KHAJA BANDANAWAZ-LIFE AND TEACHINGS

In every era Allah SWT has created people who enjoy His Love and proximity. These divine personalities guide the misguided humanity. They pull them out from the depths of apsotasy and polytheism, from the darkness of misguidance, from oppression and barbarity and bless them with Iman and guidance, Knowledge and gnosis (Ilm and Ma'rifah), justice and benevolence. They purge their selves and purify their hearts. They instruct them in the right beliefs. They teach them the ways of worship and manners. They prescribe spiritual exercises for the purification of the psyche. Qutb-e-A’alam (Lit. the Pole of the world), the most unique among all those who are unique, Hadhrat Syed Muhammad Hussaini Khaja Banda Nawaz Gesu Daraaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) was one of these divine personalities on the land of Deccan. His name was Syed Muhammad, His Kuniyah was Abul Fatah, and he was addressed as Sadruddin, Al Wali Al Kabeer, As Sadiq, Gesu Daraaz, and Banda Nawaaz. He came to this world on 4th of Rajab in the year 721 A.H. in Delhi. He is among the descendants of Imam Hussain. Genealogically, he is a descendant of the 22nd generation of the Holy Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). His parents settled down in Daulatabad, when he was 4 years old. He acquired his basic education from his parents and from his maternal grandfather and also memorised the Holy Quran. After this he continued his education under the experts of the Islamic Sciences. In the days when the Khaja was studying books like Quduri ( A treatise on Fiqh i.e. jurisprudence) etc. a person asked him, "While prostrating, should we touch down our palms first or our knees first? The Khaja had not yet studied this point in Quduri, so, he told him to come back after some time. The person went away. The Khaja sat down in a corner of the Masjid and began to think. Suddenly, he saw a tall distinguished person with a wheatish complexion enter the mosque. This person had a big turban around his head and the sleeves of his tunic (Kurta) were wide. After entering the masjid, this person started offering Salaat. The Khaja got a thought in his heart that this distinguished personality might be Mahboob e Ilahi (Lit. the favourite of Allah), Khaja Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), because he had heard from his maternal grandfather that Khaja Nizamuddin's appearance was this. The Khaja watched the Salaat of Khaja Nizamuddin very carefully and thought whatever Khaja Nizamuddin (May Allah SWT shower his Mercy on him) does, I will convey to the questioner. This distinguished person completed His Salaat and went away. The Khaja conveyed what he saw to the questioner. Then the Khaja went to his maternal grandfather and told him: "Today, I saw your spiritual mentor, the great Khaja Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His Mercy on him). This was his appearance." His grandfather replied, "Yes certainly you have seen my mentor. His appearance is what you have described." After this incident, a desire to take a spiritual mentor took form in the heart of the Khaja. He had already heard much about the excellence and eminence of Shaykh Naseeruddin Chiraag Dehlvi ((May Allah shower His Mercy on him) who was a very special Caliph of the great Nizamuddin Auliya (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) and was eager to meet him. His fate did not desert him and he, along with his mother and brother, went to Delhi. At that time, the Khaja was 15 years old and his father had passed away 4 years ago. He got the honour of entering the discipleship of Shaykh Ul Islam Khaja Naseeruddin Chiraag Dehlvi on 16th Rajab 736 A.H. He busied himself him in learning Islamic Sciences and the Sciences of the Heart. After acquiring what was necessary from the Islamic sciences, he entreated his Shaykh that if given permission, he would stop learning Islamic Sciences and concentrate only on purifying his heart. The Shaykh replied, "Study Hidaya, Bazdawi, Risala Shamsiya, Kasshaf and Miftah (all these are names of books) very carefully, because you have to accomplish something very great for me." According to the instructions of the Shaykh, the Khaja studied those books very assiduously. After this, he immersed himself in acquiring the sciences of the heart and in striving in the path of Allah (Mujahada). Hadhrat Shah Abdul Haq, in Akhbaar ul Akhyaar and many other biographers of the Khaja have mentioned that once the Khaja along with other disciples were carrying the palanquin of Shaykh Naseer (May Allah SWT shower His Mercy on him) on their shoulders. The Khaja's hair were long. By