahani, Shaikh Nasir-u’d-din Astarabadi and Shaikh ‘Abdul Wahid – all of whom were destined to exercise great influence on contemporary religious life and thought. He visited nearly all the great centers of learning in those days – Samarqand, Bukhara, Baghdad, Naishapur, Tabriz, Aush, Ispahan, Sabzawar, Mihna, Khirqan, Astarabd, Balkh and Ghaznin and aquainted himself with almost every important trend in Muslim religious life in the middle ages. His moral and spiritual qualities attracted many people to his fold and he appointed his Khalifas in Sabzwar and Balkh. Shaikh Auhad-u’d-din Kirmani, Shaikh Shihab-u’d-din Suhrawardi and many other eminent mystics benefited by his company. Having thus roamed all over the Muslim lands which had not yet recovered from the terrible shocks of Qara Khitai and Ghuzz invasions and were to be ravaged very soon by the Mongols, he turned towards India. After a brief stay at Lahore, where he meditated at the Shrine of one of the prominent Sufi, Shaikh Ali Hajweri, he proceeded to Ajmer. Khwaja Gharib Nawaz composed a couplet paying a glowing tribute to Shaikh Hajweri :
His father, Sayyid Ghiyas-u’d-din, a pious man of some means, died when his son was in his teens. He left as legacy an orchard and a grinding mill. Once Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chishty (R.A) was looking after the plants in his garden that a mystic, Shaikh Ibrahim Qanduzi, happened to pass by. Shaikh Mu’in-u’d-din entertained him in his garden. Hagiologists trace the germination of mystic attitude in him to the blessings of this Saint. In fact, the most powerful factor in giving a mystic touch to his personality at this early stage was the condition of Sijistan which had suffered terribly at the hands of the Qara Khita and the Ghuzz Turks. It drove the Khwaja’s mind inwards and he realized the futility of hankering after worldly glory or looking after worldly goods. He sold all his assets, gave the proceeds in charity and took to itineracy. He visited the eminent scholars of his age. While on his way to Iraq, he passed through Harvan, in the district of Naishapur. Here he met Khwaja ‘Usman Harwani’ and was so deeply impressed by his spiritual eminence that he decided to join the circle of his disciples. For twenty years he accompanied him on his arduous mystic journeys and performed all sorts of personal services to him. Shaikh Mu’in’d-din once told his disciples. “I did not give myself a moment’s rest from the service of my Peer-o-Murshid, and carried about his night clothes during his journeys and stoppages”.
Haj and Prophet’s command:
As the great Khwaja become accomplished and perfect in every respect, the divine tutor (Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harwani (R.A.)) honored him with his robe and took him to Haj. Both then proceeded to Makkah and performed the Haj, and then went to Madina and stayed there for sometime, to get the blessings of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.W.)
One night in a trance he was ordered by the Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (S.A.W.)
“O Moinuddin! You are a prop of our faith. Proceed to India and show the path of truth to the people there. That is why he is known as Ataye Rasul/Naib-e-Rasul.” (Lieutenant of Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.)
Later he undertook independent journeys and came into contact with eminent Saints and scholars like Shaikh Najm-u’d-din Kubra, Shaikh Najib-u’d-din ‘Abdul Qahir Suhrawardi, Shaikh Abu Sa’id Tabrizi, Shaikh Mahmud Ispahani, Shaikh Nasir-u’d-din Astarabadi and Shaikh ‘Abdul Wahid – all of whom were destined to exercise great influence on contemporary religious life and thought. He visited nearly all the great centers of learning in those days – Samarqand, Bukhara, Baghdad, Naishapur, Tabriz, Aush, Ispahan, Sabzawar, Mihna, Khirqan, Astarabd, Balkh and Ghaznin and aquainted himself with almost every important trend in Muslim religious life in the middle ages. His moral and spiritual qualities attracted many people to his fold and he appointed his Khalifas in Sabzwar and Balkh. Shaikh Auhad-u’d-din Kirmani, Shaikh Shihab-u’d-din Suhrawardi and many other eminent mystics benefited by his company. Having thus roamed all over the Muslim lands which had not yet recovered from the terrible shocks of Qara Khitai and Ghuzz invasions and were to be ravaged very soon by the Mongols, he turned towards India. After a brief stay at Lahore, where he meditated at the Shrine of one of the prominent Sufi, Shaikh Ali Hajweri, he proceeded to Ajmer. Khwaja Gharib Nawaz composed a couplet paying a glowing tribute to Shaikh Hajweri :
WHY AJMER
Why Ajmer was particularly selected to be pivot of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s mission in India? This is a pertinent question which may be asked by some critical readers. A careful study of the history of India before Khwaja Saheb’s arrival, and of the period of his stay in Ajmer will answer this question satisfactory. We have already thrown sufficient light on this point in one of the previous chapters. In this chapter, we trace a brief history of Ajmer and the Khwaja Saheb’s Dargah which attracts millions of people every year to seek spiritual blessings of the great saint.
Geographically, Ajmer is situated in the heart of Rajasthan, at one time the citadel of India kingdom, and thus it suited the grand mission of Khwaja Saheb best. Politically, Ajmer the seat of a most powerful kingdom of the last Rajput Emperor of India, Raja Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192 A.D.) whose whole life was "one of unbroken chain of chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits which have won for him eternal fame and a name that will last as long as chivalry itself." Prithviraj was the son of Someshwara (1170-1179 A.D.) who was the 29th descendant in the lineage of King Vasudeva who flourished as far back as 551 A.D. Vasudeva has descended from Chahuan (the founder of the Rajput clan of Chauhans) whose date is untraceable in the description of Ajmer. As given in Sarga IX of the famous documentary "Prithviraj Vijaya", runs as below:-
The city was so densely populated and there were so many gardens, tanks and wells that not more than one-tenth of the earth was visible to sun, and water in the wells was only two cubits from the ground surface. Karpurdevi (mother of Prithviraj) under whose regency he was brought up also founded a town".
Describing Ajmer in his "Picturesque India" (p.77) Mr. Caine, says:-
"It is an ancient, beautiful city full of interest, both historical and architectural; its gay busy bazars and its old houses with carved fronts, some of which are among the finest in India, giving added attractions to its superb situation. A well built stone wall with give gateways surrounds the city".
Geographically, Ajmer is situated in the heart of Rajasthan, at one time the citadel of India kingdom, and thus it suited the grand mission of Khwaja Saheb best. Politically, Ajmer the seat of a most powerful kingdom of the last Rajput Emperor of India, Raja Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192 A.D.) whose whole life was "one of unbroken chain of chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits which have won for him eternal fame and a name that will last as long as chivalry itself." Prithviraj was the son of Someshwara (1170-1179 A.D.) who was the 29th descendant in the lineage of King Vasudeva who flourished as far back as 551 A.D. Vasudeva has descended from Chahuan (the founder of the Rajput clan of Chauhans) whose date is untraceable in the description of Ajmer. As given in Sarga IX of the famous documentary "Prithviraj Vijaya", runs as below:-
The city was so densely populated and there were so many gardens, tanks and wells that not more than one-tenth of the earth was visible to sun, and water in the wells was only two cubits from the ground surface. Karpurdevi (mother of Prithviraj) under whose regency he was brought up also founded a town".
Describing Ajmer in his "Picturesque India" (p.77) Mr. Caine, says:-
"It is an ancient, beautiful city full of interest, both historical and architectural; its gay busy bazars and its old houses with carved fronts, some of which are among the finest in India, giving added attractions to its superb situation. A well built stone wall with give gateways surrounds the city".
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