The Journey for Truth of Hadhrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 The special quality of the men of Allah that the Holy Quran describes is their steadfastness.  Steadfastness is to continuously try to propagate the message of Islam everywhere.  To bear the difficulties and hardships that one encounters in this path and to always safeguard the enthusiasm for one’s ultimate goal.  This is courage (‘Azeemat) and this is what is called steadfastness.

 

Steadfastness is that priceless treasure and that great station that every other station and honor is below it, as has been said:  Steadfastness is better than miracles.

 

There are no2 opinions about this that steadfastness on the Shariah is the ultimate goal of every believer.  It is highly essential for a believer to attain his/her objective and a mentor or guide to guide onto the right path is also highly necessary.  It is a great privilege for us that to guide us, Almighty Allah keeps sending His beloved servants so that we see their steadfastness and become steadfast in our beliefs and faith and we see their etiquette and character and try to develop sincerity and selflessness in ourselves.

 

Thus, the one whom we are talking about now is the leader of the saints, the erudite Gnostic, the Emperor of India, Hadhrat Khwaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him).

Journey for truth

 The Khwaja 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 Khwaja Najmuddin Kubra (May Allah shower His mercy on him.  The Khwaja also held meetings and had conversations with Hadhrat Abu Najeeb Ziauddin Suharwardi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Baghdad and with Hadhrat Khwaja 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 Khwaja Uthman Haruni (May Allah shower His mercy on him).  The Khwaja 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 Khwaja 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 Khwaja asking for it.  (Mishkaat Un Nubuwwa, Pg. No. 101)

 

This course of seeking blessings continued.  Thus, after this to further elevate his spirituality, the Khwaja paid his respects to Hadhrat Shaykh ‘Abdul Qadir Jilani (May Allah be well pleased with him) as well.  Before coming to India, the Khwaja 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)