chance, they got entangled with the palanquin. This was hurting the Khaja, but out of respect of Shaykh Naseer, he bore it silently. Shaykh Naseer saw this. The love and respect of this true disciple pleased him immensely and he granted the Khaja a great bounty with the words: (crude translation) , Whoever, a disciple of Syed Gesu Daraaz will be, By Allah, a hunter of love he will be. Under the watchful eyes of Shaykh Naseer, the Khaja travelled the path of love and proximity to Allah, until one day the Khaja was seated on the high throne of Qurb (Proximity to Allah). Shaykh Naseer (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) made him his representative (Caliph) without any representation on the Khaja's part. He also appointed him as his successor in his own lifetime. On a Thursday night which was the 18th of Ramadhan in the year 757, Shaykh Naseeruddin passed away into the presence of Allah SWT at the age of 82. The Khaja was aged 36 then. Now, the Khaja as the Caliph of Shaykh Naseer (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) started leading people into the Chishti Order of Tasawwuf. Disciples and devotees benefited immensely from the blessed personality of the Khaja. At the age of 40, the Khaja married the daughter of Syed Ahmed bin Syed Jamaluddin Maghribi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), Hadhrat Syeda bibi Raza Khatoon. Through her, The Khaja was blessed with 2 sons and 3 daughters. Hadhrat Syed Hussain who is famous as Syed Muhammad Akbar Hussaini (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), Hadhrat Syed Yousuf who is famous as Syed Muhammad Asghar Hussaini (May Allah shower His Mercy on him). Both the sons are great scholars as well as high-ranking saints. They received their education from greats like Hadhrat Moulana Qazi Abdul Muqtadir, Hadhrat Maulana Khwajgi Nahvi, and Hadhrat Maulana Naseeruddin etc. The Khaja used to be immensely pleased with the knowledge and Mujahada of his elder son Syed Muhammad Akbar Hussaini (May Allah shower His Mercy on him). Every member of his family is a scholar in both the sciences of the Shariah and the Sciences of the heart. After the demise of his Shaykh, the Khaja instructed and taught the people of Delhi for a total period of 44 yrs. After this, the Khaja at the age of 80, started for Daulatabad. On the way, he passed through Gwalior, Radheer etc and disseminated the teachings of the Chishti Order in those and many other places. He paid his respects at the grave of his father. At the age of 82, the Khaja settled in Gulbarga and made it his permanent residence. The Demise Of Maulana Shamsuddin And The Miracle Of The Khaja While staying at Gwalior, the Khaja was staying at the house of his disciple and representative Maulana Alauddin Gwaliari. Hadhrat Alauddin had shifted his family to his relatives’ place so that the Khaja should have no trouble. Hadhrat Alauddin's brother was ill. He requested the Khaja to pray for his brother's health. The Khaja told him to come the next day. When Hadhrat Alauddin came the next day, the Khaja said, "Moulana, I did pray for your brother's health, but I was ordered that your brother has only 10 days of his life left." Hadhrat Alauddin said, "Then please pray that my brother should die with Iman." The Khaja said, "I have already done that." By the will of Allah, Hadhrat Alaudin's brother died on the night of the 10th day. The Khaja also attended the funeral with his sons and his disciples. He himself led the funeral salaat. He blessed the deceased. He also carried the deceased for some distance on the way to the burial ground. He entreated the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, "O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), I request you to protect him (i.e. the deceased) and came back. Later after some days, Hadhrat Alauddin saw his brother in a dream. He enquired, "How were you treated?" He replied, "If the Khaja had not entreated the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to protect me, then my condition would have been really bad." The beliefs of the Khaja are the beliefs of Ahl us Sunnah Some people make a dirty attempt to connect the Khaja with their own disfigured beliefs. All such talk is mere fabrication and nothing else. In reality there is no relation between what they say and what the Khaja believed in. The scholars of Ahl us Sunnah have elucidated the beliefs of the Khaja in every era and have revealed that the Khaja spent each and every moment of his life in propagating the beliefs of the Ahl us Sunnah, in interpreting and explaining the Hanafi School of Fiqh and in purifying the hearts and souls of the disciples