The distinguishing attributes of Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

The distinguishing attributes of Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz

(May Allah shower His Mercy on him)

 

 

[Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) is an Imam of the Ummah.  His life is a beacon of guidance for one and all.  Here, we present some of the more distinguishing attributes of the Khaja pertaining to social life.  May Allah guide us to follow in the footsteps of the Khaja]

 

The generosity of the Khaja

 

The generosity of Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was such that no one who asked of him returned disappointed.  Hadhrat Khaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyaar Kaki (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says that he stayed with Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) for a very long time.  In this whole period, he never saw anybody who asked of him or any beggar return empty-handed.

 

In his Langar daily so much food would be prepared that all the needy and destitute of the city would eat to their heart’s content.  When the attendant would ask for the day’s expenses, the Khaja would turn over a corner of his prayer mat and ask him to take as much as was needed.  The attendant would take as much as was needed and prepare food and distribute it among the poor.  Apart from this, grants were given to the dervishes by the Khaja.  (Seerat-e-Ghareebnawaz, Pg. No. 264)

 

Care and concern for neighbors

 

The Khaja would be very concerned about fulfilling the rights of the neighbors.  If any neighbor passed away, the Khaja would definitely attend the funeral.  When others would return, the Khaja would stay back and pray for the forgiveness and deliverance of the deceased.  He would console the dependents of the deceased and advise them to exercise patience.

 

Once a neighbor passed away.  The Khaja attended the funeral.  As was his habit, he stayed back after everyone had left.  Hadhrat Khaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyaar Kaki (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  I saw that the Khaja’s face changed color for a moment.  Then, he said: Al Hamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) and stood up from there.  He then turned to me and said:  Ba’yah is also a strange thing.

 

When I inquired about the reason, he said:  When this person was buried, the angels in charge of punishment came and wanted to torture that person.  At that moment, Hadhrat Khaja ‘Uthman Haruni (May Allah shower His mercy on him) came and told the angels:  This is my disciple, don’t punish him.  The angels said:  He is your disciple, but he did not walk your path.  He said:  True, but he has attached himself to this pauper (Faqeer).  I don’t want him to be punished.  At this very moment, the order of Allah came thus:  We desire the gratification of the Shaykh.  Don’t punish him.  (Rahat Ul Quloob, on the authority of M’uin Ul Arwaah, Pg. No. 188)

 

His magnanimousness

 

Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was very kind, noble and magnanimous.  He seldom got angry, if ever.  Even if anyone spoke harshly to him, he would never take offense to it.  It would seem that Hadhrat Khaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) had not heard those words at all.

 

Once a person hid a dagger below his arm and came to him with the heinous intention of murdering him.  The Khaja divined his intention and told him: Why don’t you use your dagger?  I offer my neck to you.

 

On listening to this, that person started trembling.  He threw away the dagger, fell at the feet of the Khaja and asked for his forgiveness.  The Khaja forgave him and prayed for his felicity.

 

Some biographers have written that this person was a non-Muslim, specifically a Hindu.  This incident happened when the Khaja was in Delhi en route from Lahore to Ajmer.  Due to the lofty character of the Khaja, this person embraced Islam and with the blessings of the Khaja, this person went for Hajj 45 times.  It is mentioned in “Asraar Ul Auliya” that eventually that person was included among the caretakers of the Ka’aba and by the grace of Allah, that sacred land also became the last resting place of that person.

 

Keeping confidences

 

Hadhrat Khaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyaar Kaki (May Allah shower His mercy on him) says:  I was with the Khaja for many years, but in this whole period I never heard him revealing anything confidential of a friend.  He would never reveal any secret of anybody, nor would he express the visions or radiances, which would descend on him. (Fawaaid Us Salikeen)