HAZRAT MOINUDDIN CHISTI (RA)

Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti Mazra’a Chisht o Bukhara o Iraq o Ajmer Kaun Si Kasht Pey Barsaa Nahi Jhala Teyra? * The lands of Chisht, Bukhara, Iraq and Ajmer Upon which lands did your blessings not fall? Imam Ala Hazrat Ahmad Raza Khan (RA) BRIEF BIOGRAPHY: Birth Name: Moinuddin Chishti Born in: the year 536AH in Sijistan, Iran In depth: Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) was born in the year 536AH in Sijistan, Iran as the son of Khwaja Ghyasuddin Chishti who was a very pious and influential man. He was a direct descendant through both his parents, of Hazrat Ali (RA). His birth was a time of chaos and great upheavals in both India and the Muslim Empire as a whole, and so he was orphaned at the tender age of fourteen. Thus raised in the same condition as Rasulallah (s.a.w). But soon there reached a point where social evils, moral degradations and personal tragedy stirred something deep within his young mind, and he began to turn towards the spiritual life. Once when watering his father's garden, he came across a dervish, Hazrat Ibrahim Qanduzi (RA). He was deeply affected by the saint's holy manner, and Hazrat Ibrahim Qanduzi (RA)'s presence transformed Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA)'s inner being. His eyes were opened to the ultimate realities of the spiritual world and so he began his spiritual journey by renouncing all material things. He sold his father's garden, all his possessions and distributed the money amongst the poor. Still at a young age, he arrived at the great centres of learning in Samarkand and Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where he swiftly became a Hhafiz and distinguished Alim. But still unsatisfied with this, he began a strict regime of prayers, meditations, fasting and self-renunciation which continued for years and grew more intense and vigorous until Allah granted him the exalted rank of sainthood. He used to fast for seven days and nights, breaking fast on the eighth with a small crust of bread soaked in water. At this point, he felt the need for a Sheikh, or spiritual guide, feeling the truth of the Qur'anic injunction, "O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty towards Allah, and seek a means of approach unto Him, and strive in his way in order that ye may succeed." (5:35) . He himself used to state, "Success is not possible without a guide." He travelled extensively throughout the near East, and finally found a spiritual guide in Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Haruni (RA). In the twenty years he spent under his Murshid (spiritual leader)'s guidance, he attained perfection in tasawwuf and was awarded the Khilafat-e-Azam by Khwaja Uthman (RA). He offered many pilgrimages both with his Murshid and alone. It was during one of these, while in Madinah Sharif, that he was directed spiritually by Rasulallah (s.a.w) to go to India and spread Islam there. Once, in Madinah Sharif, Hazrat Khwaja Moinudeen Chisti (RA) was paying his respects at the Darbar of Sayyiduna Rasulallah (s.a.w). While he was doing so, a voice was heard saying, "Wa Alaikumus Salam Ya Qutbul Masha'ikh-e-bahro barr (Peace be upon you also, O the Head of the Pious of the Earth and the Sea)." On hearing this, his Murshid said to him, "Now indeed you have reached perfection." After a full 20 years of hard training in Islamic mysticism under his great Murshid, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin (RA) was bestowed with Khilafat in the Chistiya Silsila. His Murshid, after advising him, handed over his Asa Mubarak (Sacred Staff), wooden sandals and Musallah (prayer mat) to Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin (RA), saying that those Tabarukaat (relics) had come down from Sayyiduna Rasulullah (s.a.w) in succession. Then in 583 A.H. when he was absorbed in prayer at the Holy Kabah, he heard a voice saying, "O Moinuddin! 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 and disciples of Moinuddin." A reply was heard, "O Moinuddin, you are accepted by Us. I will give salvation to your followers and disciples and also to those who may enter your fold till the Day of Qayamat." After performing the Hajj, he was divinely inspired from Madinah Sharif to go to Ajmer (India) to preach Islam; Rasulallah (s.a.w) commanded him, "O Moinuddin, you are the Helper of my religion. I entrust to you the country of Hindustan (India). Proceed to Ajmer and spread the light of truth." Not knowing where Ajmer was situated, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) appeared in Hazrat Khwaja Sahib (RA)'s dream and showed him where the city of Ajmer was situated. Along the way, he stopped in several places including Baghdad, Isfahan and Balkh. In Baghdad Sharif, he was the guest of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), the King of all saints and founder of the Qadriya Silsila. Hazrat Ghaus-ul Azam (RA) organised a Qawwali in his own house for the visitors, and he himself stood outside that night, with eyes closed and his staff tightly held against the ground. When asked the reason for this, he replied, "I needed to stop the ground shaking, such was the power of Khwaja's wajd." Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) and his disciples were in a cave in the mountains of the Hindu Kush when one of the most famous events in Sufi history occurred. Hundreds of miles away, in Baghdad Sharif, Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) pronounced his Chieftainship of all Awliya Allah by saying, "My foot is on the neck of all Walis." Spiritually hearing the great Saint's statement, Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) immediately threw himself down and pressed his neck against the floor, signifying his submission to that truth. It was because of this type of humble obedience that Allah granted him the title, Sultan-e-Hind, for he is the leader and spiritual head to all the hundreds of Walis that have blessed India in after-times. Indeed, it was that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) who arrived in India at a time of tremendous upheaval and moral decay. The Ghaznavi dynasty was in its last steps, and the Rajput kings were gaining power. Tyrannical rulers were making life unbearable for common people, especially the Muslims whose numbers were diminishing day by day. Yet India is not named "the land of Saints and Sufis" for just any reason; its people had inherited a wealth of spirituality that yearned for expression. It was into such an arena that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) stepped, a torch to India's tinder. First he went to Lahore, a centre of learning where resided a great number of Muslim theologians, philosophers and sufis. Yet he soon left this place, for his divinely guided mission was not to men such as these, but rather to those who were deprived of the light of Islam. Thus he arrived in Delhi, which was to become the seat of his most famous successors. At the time, the city was a place of much fear and mutual hatred between Hindus and Muslims, but Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) began delivering his sermons in a soft and sweet tone. As a result of this kindness and forbearance, both Hindus and Muslims were turned towards the path of truth. The great Wali was revered and loved by those of both religions, a trend which, was to be the hallmark of Sufism in India. Soon, however, he left Delhi too, heading instead for the remote city of Ajmer by the command of Rasulallah (s.a.w), deep within the kingdom of the most powerful Rajput Prince in Northern India, Raj Prithviraj. This city was completely alien to Islam; no Muslims at all lived within its bounds. It was in this hostile environment that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) and his forty disciples settled and began the bulk of his teaching. Very soon, however, he changed the entire civic atmosphere, gathering people of all races, castes and stations to the shining truth of Islam. His high morals and frugal lifestyle deeply impressed the Hindus and all the while, the beautiful messages of the Qur'an and Sunnah entered deep into their hearts. Soon they started to convert, multitudes upon multitudes, and the Prince became alarmed as even his courtiers and high-ranking servants took up Islam. It is interesting here to note that the Prince's mother had predicted the arrival of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA), and had warned her son not to interfere with Khwaja Sahib (RA) lest he suffer total destruction. Whether Raj Prithviraj forgot this prophecy or ignored it is unknown, but he began to harass the Shaikh and trouble his followers. But Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA), holding firm to the Islamic doctrine that, "Allah is with those who patiently persevere," steadfastly carried on his peaceful mission. One day, however, he said, "the Prince will be captured alive, and his kingdom snatched away." This prophecy was proven true not long after. The Prince was defeated by Sultan Shahabuddin, captured alive and brought into the presence of the Sultan, who ordered him executed. The power of the Rajputs was thus broken for more than three hundred years. Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (RA) carried on his work in Ajmer for 45 years, and millions entered Islam through his spiritual light and endeavours. Besides this great service, he also established permanent Sufi centres which were run by such mighty disciples as Khwaja Qutbudeen Khaki, Hazrat Nizamudeen Awliya, Hazrat Baba Fareed Ganj Shakar and Khwaja Nasirudeen Chiragh Delhawi (RA). On the 29th Jamaad-us-Saani, before entering his bare cell for his usual meditations, he advised his attendants that he should not be disturbed. When his Khalifa-e-Azam, Khwaja Qutbuddeen Kaaki (RA), arrived from Delhi on the 6th Rajab, 633 AH, he found no answer to his polite knocking. Then the mureeds unhinged the door and there they found that their beloved Murshid had already left the world, at the ripe age of ninety-six. To the wonder and amazement of all, upon his forehead was inscribed letters of light which said: He was the beloved of Allah, and he died in the love of Allah. Allama Hasan Raza Khan Barelwi, the brother of Ala Hazrat, wrote the following memorable verse in relation to Sultan ul Hind, Khwaja Gharib Nawaz: "Khwaja e Hind Woh Darbaar Hai A’ala Tera Kabhi Mehroom Nahi Maangney Waala Tera" Meaning: Master of Hind, Your court is so exalted No beggar in your court is ever deprived.