~
Aftab-e-Nerian Sharif ~
Huzoor
Ghawsul Ummat, Sultan-ul-Mashaykh
Khwaja
Ghulam Mohiuddin Ghaznavi
may
Allah’s Mercy be upon him
Father
of Khwaja Pir Alauddin Siddiqui [d.b]
Written
by Khalifa Allamah Riaz Ahmad Samdani
INTRODUCTION
The history of Islam stands witness
to the fact that the spreading of its message to the furthest corners of the
world are due to the tireless efforts of the Awliya Allah (Sufi
saints) and the Ulema-e-Kiram (Islamic scholars).
In particular, the delivery of
Islam’s message is hugely accredited to the work of the Awliya Allahwhich
has resulted in the Muslim rule of India/Pakistan for approx. eight hundred
years.
These Sufi saints emerged from the
Arab world, and from the cities of Sanjar, Ghazni and Bukhara. They presented
such a fine practical example of the doctrines of Islam to the inhabitants of
the Indian sub-continent that people who worshipped idols of stone and multiple
deities now turned to worship the one & only true God, Almighty Allah.
Amongst this group of pious
accomplished Sufi saints is the great leader by the name of Khwaja Shaykh
Ghulam Mohiuddin Ghaznavi, may Allah’s Mercy be upon him.
Khwaja Ghaznavi spent forty-seven
years preaching Islam in the Kashmir Valley, and his great efforts resulted in
thousands of people finding the way to true Islam and the Siraat-al-Mustaqeem (the
Straight Path).
BIRTH
Khwaja Ghaznavi was born in 1902 in
Ghazni, Afghanistan which is a city famous throughout Islamic history.
His father, Khwaja Mohammad Akbar
Khan, was a great devotee of Sayyidina Ghaws-ul Azaam Shaykh Abdul Qadir
Jilani, hence the reason why he gave Khwaja Ghaznavi the beautiful name of
‘Ghulam Mohiuddin’.
Khwaja Ghaznavi is also a
descendant of the great companion, Sayyidina Khalid bin al-Walid, may
Allah be pleased with him.
EDUCATION & UPBRINGING
Khwaja Ghaznavi’s initial Islamic
education was obtained from Khwaja Gul Mohammad who was also his uncle. As well
as teaching him vital Islamic knowledge, Khwaja Gul Mohammad also inspired his
great enthusiasm for worship and Ibadah.
Throughout the years, Khwaja
Ghaznavi also studied at the great Islamic schools in Gardez, Logar and Zurmat.
BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Khwaja Ghaznavi’s father was a very
kindhearted & honest land-owner in his town, noted for his generosity and
compassion, and he was also a very famous horse rider. This enthusiasm for
horse riding led him to start a business in the horse trade industry, making
Punjab and Lahore the centers for his business affairs.
It was this business which later
became the cause of Khwaja Ghaznavi’s arrival in Punjab, at the age of 22,
where he commenced his business affairs in various parts of the province.
Later, he chose to conduct his
business on a permanent basis in Poonch, a district of Kashmir, as this was a
much more suitable location.
Khwaja Ghaznavi’s notable honesty
and dignified character led to his business becoming very profitable and lucrative.
In a very short time, the whole district recognized him as a noble gentleman of
honorable conduct.
When he would meet Sufi saints,
many often prophesized that he would soon become a greatWali (Friend)
of Allah.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (or
Bayt)
At the age of 25, while he was on a
business trip to Azad Patan, Kashmir, he met a group of people who were on
their way to Mohra Sharif, to visit the great Khwaja Mohammad Qasim, may
Allah’s Mercy be upon him.
Khwaja Ghaznavi, being a truly
modest and loving person, sent them with gifts for Khwaja Mohammad Qasim and
asked them to convey his humble greetings to him.
When the people presented his gifts
to Khwaja Mohammad Qasim, he said, "Let that businessman know that I want
him, not his gifts."
This message was delivered to
Khwaja Ghaznavi, who decided to meet Khwaja Mohammad Qasim several months
later.
As soon as he met Khwaja Mohammad
Qasim, the life of Khwaja Ghaznavi underwent a complete change. Soon he pledged bayt, or
spiritual allegiance, at his hands thus becoming his Mureed(disciple).
He then quit his business and decided to spend the rest of his life with his
spiritual guide (Murshid).