according to the traditions of the Auliya. He had spent his very breath for these purposes. His son Syed Akbar Hussaini (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes in Jawami ul Kalim: "Many people commit exaggerations when they talk about Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him). Some go so far as to address him as Prophet or God. In the same way many sects like Gharabiya, Sahabiya, Naseeriya, Sabaiya have been born. To talk about each one in detail would be very tedious but the truth is that the Commander of the faithful Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) is the best of the Sahabah, then Hadhrat Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), then Hadhrat Usman (May Allah be well pleased with him) and after him Hadhrat Ali (May Allah be well pleased with him). Then all the Sahabah, Auliya. Anything against this superstition and speculation." The radiance of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has no shadow. Hazrat Ghous Ul Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (May Allah be well pleased with him) wrote an epistle compiling his spiritual visions (Makshufat) and divine inspirations (Ilhamat). The Khaja wrote a commentary on that epistle titled Jawahir Al Ushaq. (Lit. The jewels of the lovers) He writes about an inspiration of Ghouse Ul Azam, "Allah SWT created the angels from the radiance of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam); according to a Hadith Qudsi: "I was a secret treasure. I desired to be recognised" I wanted to reveal My excellence and whatever is in My Beauty, Eminence and Power, so I created My Beloved Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)). He continues," The disbelievers said, "Does a man show us the Way?" in their ignorance. Thus it was decreed, "Disbelief", they became disbelievers. They couldn't understand that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) walked with them but didn't have a shadow. Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was created out of the radiance of Allah, how can he have a shadow?" Wisdom behind placing the Holy Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Sanctuary in Medina. The Khaja has said, "This was the Will of Allah that the Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Sanctuary should not be in Mecca that people pay a visit to the Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Sanctuary because of the Ka'aba. But after the Haj, people should make a fresh intention and go to Medina Munawwara. According to Imam Shaf'ie Medina is also a "Haram" but everyone agrees that its respect is Imperative (Wajib). The excellence of the Holy Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Kinsfolk (Ahle Bait) with respect to Fear and Worship of Allah. The Khaja ((May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has said, "Two things are commonly found in the Holy Prophet's (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Kinsfolk ِ(Ahl‑e‑Bait) and none of them is empty of it. One is fear of Allah SWT and the other is worshipping Allah and following His commandments. They are not found wanting in this." Following the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the first condition of Sulook (The way to Allah) There is no chance for a unsuitable person in Sulook. Only the sincere succeed. The Khaja (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has said, "If any unsuitable person steps into Sulook, then that person is humiliated. Such a person does not succeed in this Way, because only the sincere succeed here. There are some signs by which the Sufis judge between the suitable and the unsuitable. In the era of Hadhrat Abu Yazid Bistami (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) a person was very famous for his abstention (zuhad), virtuousness and for his piety. Hadhrat Abu Yazid (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) wanted to pay his respects to that person. When he reached the residence of that person, he found him entering the mosque. After entering the mosque, that person spat in the direction of the Ka'aba i.e. the qibla. Hadhrat Abu Yazid (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) said, "A person who does not follow the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) cannot be pious." He turned back and returned without meeting the person."

Dr. Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Mujaddidi Qadri

Shaykh Ul Fiqh, Jamia Nizamia; Founder - Director

Mufti Maulana Syed Zia Uddin Naqshbandi Quadri

Shaik-ul-Fiqh - Jamia Nizamia

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KHAJA BANDANAWAZ-LIFE AND TEACHINGS