Mehboobe Elahee RA
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ajmerikhawaja.com
Khawaja Nizamuddin Auliya, RA - Mehboob e Elahi
Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Auliya RA, represents in many ways
the pinnacle of the Chishti Order of the Sufis. Hazrat Baba Farid,
his spiritual guide, said to him on appointing him as his successor:
"Be like a big tree, so that Allah's creation, the human beings in
their vast multitudes, may find rest and solace under your
shadow." This partly explains why he admitted so many (according
to some, including Barani, too many) men into the Chishti order as
his disciples. Another reason has been clearly formulated in this
way: "History, nonetheless, bears out the wisdom of his open-ended
policy . . . To far-flung areas of Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujarat,
Bihar, Bengal and the Deccan, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia sent able
disciples well versed in the Chishti practices, yet sensitive to the
needs of the local populace."
With regard to the Sufi path, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia taught the
following: "For a dervish, three things are necessary. They all begin
with an 'ain' (an Arabic letter), i.e., Ishq (love), Aql (intelligence)
and Ilm (knowledge). Let us discuss these three qualities one by one.
Sufism is, in its essence, the way of love. Love is considered to be a
spiritual alchemy by means of which the baser qualities of a human
being are transformed into higher ones. In this respect it suffices to
say that Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia is known as Mehboob-e-Elahi,
the beloved of Allah. Of course the spiritual status of a beloved is
much higher than that of a lover.
'Intelligence' changed in the hands of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia
into wisdom. His wisdom manifested itself in the shape of service to
humanity. About him it has been said: "He was not a
miracle-monger of the ordinary sort. He never flew in the air or
walked on water with dry and motionless feet. His greatness was the
greatness of a loving heart; his miracles were the miracles of a
deeply sympathetic soul. He could read a man's inner heart by a
glance at his face and spoke the words that brought consolation to
a tortured heart."
About 'knowledge', the third faculty of a dervish, it can be said that
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia was one of the greatest scholars of his
day. He wanted to become a Qazi, but gave it all up in his pursuit
of inner knowledge. After becoming a Murid (spiritual disciple) of
Hazrat Baba Farid, he lived in extremely poor circumstances.
Seeing him, a former friend expressed great surprise as he
remembered Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia as one who had begun a
very promising career as a scholar. When Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia told all of this to Hazrat Baba Farid, his murshid (spiritual
guide) suggested that he should recite the following couplet to his
friend:
You are not my fellow traveller.
Tread your own path
May you be affluent.
And I downtrodden.
Then Hazrat Baba Farid ordered him to take a tray of food from
the kitchen and carry it on his head to his friend. After doing so, he
recited the verse. This deeply moved his friend.
One day, someone told a story of a certain saint who expired while
slowly repeating the name of Allah. The eyes of Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia, who was listening to this story, filled with tears and he
recited this quatrain:
I come running to the end of Your street,
Tears are washing and washing my cheek.
Union with You -- what else can I seek?
My soul I surrender as Your name I repeat.
Early Years: After leaving their homeland the city of Bokhara, the
paternal grandfather of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia -- Khwaja Ali --
and the maternal grandfather of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia --
Khwaja Arab -- along with their family, came to India. At first they
lived in Lahore, but later they took up their residence in Badayun
(East of Delhi). Khwaja Arab married his daughter Bibi Zulaitaikha
to Khwaja Ali's son Khwaja Ahmad.
The birth of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia took place on the last
Wednesday of the month of Safar, i.e., the 27th of Safar 636 A.H.
(1238 A.D.) Up to this day, his birthday celebration takes place. His
shrine is bathed and the water thereof is distributed among the
visitors.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia's father expired when Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia was five years old. His mother brought him to a
school where he learned to recite the holy Qur'an. In a short time
he mastered the seven ways of recitation of the holy Qur'an. Then
he studied Arabic grammar, Ahadith (traditions of the Prophet
Mohammed, peace be upon him), commentary of the Qur'an and
logic. At the age of twelve, he received the "turban of excellence."
He was so sharp-witted, wise and understanding that he was given
the title "Debater, capable of defeating the congregation." He
became distinguished in the science of Tafsir (commentary on the
Qur'an), in the knowledge of Ahadith, in Fiqh (Islamic
Jurisprudence), mathematics and astronomy. Khwaja Shamsul
Malik was among his most learned teachers. He received a
testimony of knowledge of Ahadith from Maulana Kamaluddin. [2]
Although in that period, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia used to sit
among the ulama (the scholars of Islam), he was more interested in
the inner life. He often used to say: "In the days of youth, I used to
live in the company of the ulama, but in my heart the thought used
to come that I should go away from their company and turn my
face to the Divine Teacher."
