The life of Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) - I

The life of Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) - I

 

The Khaja was born in a very pious family in Sajistan in Iran on 14th Rajab 537 Hijri which corresponds to April, 1143 AD on Monday at dawn.  (M’uin Ul Arwaah, Pg. No. 36)

 

His father is Hadhrat Syed Ghiyasuddin Hasan Al Hussaini (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  Through his father, the Khaja is a descendent of Hadhrat Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) and through his mother, he is a descendent of Hadhrat Imam Hasan (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He is descendent of Hadhrat ‘Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him) through 12 generations through his father and through 11 generations through his mother.  (Al Iqtibaas Ul Anwaar, Pg. No. 346)

 

When the Khaja reached the age of 15, his father passed away.  There is another narration which places the Khaja’s age at the time of his father’s death to be less than 15 as well.  After 2 years, his mother too passed away.  For inheritance, the Khaja received an orchard.  The Khaja would busy himself in worship of Allah Most High and would fulfill his responsibilities as an orchardist as well.  However, when he received a spiritual grant from Hadhrat Ibrahim Qandozi (May Allah shower His mercy on him), he developed the yearning to acquire even more perfection and he left for Nishapur to learn the normative sciences of Islam.  He acquired such mastery over them that the best scholars of the land would present their problems to the Khaja and seek clarification.  The Khaja would guide them towards the solution and answer their questions to their satisfaction.  (Miraat Ul Asraar, Pg. No. 593)

 

Journey for truth

 

The Khaja sold away the orchard he had received from his father and used that money in the path of Almighty Allah to sate his thirst for knowledge and gnosis.  He traveled to many cities, Samarkand, Bukhara and other places of Arabia and Iraq and at last reached Sanjaan where he met Hadhrat Khaja Najmuddin Kubra (May Allah shower His mercy on him.  The Khaja also held meetings and had conversations with Hadhrat Abu Najeeb Ziauddin Suharwardi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Baghdad and with Hadhrat Khaja Yousuf Hamdani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Hamdan.  His search for truth and his yearning for gnosis (Ma’arifah) of Allah Most High took him to Harun to the door of Hadhrat Khaja Uthman Haruni (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  The Khaja spend 2½ years in his company and reached the very pinnacle of perfection by worship and striving in the path of Allah.  (Mishkaat Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 100; Miraat Ul Asraar, Pg. No. 593)

 

After that, he stayed with his spiritual mentor, Hadhrat Uthman Haruni (May Allah shower His mercy on him), for 20 years and served him.  When the Khaja reached the age of 52 years, Hadhrat Uthman Haruni (May Allah shower His mercy on him) gave him the robe of honor (Khirqa) without the Khaja asking for it.  (Mishkaat Un Nubuwwa, Pg. No. 101)

 

This course of seeking blessings continued.  Thus, after this to further elevate his spirituality, the Khaja paid his respects to Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani (May Allah be well pleased with him) as well.  Before coming to India, the Khaja stayed with Hadhrat Ghouse Azam (May Allah be well pleased with him) for 5 months and 7 days and sought his blessings.  (Mishkaat Un Nubuwwah, Vol. No. 4, Pg. No. 100; Panj Gunj Farsi Dar Zikre Aulia, Pg. No. 75; Miraat Ul Asraar, Pg. No. 594)