<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">His father is Hadhrat Qazi Abdus Salaam.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was born in Kabul in 972 Hijri.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From childhood itself, the signs of love of Allah were apparent.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He studied the normative sciences under Hadhrat Muhammad Sadiq Hlwai (May Allah shower His mercy on him).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When the urge to step on the path of Tasawwuf was developed, he gave his allegiance of repentance to Shaykh Khwaja ‘Ubaidullah (May Allah shower His mercy on him).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When he didn’t gain steadfastness on the <i>Tariqah</i>, he again gave his allegiance to Shaykh Iftekharuddin (May Allah shower His mercy on him).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When he was not satisfied here also and he was searching for a perfect guide, he dreamed that he was giving his allegiance to Hadhrat Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshband.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>From that day, he was anxious to seek the blessings of a Shaykh of the Naqshbandi order.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">He reached Kashmir and stayed in the service of Hadhrat Shaykh Bab Wali Kubrawi Naqshbandi (May Allah shower His mercy on him).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here, great reformation was taking place and absorption (<i>Ghaibubiyat</i>) was also starting to develop.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In such a time, the said Shaykh passed away.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was very sad and very worried.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then he went to the service of Hadhrat Maulana Khwajgi Umkanagi (May Allah shower His mercy on him).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Maulana Khwajgi Umkanagi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) took him aside and graced him with his attention for 3 days continuously.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The will of Allah, the journey of Hadhrat Khwaja Baqibillah was completed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Once, Hadhrat Khwajgi Umkanagi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) told him:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Son Baqibillah!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You go to India.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There the beauty of the Naqshbandi order will be revealed to you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the Khwaja was very humble, he tried to get himself excused from this.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Hadhrat Khwajgi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) ordered him to perform Istekhara.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The interpretation of the dream seen was that a dignitary with perfect capabilities (Hadhrat Mujaddid Alf Thaani (May Allah shower His mercy on him)) will remain in your company in India.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Your accomplishments will be revealed through him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You will get a sweetness from him and he will get a sweetness from you.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">As per the orders of his master, he started for India.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>First, he graced Lahore with his presence.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><i>Qila Feroziya</i> is such a beautiful place where a river gladdens hearts with its swiftness and a huge mosque is also there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Allah’s saints always desire such places.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thus, the Khwaja also liked this place and until his passing away, he stayed there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">In spite of being highly distinguished in yearning and ecstasy and spiritual states, in spite of having a high status in gnosis (<i>Ma’arifah</i>) and spiritual realities (<i>Haqiqah</i>), the Khwaja was so humble that he would sit on bare ground and wouldn’t consider himself fit for the task of guiding others.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Affection for the creation was his very nature.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once, a cat slept on his bed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Until dawn, the Khwaja sat shivering with cold, but didn’t remove the cat from the bed.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Preferring others over oneself was a part and parcel of his nature.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>There was no limit to his humility.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If a disciple would make a mistake, he would say: This is our mistake which as a reflection is being revealed through him.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span>In worship and daily affairs, the Khwaja would act on the most cautious ruling.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>For this reason, in his early days, in spite of following the Hanafi school of Fiqh, he would recite the Holy Quran behind the Imam as well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>One night, he saw Imam Azam Abu Hanifa (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in a dream.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was saying:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many great saints were on the precepts my school.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Understanding the intent of the Imam, the Khwaja abandoned recitation of the Holy Quran behind the Imam from the next morning.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Once, he went to some place and offered 2 Raka’at of Salaat there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then he said:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The soil of this place will cling to our clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then he saw a dream that Hadhrat Khwaja ‘Ubaidullah Ahraar (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was putting a tunic on him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The next morning, he interpreted the dream saying that it is possible that I may be cured or it indicated the shroud.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-family:Verdana">He passed away due to that illness on Monday, 25<sup>th</sup> Jumadal Ukhra 1022 Hijri.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>His blessed grave is in Delhi near the place where the relics of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are housed.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Garamond">[Excerpted from Gulzar-e-Auliya of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan]</span></p>