Baba Farid: One day a certain Qawwal (Sufi musician), with the
name of Abu Bakr, came from Multan ( now in Pakistan ) to
Hazrat Nizamuddin's teacher. The teacher asked for information
about the Sufi Sheikhs of Multan. Abu Bakr answered thus: "I
have lived in the company of Hazrat Sheikh Bahauddin Zakaria of
Multan and I have sung mystical couplets for him. In his Khanqah
( Sufi monastery ) the worship of Allah is very devoted, so much so
that even the girls who knead the flour, while doing so, are
occupied with the Zikr ( remembrance of Allah ). From there I went
to Ajodhan ( the present Pak Pattan in Pakistan ). There I got the
privilege of meeting Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Gang-e-Shakar," That
sovereign of love of God has conquered the world and the light of
his moon has illuminated that area."
"When I heard these words of praise in regard to Baba Fariduddin
Ganj-e-Shakar," Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia says, I developed a
sudden and intense love for him and I began to repeat his name
after every Namaz (prayer)."
The Qawwal had started his concert with this line: "The living
serpent of love has bitten my heart." But then Abu Bakr could not
recollect the second line. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia helped him to
do so, and seeing this, the Qawwal became very attentive towards
him. From that day, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia became very much
attached to Baba Farid.
Coming to Delhi: "When my eighteenth year began," Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia tells, "I travelled from Badayun to Delhi."
Musamma Ayuz accompanied him in this journey. Ayuz was a
staunch believer in the spiritual greatness of Baba Farid. Whenever
he saw the slightest danger because of robbers or wild beasts, he
would cry out: "O, Pir! Come! I need your protection." "I asked
him the name of that Pir and Ayuz said: "It is the one who has
caught your heart and got you enamoured," meaning Baba Farid.
Thus from that day my faith in the Sheikh increased."
"When in Delhi, I stayed by chance near Hazrat Baba Fariduddin's
brother and caliph Hazrat Sheikh Najibuddin Mutawakkil. My
mother and sister were also with me. We rented a house in the
neighbourhood of the great Sheikh, whose company was very
valuable to me. In his presence, the qualities of Baba Fariduddin
Ganj-e-Shakar used to be described. On hearing them, I felt the
desire of kissing his feet. For approximately three years I stayed in
Delhi."
Meeting Baba Farid: One day Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia said to
Sheikh Najibuddin Mutawakkil that he should pray to God, so that
he (Nizamuddin) might become a Qazi. Then he would be able to
spread justice among the creatures of God. The Sheikh remained
silent. When Hazrat Nizamuddin repeated his question, he
answered thus: "God forbid that you be a Qazi; be something else!"
In those days, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia used to spend the nights
at the Jama Masjid. One morning, the muezzin ( the one who calls
to the prayer ) recited the following verse from the minaret:
"Has not the time come
For the faithful
That their hearts should bend
For the remembrance of Allah" [ Qur'an 57:16 ]
Hearing this, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya's condition changed. It
was as if he received spiritual illumination from every direction.
And, without any food, he left Delhi in order to present himself to
Baba Farid. At the age of twenty, on Wednesday the 11th of Rajab
655 A.H. (1257 A.D.), he reached Ajodhan. Coming before Hazrat
Baba Farid, he unsuccessfully tried to summon up courage to tell in
detail how eager he was to see him. He could not do so, because of
awe. Baba Farid then said: "Every newcomer is nervous."
Thereafter Baba Farid recited this verse:
"O, the fire of separation of Thee,
Has made the hearts like roasted meat;
The flood of the fondness of Thee,
Has made the lives morose."
Then Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was honoured to be accepted as
the mureed ( spiritual disciple ) of Baba Farid. Then Baba Sahib
remarked: "O, Nizamuddin! I wanted to entrust the domain of
Delhi to someone else. When you were on the way I heard a voice
to the effect that I should wait as Nizamuddin is coming. He is fit
for this domain. It should be entrusted to him. So stay in our
company so that after completing your inner training, we will
appoint you as our caliph and as the Wali-e-Hindustan ( the saint
of India )."
