The life and times of Hadhrat Khaja Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

The life and times of Hadhrat Khaja Syed Ameer Kulaal

(May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 

Hadhrat Khaja Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) was a descendent of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He was born in Sokhaar, which is in the suburbs of Bukhara at a small distance from Sammasi.  His profession was making earthen pitchers.  Because of this, he became famous as Kulaal (pitcher maker).

 

His mother says that when she was pregnant with the Khaja, whenever she would eat anything whose permissibility was doubtable, she would suffer severe stomachache which would be relieved only with vomiting out that eatable.  After a few instances, I understood that the baby in the womb is responsible for all this.  Thus, I became very careful in what I would eat.

 

The wrestler who became a Shaykh

 

In his early youth, he had a hobby of wrestling.  Once, he was wrestling in Ramiyatan that Hadhrat Muhammad Baba Sammasi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) passed by along with his disciples.  He stood near the ring in the shade of a wall to watch the bout.  Some disciples thought that the Shaykh should not be concerned with such revelry and should not stand here.  Hadhrat Muhammad Baba Sammasi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) divined the thoughts of his disciples and he said:  In this bout, there is a man of Allah from whom many accomplished folk of the world will draw benefit.  I am here to snare him.  Maybe that he would be ensnared in our net.

 

While this conversation was going on, Hadhrat Syed Ameer’s gaze fell on Hadhrat Baba Sammasi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and he gave up himself at the first glance.  He immediately abandoned wrestling and started following Hadhrat Muhammad Baba Sammasi.  On reaching the house, the Shaykh took aside the Khaja and instructed him in the Tariqah.  After this, Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) never wrestled again.

 

Spiritual training

 

After giving the pledge, Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) remained under the tutelage of Hadhrat Muhammad Baba Sammasi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) for 30 years and remained engaged in worship and self-mortification as per the custom of the Khajagaan of the Naqshbandi Order.

 

Twice in a week, i.e. every Monday and Thursday, he would go to Sammasi from Sokhaar and would offer Salaat Ul ‘Isha there.  He would then offer Salaat Ul Fajr back in Sokhaar and would be engaged in the customs of the order throughout the distance and no one would be the wiser.  Eventually, he reached perfection under the guidance of Hadhrat Muhammad Baba Sammasi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him).

 

Ameer Taimur and Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 

The capital city of Ameer Taimur was Samarqand.  He sent a messenger to Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and requested him to come to Samarqand so that the capital city would benefit from his company.  The Khaja excused himself and said that he was praying for the king there itself. 

 

The Khaja sent his son Hadhrat Syed Ameer ‘Umar (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) to the king to convey his inability to come.  The Khaja had specifically instructed his son that he should not accept any gift or endowment from Ameer Taimur.  If he did accept something, then he should not return to the Khaja as he would be guilty of going against the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Apart from this, the dervishes always pray for the believers, but if they become enamored of the world, their prayers will not be accepted.

 

Hadhrat Syed Ameer ‘Umar (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) remained for some days along with the king then sought the king’s permission to go home.  The king said:  I give the whole of Bukhara to you.  Hadhrat Ameer ‘Umar (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) refused.  The king requested him to accept at least a part of it, if not the whole of Bukhara.  Hadhrat Ameer ‘Umar (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) again excused himself and said that he did not have the permission to do so.  Now Ameer Taimur asked him what gift should he send to Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) to gain his proximity.  Hadhrat Ameer ‘Umar (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  Acquire piety and justice, as they are means of closeness to Allah Most High and His pious servants.

 

His demise

 

Before his demise, Hadhrat Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) dictated a set of instructions.  He then secluded himself for 3 days and didn’t speak with anyone for those 3 days.  When he terminated his meditation after 3 days, he praised Allah Most High in a state of absolute happiness.

 

When his disciples asked him the reason for this happiness and the praise of Allah Most High, the Khaja said:  For 3 days, I remained in bewilderment as to what would happen to myself and those attached to myself.  At last, I heard an unseen voice in my inward aspect:  O Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)!  We have treated you, your friends and even those people on whom a fly of your monastery alighted with Mercy and all their sins are forgiven.

 

The Khaja passed away on the same day.

 

Before passing away, he instructed his disciples to follow Hadhrat Khaja Bahauddin Naqshband (May Allah shower His Mercy on him).  They said:  He does not follow your custom in audible remembrance of Allah Most High and he practices the silent remembrance of Allah Most High.  Hadhrat Ameer (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said:  He does not have any authority in this matter.  There is some wisdom of Allah Most High in the order that he has been given.

 

Hadhrat Khaja Syed Ameer Kulaal (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) passed away on Thursday, 8 Jamaadil Ula, 772 Hijri, which corresponds with 1371 AD.  His blessed grave is in Sokhaar.

 

[Excerpted from Tareekh Mashaaikh Naqshband]