Hadhrat Khaja Amkanagi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) – Life and teachings

 

Hadhrat Khaja Amkanagi – Life and teachings

(May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 

Hadhrat Khaja Amkanagi was the son of Hadhrat Khaja Durvesh (May Allah shower His Mercy on them).  He was a native of “Amkana” which was situated in the outskirts of Bukhara.  His education and spiritual training took place under the guidance of his father and it was under his father that he received his authorizations.

 

He became the successor of his father after his demise and fulfilled this responsibility for 38 years.  Serving the creation of Allah was his prime concern.  In the last years of his life, he had become (physically) weak.  His hands would shake.  In spite of all this, he himself would serve the guests.  Sometimes, he would take care of the servants and even the mounts.

 

All this was in accordance with the precepts of the Naqshbandi Order.  The Khaja would try to conceal his spiritual states at all times, but many miracles would be expressed at his hands.  A large number of seekers, scholars, nobles, etc. would be present to seek his blessings.

 

Prevailing over the kings to serve Islam and the Shariah

 

The custom of the Naqshbandi Order that kings would be drawn to it and they would serve the cause of Islam and the Shariah was freely expressed through the Khaja.  Useless in-fighting would be checked and thus, the common populace would be saved from death and destruction.

 

‘Abdullah Khan, the ruler of Tauran, saw a dream that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was seated in a room and a saint is standing at the door of the room with a staff in his hand.  This saint conveys the requests of the people to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and also conveys His replies to them.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) sent a sword through him to ‘Abdullah Khan and he in turn girded it.

 

When he awoke from the dream, he described the saint and asked his advisors who could be it.  They replied that the description matches that of Hadhrat Khaja Amkanagi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him).  After this, ‘Abdullah Khan would often present himself to the Khaja at morning times.  This was the effect of the company of the Khaja that ‘Abdullah Khan developed such religious fervor that in 1586, he wrote a letter to Akbar criticizing him for his irreligiousness.  Akbar replied to that letter as well.

 

Baqi Muhammad Khan was the ruler of Samarqand.  He got the unexpected news that Peer Muhammad Khan is mounting an attack on Samarqand with 50,000 cavalry.  Baqi Khan grew very worried as he had only 14,000-strong army.  He went to Khaja Amkanagi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and requested him for prayers and help.  The Khaja himself went to Peer Muhammad Khan and counseled him to return as in-fighting among Muslims is of no good.  However, Peer Khan remained adamant on fighting and rejected the counsel of the Khaja.  The Khaja returned angrily and told Baqi Khan:  If you repent sincerely and promise that you will not oppress the creation of Allah Most High, then you will be successful.  Baqi Khan made the promise before the Khaja.  The Khaja said:  You don’t worry about the limited numbers of your army.  Fight the enemy.  Congratulations on getting the sultanate of Transoxiana.  Baqi Khan took heart with these words of the Khaja and started with his army.  The Khaja, along with a group of his Sufis, also set out behind the army.

 

In an old mosque, some distance from the battlefield, the Khaja sat facing the Qibla, deep in meditation.  The Khaja would frequently break his meditation and ask those present:  What news from the battle?  Eventually someone brought the news that Baqi Khan has achieved a victory.  Then the Khaja returned to his place.

 

Some miracles

 

A dervish narrates:  I was traveling barefooted along the Khaja.  A thorn pricked my foot.  I thought: If only the Shaykh grants me a pair of shoes.  The Khaja divined this thought and turned to me and said:  Brother!  You cannot lay your hands on the flower unless and until you are pricked by a thorn.

 

Once, 3 students came to the Khaja.  All of them came with different intentions.  One of them had thought:  I will believe that the Khaja has the power to work miracles if he gives that dish to eat.  Another thought:  I will believe the Khaja is a saint only if he gives me such and such a fruit.  The third thought:  I will consider the Khaja to be accomplished only if that beautiful lad sits with me in the gathering.

 

When they met the Khaja, he granted the first 2 whatever they had desired.  To the third student, the Khaja said:  Whatever accomplishments the dervishes have, they have by virtue of following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Nothing against the Shariah occurs through them.

 

Then the Khaja addressed all the 3 and said:  One should not come to dervishes even with the intention of permissible things.  Their spiritual states are varied at various times and sometimes, they don’t pay attention to these things.  One who comes when they are in such states develops the wrong impression, harms himself (or herself) and doesn’t get anything from their blessings.

 

Demise

 

The Khaja passed away in 1008 Hijri, which corresponds to 1601 AD at the age of 90.  He was buried in his native place Amkana.

 

[Excerpted from Tareekh Mashaikh-e-Naqshband]