Hazrat Nizamuddin lived in the company of his Pir-o-murshid (
spiritual guide ) for seven months and a few days. In this short
period, he became deserving of the khilafat of the great mystic
Baba Farid. On the second of Rabi'ul Awwal 656 A.H. (1258 A.D.),
Baba Farid bestowed khilafat and wilayat to Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia by giving him the special turban, which came to Baba Sahib
from Chisht (Afghanistan). After coming to Delhi, Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia ascended the throne of khilafat-e-piran-e-Chisht
i.e., he became a caliph of the Chishti Sheikhs. Hazrat Nizamuddin
Auliya came ten times to Ajodhan: three times in the life of Baba
Farid and seven times after his death.
After residing in Delhi for a few days, he disdained the crowds of
people and desired to withdraw himself to the desert. He then
received a Divine inspiration that his place of residence should be
Ghiyaspur, a small village outside the city of Delhi. First he had
raised a temporary shed with a straw roof for himself and all his
companions. After some time, a better place was constructed for
him by one of his disciples, Ziauddin Wakil Mulk. Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia lived here for more than sixty years and never
changed his place of residence. The khanaqah is still there and is
visited by many people up to this day.
Death: After an illness of about four months he expired in 725 A.H.
(1324 A.D.) and realized seclusion (i.e., was buried) in Ghiyaspur.
The locality is named after him today and is called Nizam basti.
Every Thursday, after sunset, quawwals sing the lyrics of Amir
Khusro. Many big and small tombs have been built over the
centuries in and around the dargah complex since it is considered
auspicious to be buried near a saint's grave. To the south of
Nizamuddin's grave is the tomb of Amir Khusro. Nearby are
marble screen enclosures around the tombs of Jahanara, the
daughter of Shahjahan and a later Mughal emperor, Mohammed
Shah Rangila.
An interesting legend associated with the dargah is of the war of
wits between the saint and the first Tughlaq king,Ghiyasuddin.
Sheikh Nizamuddin was getting a baoli constructed at about the
same time as the king was engaged in building Tughlakabad. The
king forbade his construction workers from working elsewhere and
so they decided to work for the Sheikh at night. This made
Ghiyasuddin prohibit the sale of oil that burns the earthen lamps,
but the workers found that the lamps could be lit with the water
from the baoli. The faithful believe that the water of the baoli has
healing powers.
Nature: After passing the spiritual status of ghousiat and
farwaniyat, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia reached the status of
Mehboob (beloved). His personality was the container of divine
secrets and his intentions were in harmony with those of Allah. He
spread a very fine fragrance. Qazi Hamiduddin Kashani also
became fragrant with this scent and unsuccessfully tried to wash it
way. He narrated the incident to Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia, who
explained it thus: "Qazi, this fragrance is of the love of Allah,
which He gives to His lovers."
In the early period of his life he experienced great poverty.
Although in Sultan Ghyasuddin Balban's time one could buy
melons for very little money, the greater part of the season would
pass without Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia eating a single slice. One
day a pious woman brought some barley flour and presented it to
him. He asked Sheikh Kamaluddin Yaqub to boil it in a cauldron.
At that moment a faqir with a patched frock arrived and with a
loud voice said: "O, Nizamuddin! bring whatever is present." Then
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia gave all the food to him. The faqir ate it
all and then broke the cauldron. Hereafter he said: "O,
Nizamuddin! You have received the bounties of the invisible world
from Baba Farid and the bowl of visible poverty I have broken.
Now you have become the sultan of both the visible and invisible
world." From that day on, countless gifts started coming and free
food was distributed to hundreds of visitors every day.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia was very generous as can be seen in the
following narration, which can be found in Jami's "Nafhatul Uns."
A merchant of Multan lost all his possessions to a band of thieves.
He told Sheikh Sadruddin, the son of the famous Suhrawardy saint
(Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria of Multan), that he intended to go to
Delhi and asked for a letter of recommendation to Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia. Then he was told by the great saint that he
would receive all the gifts that would be given from the morning to
the chasht (forenoon) prayers. About 12,000 golden and silver coins
were received. All these were given to the merchant.
Every day large numbers of gifts used to be received, but they were
distributed before the evening. More than three thousand needy
people used to live on the langar (tree feeding).