Khwaja Mohammad Qasim (who passed
away in 1943) was a great Sufi of the Naqshbandi Order, who devoted everything
to his followers. Due to this immense fayz (blessing), Khwaja
Ghaznavi progressed rapidly through the stages of spiritual training, or Tasawwuf.
Khwaja Mohammad Qasim appointed
Khwaja Ghaznavi to serve in the famous langar khaana (open
kitchen) for the visitors coming to pay their respects, and this duty he
fulfilled for 12 years. The hospitality of the guests at Mohra Sharif was an
extremely vital task and Khwaja Ghaznavi observed it with great honor,
contentment and dedication.
KHILAFA (to be appointed as
the Shaykh’s deputy)
When Khwaja Mohammad Qasim had
completed Khwaja Ghaznavi’s tuition in Islamic knowledge and spiritualism, he
appointed him as one of his Khulafa (deputies).
Khwaja Ghaznavi spent the days
serving and the nights absorbed in the Zikr of ‘Allahu’.
The sound of ‘Allahu’ was from the depths of his heart, and
this caused Khwaja Mohammad Qasim to instruct him, "Go and search for a
large territory in Kashmir, far from any population, and spread this Zikr."
He was to settle in this remote
area and transform it into a centre of Islamic services.
NERIAN SHARIF
The son of Khwaja Mohammad Qasim,
Pir Mohammed Zahid Khan, asked Khwaja Ghaznavi to start preaching Islam in the
Danna Pothee Mir Khan district which was a completely deserted area. There was
no population there; it was completely covered with forests and the land was
full of wild animals. However, as this was an order, Khwaja Ghaznavi obeyed the
instructions and settled there.
He was accompanied by his younger
brother Khwaja Pir Mohammed Durrab Khan Sahib (also known as Pir Saani Sahib).
For the remaining years, Khwaja
Ghaznavi did not ponder upon his land, property or business. The years ahead in
Nerian Sharif brought trials and tribulation but he overcame them all with
great resolve and determination.
Day by day, more and more people
came to visit these servants of Allah, and were taught and educated about
Islam. The uninhabited land was soon converted into the grand Darbar of
Nerian Sharif where every moment is now spent in Zikr (remembrance)
and Fikr (meditation).
CHARACTER & LIFE
Khwaja Ghaznavi’s life is a fine
example of the pious ways lead by the great scholars & saints in the
history of Islam. He was extremely generous and kindhearted, always ready to
help those in need. Scholars, dervishes, the poor and wealthy alike would visit
him daily as he always spoke to and treated all with great compassion, respect
and hospitality.
He was a great figure of hope &
kindness, and his devotion to Allah and the Noble Prophet is unparalleled. His
incredible sincerity & righteousness transformed the wilderness into a now
life-changing territory of peace and tranquility.
SERVICES TO ISLAM
It is impossible to give a complete
account of Khwaja Ghaznavi’s services to Islam as he devoted his entire life to
the Deen.
He made many journeys in Kashmir
and Pakistan, and to surrounding areas for the purpose of preaching. In the
daytime, he would preach Islamic wisdom to the public and at night, he would spend
his time reciting the Holy Qur’an, praying and worshipping Almighty Allah.
There were never any shortcomings
in either his day-time obligations or his night-time worship.
After the Isha prayer until
midnight, he would be engaged in preaching and in Zikr gatherings.
He would then sleep for a few hours, after which he would engage himself in
solitary worship of Allah and Zikr.
Khwaja Ghaznavi’s devotees amount
to more than three hundred thousand. His services to Islam spread throughout
Pakistan, Kashmir and bordering areas as well as Afghanistan, England and the
Arab world.
The services of Khwaja Ghaznavi’s
younger brother and Khwaja Ghaznavi’s sons are well-known to all, especially
the work of Ghaws-ul Waqt Khwaja Pir Alauddin Siddiqui, .
DEPARTURE FROM THIS WORLD
A year before he passed away, at an
annual function at Hazru, Khwaja Ghaznavi said to Mawlana Hidayat-ul Haqq
Sahib, “Allah knows best if I will be able to come here next year.”
Having returned from this function,
Khwaja Ghaznavi soon fell ill and his health deteriorated increasingly by the
day. Twice, he was taken to Rawalpindi’s Combined Military Hospital where
operations were performed, however Khwaja Ghaznavi’s health continued to
worsen. In the end, the illness was declared incurable.
While he was in the hospital,
Khwaja Ghaznavi said, “Take me to my home.”
