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Al
Sayed Al Shaykh Khawaja Gharib
Nawaz Mu'in al-din Hassan Chishti {Ra}
The
Patron of the Poor, Panah-e-Bekasan
{shelter of the helpless}
As
I sat down in front of my
computer I thought I should write on the Great Shaykh Khawaja Gharib
Nawaz {the patron of the poor} since his annual Urs is not so far
away as it will be celebrated at Ajmer Sharif {Rajastan India} in October 2001.
Quote
by {Hujat al Islam} Proof of Islam:
"I
learnt from a sure source that the Sufis are the true pioneers on
the path of God: that there is nothing more beautiful than their
rule of conduct, nor purer than their morality." Imam Al Ghazzali
{Ra}
Khawaja
Gharib Nawaz {Ra}d.627A. He is a spiritual world force. His name
echoes and re-echoes not only in every part of India, but also beyond
the Himalayas and the seas from the east to the west.
He
is not only respected, esteemed, honoured, implored, but in fact
is the focus of attention, and a centre of hope to myriad's of people,
belonging as they do to different castes, creeds, religions and
nationalities.
He
inspired and guided people during his lifetime, and he continues
to guide and inspire even now.
People
of every strata and status flocked to him during his lifetime. The
commoners and the Kings rubbed shoulders, when in his presence;
Shahbab-ud-din Ghori and Sultan Shams-ud-din Iltutmish served as
his humble attendants in his lifetime. After his passing away, the
same practice prevails. His Daragah draws to it the high and the
low, the rich and the poor, the rulers and the ruled, the needy
and the poor.
The
Moghul emperors like Akbar, Jehangir, and Shah Jahan would present
themselves in his court, make offerings, and wait for his pleasure
and blessings. Saints would come here and dedicate their lives in
his service and devotion. People would come in times of difficulty,
and respectfully and reverentially represent it to him and humbly
ask for solution. Nobody went deprived from his court.
"
Whosoever got anything, got it through society {with the mystics}.
Whosoever got good advice, got it from good people {the Sufis}."
Khwaja Gharib Nawaz {Ra}
Ghariz
Nawaz quoted Shaykh Shahabuddin Umar Surawardy {Ra} as saying:
"There
are two exceedingly good things in the world, namely the company
of mystics and the respect shown to saints."
The
power of this saint is not simply valued for the material and physical
help that can bring, it is a spiritual power which works by a kind
of spiritual osmosis. The saint's baraka imbues the places and things
which are close to him; thus, the pilgrim kisses his tomb, eats
the rose petals which have touched it, touches the Chadar which
will adorn it, buys the rose water which has washed it and eats
the food which has been cooked near it. The models for such behaviour
are to be found in the hagiography where unbelievers are converted
by eating the holy food {langar} and by the power of the saint’s
holy glance. His power is still communicated by sight and touch,
and benefits all those who come within reach of it.
The
spiritual benefit at the shrine is not limited to as passive absorption
through physical proximity to the interred saint.
Mu'in
al-din hasan al hussaini Chishti {Ra} was well known for his miracles
and asceticism and was endowed with all the merits of perfection.
He had and still has a high status, he is a Sayed by true descent.
There is no doubt about his genealogy. He wore the Cloak of poverty
{faqir} and discipleship from Imam al Awliya' 'Khawaja Uthman Harooni
{Ra} d. 617A.H/1220 A.D. Throughout his coming to Hindustan the
way {tariqa} of Islam was established there, He destroyed the darkness
of unbelief and shirk which had prevailed there since time immemorial
through revealing clear reasons and arguments. For this reason Mu'in
al din is called Ata-e-Rasul {gift of the prophet}. For seventy
years his ablution was not broken without him washing before prayer.
On whomsoever his propitious glance fell that man was immediately
brought to Allah. Whenever a sinner came into his illuminated presence,
he immediately repented. Mu'in al din was continually in a state
of contemplation. He had a hidden eye and during prayer he opened
it and on whomsoever his glance fell, that man became a perfect
saint {wali} Whoever remained in his presence for three days became
a man of miracles.
He
knew the whole Quran by heart and was a man of sama'. Every day
he use to recite the whole Quran. Each time he finished reading
the Quran a voice came from the unseen world saying 'O Mu'in al
din, your recitation has been accepted.
"O
dear one! The more you are engrossed in worldly affairs and with
worldly men, the more remote you are from God. If you are as busy
in your appointed task, namely remembrance of God, as you are in
worldly affairs then so much the better for you.
