Hazrat Maulana Fakhruddin Dehlvi

Dargah of Moulana Fakruddin in Mehroli, Delhi

Hazrat Moulana Fakhr al-Din (r.a) (also spelled Fakruddin) was one of the most brilliant of Islamic scholars in India, as well as being one of the most popular of the Chishtiya saints. Indeed, this noble personality’s influence is so great that it is said that after Khwaja Moin'uddin Chishti (rehmatullah alaih) & his immediate successors (the Big Five), Moulana Fakhr al-Din (r.a) is regarded as being the most influential figure in the spread of the Chishtiya order. All contemporary branches of the order are directly linked to the great Moulana & his services &  dedication to Islam have rarely been equalled.

Moulana Shah Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) was born in Aurangabad, India in 1715 CE (1126 AH). He was the son of the famous saint of Aurangabad, Khwaja Nizamuddin Aurangabadi (rehmatullah alaih), as well as being a descendant of Sayyidina Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (rehmatullah alaih) from his paternal side &  the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) from his maternal side. When word of his birth reached Hazrat Shah Kalimullah (rehmatullah alaih) of Delhi, he personally named the child "Fakhruddin" & gave him a piece of his own kharqa (patched frock). Hazrat Shah Kalimullah (rehmatullah alaih) also imparted the title "Moulana" to the newborn & foretold that he would be a great scholar & saint. When Shah Nizamuddin (rehmatullah alaih) was on his deathbed, he held his son close to him, reading the qur'anic verse, "...I have breathed into him of my own spirit..." (32:9)

Thereafter, he named his sixteen year old son as his khalifa. For the next three years Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) worked hard at completing his religious & literary education & the following eight years were spent in ascetic exercises, mujahidas & meditation. On occasion his admirers were awed to find Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) in a state of ecstasy, uttering remarks similar to the mystically intoxicated sufis of legend. By joining the military service of Nawab Nizamuddaula, he sought to be free of his growing reputation, but his fame soon began to be spoken of in the very camp & he had to resign. Word of his sainthood began to spread & due to increasing demands from his disciples, he moved from Aurangabad to Delhi in the hope of escaping the attention. On his journey to Delhi, a blind Hindu woman approached the caravan in which Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) was travelling. Giving a perfect description of him, she related that her goddess, Bhavani, had told him that this man would restore her sight. The great Moulana assured her that he was a common soldier & could not perform miracles; but some time before the caravan departed, he prayed for her & Allah restored her eyesight.

In Delhi, at the now famous Ajmer Gate, Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) opened a great university where he began conducting classes in various Islamic disciplines. He later opened a khanqah (spiritual centre) where he trained seekers on the path to Allah. The focus of his teachings was primarily directed towards Qur'an & hadith. He was an ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (Peace & Blessings be Upon him), hence the appellation "Muhibb-un-Nabi". He was scrupulous in his imitation of the sunnah out of love for Huzoor Paak (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) & continuously stressed the importance of this to his mureeds. Such was his devotion that just prior to his demise, he was unable to trim his bread due to weakness. At this he expressed great sorrow & lamented that it had grown beyond the required length as portrayed in the practice of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). This love for Allah & his prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) he imparted to his disciples & devotees.

Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih)'s demeanour & personality was like a magnet that attracted people so greatly that even those initially opposed him & expressed their hatred of him eventually became his faithful followers. Once an afghan who entered his university with the intention of murder happened to sit in a gathering Moulana was addressing; by the end of the lecture, he repented & became Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih)'s disciple.

Hazrat Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) was pivotally involved in the reformation of Muslim society & actively campaigned for the correct implementation & practice of the Holy Qur'an & the sacred traditions of Rasulallah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). His reformations did not stop at the masses, however. Emperors such as Ghaziuddin Khan, his son & Emperor Shah Alam his mureeds. Another famous emperor of India, Bahadur Shah Zafar, was a great lover of Moulana Fakhruddin (rehmatullah alaih) & devoted many of his poems to the great saint. In one poem the emperor says,

"I am a devotee of Qutbuddin & dust at the feet of Fakhruddin. A king I may be But a lowly servant of Fakhruddin I seem."

Thousands of students & disciples achieved great benefit at the hand of this great servant of Islam & the knowledge that he imparted still bears its fruit today. Hazrat Moulana Fakhruddin Muhibb-un-Nabi Delhawi (rehmatullah alaih) passed away on the 27th Jamaadi-us-Saani in 1199 AH at the age of 73 years, but his legacy lives on & will Insha-allah continue till the day of Qiyaamat.

The beloved sleeps, covering her face with the beautiful locks of her hair.

Khusro, go home! The darkness of evening has engulfed the whole world.