A beautiful tomb of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz dargah. Constructed by the Sultan of Mandu, Ghyasuddin in 1464 A.D. over the existing structure
Sultan-ul-Hind Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti Sanjari (radi Allahu anhu) popularly known as Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (The Benefactor of the Poor) was the founder of the Chishtiya Order of Sufis in India. He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Islamic Mysticism.
The Chishtiya Silsila is one of the most popular & influential mystic orders in Islam. It derives its name from Chisht, a village near Herat, where the real founder of the Order, Khwaja Abu Ishaq (radi Allahu anhu) of Syria, settled. Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) brought the Silsila to India at the close of the 11th century A.D. & established its centre in Ajmer, whence the order spread far & wide in India & became a force in the spiritual life of the Muslims.
Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti Sanjari (radi Allahu anhu) was born in 536 A.H. - 1141 A.D. in Sijistan (Persian) & was the direct descendent of a noble family coming down in direct lineage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). He was a Hassani & a Hussaini Sayyid. He was brought up in Khorasan & received his early education at home from his father, Hazrat Sayyid Gheyasuddin (radi Allahu anhu). At the age of 9, he committed the Holy Quran to memory.
After the demise of his father, he inherited a grinding stone & a garden, which formed a source of his livelihood. From an early age he loved the company of saints, mystics & dervishes. The persistent sacks & destruction of Khorasan (including Sijistan) by the hordes of Ghuzz tribe of the barbarous Tartars proved to be a turning point of his life at the early age of 14. Fired by overwhelming human passion, he was divinely inspired to renounce the world at this early age.
Distributing all his worldly belongings to the poor, he went to Bukhara & Samarqand to join the famous Nizamia Universities there for his theological education. He completed his academic courses brilliantly in 5 years.
In order to quench his spiritual thirst, he left Iraq for Arabia & on his return from there he undertook a journey to a place called Harwan or Haroon. He became a mureed of Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Harooni (radi Allahu anhu), a great Sufi mystic of his time. Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) remained in the company of his Peer-o-Murshid & travelled with him carrying his Murshid's belongings on his head. They travelled to Mecca, Medina, Iraq, Syria, Samarqand, Afghanistan, etc. meeting many great saints.
While they were in Mecca, Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Harooni (radi Allahu anhu) took Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) to the Holy Kaaba & made Du'a for him & a voice was heard declaring: "We have accepted Mo'inuddin as one of our beloved devotees." In Medina Shareef, while in the Darbar of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Harooni (radi Allahu anhu) instructed Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) to offer his homage & salutations respectfully. In doing so, a voice was heard saying, "Wa Alaikumus Salaam Ya Qutbul Mashaa'ikh-e-bahr-o-bar (Peace be upon you also, O, the Head of the Pious of the earth & the sea)." On hearing this his Peer-o-Murshid said to him, "Now indeed you have reached perfection."
After full 20 years hard training in Islamic mysticism under this great Peer-o-Murshid, Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin (radi Allahu anhu) was bestowed with Khilafat in the Chishtiya Silsila. His Murshid, after advising him, handed over his Asa Mubarak (Sacred Staff), wooden sandals & Musallah to Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin (radi Allahu anhu) saying that those Tabbarukaats have come down from Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) in succession.
In 583 A.H. when he was absorbed in prayer at the Holy Kaaba, he heard a voice saying, "O Mo'inuddin! We are greatly pleased with you. You have been given salvation. Ask for anything that you may like." He submitted respectfully, "O Allah, give salvation to the followers & disciples of Mo'inuddin." A reply was heard, "O Mo'inuddin, you are accepted by Us. I will give salvation to your followers & disciples & also to those who may enter your fold till the Day of Qiyamat." After performing the Hajj, he was once again divinely inspired from Medina Shareef to go to Ajmer (India) to preach Islam: "O Mo'inuddin, you are the Helper of my religion. I entrust to you the country of Hindustan (India). Proceed to Ajmer & spread the gospel of truth." Not knowing where Ajmer was situated, the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) came in Hazrat Khwaja Sahib's (radi Allahu anhu) dream & showed him where the city of Ajmer was situated.
On his way to Ajmer & passing through Afghanistan, Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti's (radi Allahu anhu) spiritual impact converted the notorious & cruel Yadgar Muhammad into one of Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin's (radi Allahu anhu) devoted Mureeds. Yadgar Muhammad did not previously recognise & respect the first three Caliphs of Islam; neither had he any respect for Sufis nor for any holy saints. Now, after meeting Hazrat Khwaja Sahib (radi Allahu anhu), Yadgar Muhammad repented & distributed his wealth to the poor & needy, divorced his many wives, freed all his slaves & renounced the world. He stayed & travelled with his Murshid.
Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti's (radi Allahu anhu) proceeded to Delhi via Fort Shadman, Multan, Lahore & Samana. At Lahore, he stayed for 40 days that the Mazaar Shareef of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh - Hazrat Ali Hajveri (radi Allahu anhu). In Delhi, Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin (radi Allahu anhu) started delivering his sermons & discourses in a soft language dipped in honey attracting thousands of Hindus & Muslims. But he had his sights on Ajmer, which had been away from the light of learning & guidance. He wanted the city of Ajmer to be the centre of learning, teaching & spiritual activities.
Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) reached Ajmer with about 40 followers in the year 587 A.H. Here he received fierce opposition from the ruler of Ajmer, Raja Pritvi Raj. He did nothing to antagonise the Hindu ruler. His mission was simply that of love & learning, purity & guidance. In a short time, the entire area was filled with the truth of unity of Allah. Men & women in thousands took the oath of allegiance on his hands.
But this large-scale conversion to Islam displeased the Hindu ruler & he started putting the Muslims to hardships. Pritvi Raj sent Ajai Pal & Sadhu Ram, who were magicians, to destroy Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) with black magic, but they failed on every try. Ajai Pal and Sadhu Ram were so much impressed by Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) that they accepted Islam & became his devoted Mureeds.
A great Muslim army general, Shahabuddin Ghouri, who was in Khorasan, saw Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) in a dream who instructed the general, "It has been ordained by Allah that you shall be the ruler of India. Direct your attention soon & arrest Pritvi Raj & punish him." Acting upon this instruction, Shahabuddin Ghouri came to India to face the army of Pritvi Raj. The Muslim general & the small band of Muslim army, encountering fierce opposition, eventually defeated the Hindu army & went to Ajmer to pay homage to Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) & become his Mureed.
Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) was an embodiment of plain living & high thinking. His noble disposition, his marvellous self-control, his renunciation, self abnegation, selfless service, his patience, his love, fortitude & courage earned for him the respect from his admirers & devotees. He passed his days in Almighty Allah's remembrance. He was free from avarice & greed. He had no lust for power, no wish for name & fame & no desire for wealth. He sought only the pleasure of Allah & His Rasool (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). He was deeply loved by his Peer-o-Murshid, who used to say, "Our Mo'inuddin is a beloved of Allah & I feel proud of the fact that he is my disciple. He followed the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) very faithfully in his day-to-day life. The fear of Allah ever dominated his mind." Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (radi Allahu anhu) says that he never saw a beggar or any needy leaving his door without taking something - one of his popular titles of "Ghareeb Nawaaz" (Lover of the Poor).
Although Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) did not know the language of Hindustan because he spoke Persian, he converted about nine & a half million into the folds of Islam. Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) did not conquer India with his sword but with love. The Sama mehfils of his proved as a cementing force for the spread of Islam & brought the people together.
Sheikh Mo'hiyuddin Ibn Arabi, Hazrat Fariduddin Attar, Hazrat Shams-Tabriz & Moulana Jalaluddin Rumi (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) were all contemporaries of Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu).
On the 14th of Jamad-us Thani 627 A.H., Khwaja Sahib (radi Allahu anhu) bestowed the Khilafat upon Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (radi Allahu anhu).
On Monday, 6th Rajab in 627 A.H. (1236 A.D.), after the night prayers, Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) went into his room & did not allow anybody to enter. When the door remained closed at the time of Morning Prayer, his devotees opened the door & found that Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti (radi Allahu anhu) passed away. On his blessed forehead was written: "He was the beloved of Allah & he died in the Love of Allah."
Hazrat Khwaja Mo'inuddin Chishti's (radi Allahu anhu) Mazaar Shareef is in Ajmer Shareef & thousands of people assemble there every day to pay respects to the greatest saint of the Chishtiya Silsila.
- To look lovingly towards your parents is also a reason to gain the pleasure of your creator.
- An 'Aarif (order of saints) picks one foot & lands on the Arsh (throne of ALLAH (Subhanuhu wa Ta'ala) & with the other comes back again.
- There is only one thing present in the entire universe & that is the noor (light) of ALLAH (Subhanuhu wa Ta'ala) every thing else is absent.
- There is only one veil standing between man & his creator & it is called nafs (soul).
- Do not be disillusioned by the enormity of the universe.
- The distinctions between the Haram & a Monastery are superficial.
- If love is not an automatic guide then one will never reach ones destination.
- ALLAH (Subhanuhu wa Ta'ala) is an all incorporating goodness & his divine decree is goodness for us.
- Hoarding of wealth & food for profit has become a destructive disease in the body of the nation. To fight & eradicate this disease lies within each citizen.
- No nation can ever achieve progress until the men & the women do not go ahead shoulder to shoulder.
- Belief in the law, unity, discipline & it's principles should be adopted you will become. Trustworthy in this World.
- Organise your nation according to the economics, political, education & important laws & conditions. Then you will definitely see, you would become such a nation that everybody will accept you & respect you.
- So much of damage caused by sin has never been seen, as much as the damage caused by a brother being disrespectful & despicable towards another brother.
- If a person has these 3 qualities then he is Allah’s wali (friend):
- He is generous like the sea, every creation is blessed alike with his favours.
- He is affectionate like the sun whose light is spread for everyone.
- He is hospitable like the earth, which is hospitable in exactly the same way towards all.
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