Hadhrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

The leader of all leaders, the pride of India, the emperor of India, Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Sanjari (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him) was born in a very religious and virtuous family in the district of Sanjar in 537 A.H. His father’s name was Hadhrat Syed Ghiyasuddin Hasani Hussaini. His father’s lineage goes back to Imam Hussain, (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) and his mother’s lineage goes back to Imam Hasan (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him). Hadhrat Ali (May Allah Ta’ala be well pleased with him) is his father’s forefather through 12 generations and his mother’s forefather through 11 links.

 

After acquiring the knowledge of the Shariah, to acquire the sciences of the heart, the Khwaja journeyed to Samarqand, Bukhara, Iraq, Harun and many other places. But his cup of Divine Love had not even started filling. In this search, when he reached Hadhrat Khwaja Usman Haruni at Baghdad, his search ended and he found the destination of his journey. He remained under the guidance of his spiritual mentor for 2½ years. He busied himself in worship and remembrance of Allah Ta’ala. After 2½ years, his spiritual mentor made his Caliph (representative) and awarded him the robe of honor.

 

Then along with his spiritual mentor, the Khwaja undertook a journey to the Ka’aba and the Sanctuary of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). As given in “Iqtibaasul Anwaar,” “After visiting the Ka’aba, even there my master held my hand and handed me over to Allah Ta’ala. He stood under the “funnel of mercy” and prayed for me. A voice said, “We have accepted Moinuddin Hasan.” We went to Madina al Munawwarah from there. When we reached the Sanctuary of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). My master said, “Greet the Prophet with Salaam.” When, this pauper did so, a voice was heard, “Wa-alaikum-as-salaam O, Pole of the Shaykhs (Qutb ul Mashaaikh)”. The moment this voice was heard, my master said, ‘You have reached perfection.”

 

According to the order of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Khwaja (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him) started from Madina Munawwarah and passed through Hamdaan, Tabrez, Bukhara, Ghazni, Multan , Lahore, finally reaching Delhi. After a brief stay in Delhi, he went to Ajmer. India was ruled by a non-Muslim king, who was called Prithviraj Chauhan or Prithviraaj. He had made Delhi his capital, but lived in Ajmer for most of his time.

 

Hadhrat Khwaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him) spent 40 days in prayer at the shrine of Hadhrat Dataganj Baksh Ali Hujweri, in Lahore and then came to Delhi. He stayed near the shrine of Hadhrat Rasheed Makki (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him). He had 40 Sufis with him. The state of India at that time has been described by the author of “Miraat ul Asrar”, “It is written in Sair ul Arifeen that the Khwaja stayed at the place where now we have the shrine of Hadhrat Rasheed Makki (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him). In India, which was a non-Muslim country, the attendants of the Khwaja used to give the adhaan 5 times a day and Salaat was offered with congregation. The kuffar used to feel jealous when they saw that. They tried to harm the attendants of the Khwaja, but whenever they stepped put of their houses with such intentions, they trembled with fear and were overwhelmed with fear- Miraatul Asraar, 598.

 

In Delhi, crowds thronged the Khwaja’s residence causing inconvenience to him. Also, the non-Muslim King used to live in Ajmer, the centers of disbelief and shirk were in Ajmer. To turn the center of disbelief and apostasy into a center of Islam and spirituality, the Khwaja shifted to Ajmer and cast the stamp of Islam on it. The Khwaja’s miracles overwhelmed Ajaypal jogi who was the chief of magicians and made him embrace Islam. Prithviraaj plotted the harm of the Khwaja’s attendants. Whenever he decided to do so, he would go blind.

 

WORSHIP AND REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH TA’ALA: To gain proximity of Allah Ta’ala, the saints busy themselves in worship and remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, as Allah Ta’ala has said, “Those who strive in our path, we guide them to our paths.” Surah Ankabut-69.

 

Hadhrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (May Allah Ta’ala shower His Mercy on him) describes the efforts of the Khwaja in the path of Allah Ta’ala, “The Khwaja used to have roti dipped in water after every 7 days of fasting.”

 

The Khwaja’s attire was 2 pieces of cloth, which had many patches. Whatever kind of cloth was available for patching up the cloth, the Khwaja would use it.

 

For 70 years, the Khwaja remained with wuzu. Any person on whom the Khwaja rested his eyes would repent from misconduct and would reach the status of sainthood. The Khwaja finished 1 Quran every day and every night. After every recitation, the Khwaja would hear a voice, “O Moinuddin, we have accepted your recitation. He offered the Salaat of Fajr with the wuzu of Isha.

 

When the Khwaja passed away, these words were found to be inscribed on his forehead, “This is the beloved of Allah Ta’ala; He has died in the love of Allah Ta’ala.”