The
closer you come to the people of the world the more detached you
are from God."
Gharib
Nawaz {Ra}
Every
evening he use to break his fast with a miskal weight of dried bread
dipped in water. He used to wear patched cloth. When torn, he use
to mend it with a piece of clean material.
Al
Shaykh Al Islam Khawaj Mu'in al din Chishty {Ra} was blessed in
the city of Baghdad in the mosque of Khawaja Junaid Baghdadi {Ra}
with meeting and kissing the feet of his Murshid Khawaja Uthman
Harooni {Ra}. There were many Shaykhs present with his holiness
at that time. As soon as I had kissed the holy ground, Khawaja Uthman
Harooni {Ra] said to me 'Say two raka'ts of prayer.' I did as he
said. 'Sit with your face towards the Ka'ba.' I sat down as ordered.
'Recite the Sura -e Baqar.’I recited it. ‘Repeat the words, Subhan
Allah {praise god} twenty times.' I repeated them. Khawaja Uthman
then got up and turning his face towards the sky, took my hands
in his own. 'Come, 'he said I will take you to almighty God.' With
these words he took a pair of scissors in his blessed hands and
cut off my hair. He placed his Imama over my head and gave me his
woollen Khirqa. 'Sit down. 'I sat down. 'Recite the Sur-e Ikhlas
one thousand times.' I recited it. 'The tradition of the silsila
now requires a night and day of prayer, 'he said, 'Go and keep this
night and day alive with your devotions. 'I passed a night and day
in prayer according to the order of my master.
When
the next day dawned I again presented myself before my Murshid.
'Sit down, 'he said. I sat down. 'Raise your eyes. 'I looked towards
the sky. 'What do you see?' he asked. 'I see up to the Great Throne
{'arsh-e-azam},'I replied. 'Look below. 'I turned my eyes towards
the ground. 'What do you see? 'He asked. 'I see down to the depths
to the Earth, 'I replied. Then he said, 'Sit down and recite Sura-e
Ikhlas one thousand times. 'I recited it. 'Raise up your eyes again,
'he said I did so. 'How far do you see now?' 'Till the curtain of
the Highest, 'I replied. 'Open
your eyes and look in front, 'he said. I did so. He placed two of
his fingers before me. ''What do you see?' he asked. 'I see eighteen
thousand spheres {alam},' I replied. 'Go he said, 'your work is accomplished.'
A brick was lying before him. 'Pick it up, 'he said. I picked
it up and found that it was a handful of gold coins. 'Take them
to the darwishes and distribute them in charity. 'When I returned,
he said, ‘remain with me for a few days. ' I replied. 'Your order
is Supreme, I will stay’.
Mu'in
al din Chishty {Ra} has stated that after receiving the blessing
of becoming the disciple of Uthman Harooni {Ra} I spent the next
twenty years in his service. Never for a second or a minute did
I spend time on my own comfort rather than his service during all
those twenty years. I carried his bedding whether at home or on
a journey. When he realised my determination and devotion he blessed
me according to his own position.
Sadly
it is related that one night of 6th Rajab AH633 after the 'Isha
prayer Mu'in al din Chishti {Ra} went to his own room and closed
the door securely. The inhabitants of the dargah were close by all
night and listened to Mystic sound. When they heard this sound they
thought Mu'in al din was in wajd. From late at night until the dawn
prayers he was silent. They knocked at the door and spoke, but this
had no effect and there was no reply. At last they opened the door
and saw Mu'in al din {Ra} had passed away. And on his forehead was
written Ha za Habbib'ullahi Matha fi'Hobillhi
"He was a beloved of God, and died in the
love of God."
"From
among the multitude, God gracious appoints some selected persons
as his "friends" to preach his commandments for the benefit
of the world. Their one greatest qualification is that they renounce
the wealth and pleasures of the world and dedicate their lives to
the love, devotion and service of God and humanity. When the world
would have no such Walis, then the Day of Qayamat would dawn upon
it."
Ali
Hujwiri Data Ganj Baksh {Ra}
If
I tried to write in this article of all the events and circumstances
concerning the saint which have been written in the biographical
books of great masha'ikh and the tazkirat of great saints it would
never end. The events of the life of the saint are brighter than
the moon and stars.
By
Dr. Irfan Ahmed Al Alawi
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