His devotees took him from
Rawalpindi to Nerian Sharif. Here, Khwaja Ghaznavi again said, “Take me to my
home.”
His devotees said, “This is our
home.” Khwaja Ghaznavi replied, “This is not my home.”
During his very last days, Khwaja
Ghaznavi had completely closed his eyes from this world. He would only open his
eyes if someone spoke to him, or to ask if it was time for prayer.
Khwaja Ghaznavi departed from this
world on Friday 28th Rabi-ul Awwal 1395 (11 April 1975) at 2.35pm after the
Jummah prayer. He was 73 years old.
DEPUTIES (Khulafa)
Khwaja Ghaznavi appointed a number
of Mureeds as his Khulafa so that they could
continue his service to Islam.
His Khulafa number
more than seventy. Some of their names are listed below:
1. Mawlana Hidayat-ul Haqq (Hazru)
2. Mawlana Mufti Abdul Malik
Hazarvi (Hazara)
3. Faiz Mohammad (Tatta Pani, Azad
Kashmir)
4. Ghulam Hussain (Bandli Sharif,
Azad Kashmir)
5. Mohammad Ameer (Afghanistan)
6. Shaykh Nazeer Ahmad (Madinah
Munawwara)
7. Ghulam Mohammad (Sahiwal)
8. Mohammad Shafi (Gujar Khan)
9. Mohammad Fazil (Sindh)
10. Mohammad Azam (Poonch, Azad
Kashmir)
11. Mawlana Abdullah Ateeq (Kotli,
Azad Kashmir)
12. Mawlana Riaz Ahmad Samdani
(United Kingdom)
FAMILY
Khwaja Ghaznavi married three
times. His first wife was from Nerian Sharif, the second from Ghazni and the
third from Punjab. He left behind seven sons to his noble memory. All his sons
are exceptionally learned Islamic scholars and preachers, who are continuing
the great task of their honorable father by serving Islam.
Khwaja Ghaznavi's sons are:
1. Khwaja Pir Mohammad Alauddin
Siddiqui, may Allah grant him long life and elevate his status
2. Sahibzada Pir Nizamuddin Qasmi
3. Sahibzada Imam Rabbani Farooqi
4. Sahibzada Mohammad
Fazl-e-Rabbani
5. Sahibzada Sher-e-Rabbani
6. Sahibzada Ghulam Rabbani
7. Sahibzada Shams-ul Arifeen
KHWAJA GHAZNAVI'S TEACHINGS
1. The true meaning of Islam is to
protect yourself from all sin, which is achieved by practicing the five pillars
of Islam.
2. Abstain from all actions which
are displeasing to Allah.
3. Your body should always be used
for obedience to Almighty Allah.
4. When you stand for Salah,
remind yourself you are standing before Allah, Who is the Greatest, Who hears
and sees all things.
5. Allah blessed Prophet Adam, peace
be upon him, with the complete knowledge of the names of all things.
But his knowledge compared to the unlimited knowledge of our Holy Prophet, may
Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, is like a drop of water compared
to an ocean.
6. Jealousy, envy, hatred and
arrogance are all evil traits which were not only the reason why Iblees refused
to bow to Prophet Adam, but they were also the cause of the accursed lblees
challenging Almighty Allah.
7. In yourselves, replace pride and
arrogance with humility. Replace your base desires and comforts with patience,
determination, gratitude to Allah, and engage in His Remembrance. Replace greed
with love of Allah, His Beloved Prophet, and your Shaykh.
8. The four famous principles of
the Naqshbandi Order are:
• Remember Allah with every breath
• Never take even one step in a
wasteful cause, and remove from yourself all desire for worldly goods
• Always remain in the company of
the Awliya-e-Kaamileen (accomplished Sufi saints)
• Bring others towards Allah, and
always be conscious of Him.
9. An accomplished Shaykh is a
deputy of the Holy Prophet,may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him,
and is the means or Waseela between Allah and His servants.
The Shaykh guides and leads his disciples by the teachings of the Holy Prophet.
The Holy Prophet said, “Scholars
are the inheritors of the Prophets.” [Tirmidhi]
10. Do not be disrespectful to your
Shaykh, do not ignore him, do not oppose him and do not consider your opinion
better than his, because a true Shaykh will lead you to the correct path of
Islam, the Sirat-al-Mustaqeem.
11. Your salvation & success in
this World and in the Hereafter is dependent upon your Imaan(faith)
and your good deeds.
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