Shortly before his death, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia called Khadim
Iqbal and said: "Whatever cash is present, bring it so that I may
distribute it to the deserving." Iqbal replied: "Whatever gifts come,
they are spent on the same day. But there are a few thousand tons
of grain in our storeroom." Bring it out and distribute it to the
deserving," said Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia had great love of sama (Sufi music). His
friends, disciples and students used to perform such Qawwali
(music) in his presence, that even animals used to stop and listen to
it. One day he was out for a walk, when he saw a person who was
pulling water out of a well and was saying in a loud voice to his
companions: "Remain outside today, brother!" Hazrat
Nizamuddin, after hearing this, started weeping, and his khuddam
(servants) repeated that line until they reached home again.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya remained a bachelor all his life. Once
his kamarband ( cord used to fasten trousers) got away from his
hand. Baba Farid then said: "Tighten the kamarband properly."
Hazrat Nizamuddin asked: "How should I do it? Baba Sahib
answered: "Tighten it in such a way that except the hour is of
heaven, nobody is capable of opening it." Hearing that Hazrat
Nizamuddin Auliya put his head on the floor and did not marry .
Some of the sayings of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya:
1. The wilayat ( domain ) of gnosis and faith can suffer decay. The
wilayat of compassion can not.
2. The love of Auliya ( saints ) is stronger than their reason.
3. The lock of spiritual perfection has very many keys. All those
keys are to be possessed. If one does not open it, others can.
4. He who has knowledge, reason, and love, is deserving to become
a caliph of the Sufi sheikhs.
5. So long as is possible, give relief to your heart, because the heart
of a good Muslim is the palace of the manifestations of Allah.
Miracles: Once Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah asked Hazrat
Nizamuddin Auliya to come to him on the last day of every month.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya responded: "It is against the tradition
of my sheikhs. I will never go to meet the king." His friends advised
him to turn for help to his Sheikh Baba Farid, so that the problem
would be solved. Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya refused to do so,
saying: "The tasks of religion alone are many. I feel ashamed to
give pain to the Sheikh for a worldly affair." He then said: "The
king will not be victorious over me for I have had a certain dream.
I saw that an animal with horns was attacking me. Upon it coming
closer, I took hold of its horns and threw the animal on the earth in
such a way that it was killed." That day, after the noon prayers, he
declined to visit the king. When two hours of the day remained, he
was asked again to visit the king. He gave no reply. But it so
happened that upon that very night, the king was murdered by a
certain Khusru Khan. [9]
Another Sultan by the name of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, wanted
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia to leave Ghiyaspur before the Sultan's
visit to Delhi. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia, was saddened by this and
remarked: "Delhi is still far away." Then just before the arrival of
the king in Delhi, the palace of Tughlaqabad fell upon him and he
was killed. [10]
Sultan Alauddin had the fear in his heart that Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia wished to rule the kingdom himself and that he was only
waiting for the proper time and chance to overthrow him. As a test,
he sent some complicated matters related to state affairs to Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia and asked for its solution. Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia reacted thus: "What have the dervishes, seated on rugs, to do
with the affairs of kings seated on thrones? It is better that the time
of the dervish is not wasted and conscience of the faqura is not put
to test." When the king respectfully invited Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia to visit him, the latter answered thus: "The affections of a
dervish should be seen as a bird to which distress is caused by the
hawk of kingly shows. It is better and enough to keep acquaintance
through greetings."
Khwaja Hasan, who had lived in the company of Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia when he was much younger, along with all his
friends, was involved in the drinking of wine. One day, near the
mausoleum of Hazrat Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Khaki, they met again.
Khwaja Hasan then recited this verse:
"For years we have been in each others' company,
But your company did me no good.
Your piety could not correct my sinful life.
My sinful life is therefore stronger than your piety."
After hearing this verse, Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia simply said:
"There are different effects of company on different men." At once,
Khwaja Hasan fell down at the feet of Hazrat Nizamuddin and
along with his friends became a murid (spiritual disciple) of Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia.
Hazrat Sheikh Nasiruddin of Oudh related that he used to receive
worldly knowledge from Qazi Muhiddin Kashani. He suddenly
became ill and no hope of life remained. Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia
visited Sheikh Naseeruddin when he was unconscious. Then Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia rubbed his hand over his face. Immediately
Sheikh Naseeruddin regained consciousness and put his head on
the feet of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia.
One day a murid of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia prepared a feast for
his Sheikh. Qawwals were also called and food was prepared. But
when the same (music) started, thousands of people joined in. The
host became worried because of the shortage of food. Feeling this,
Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia said to his khadim (servant): "Wash the
hands of the people and let ten people sit at one place. Start giving
the food after saying 'Bismillah' (In the Name of Allah)." It so
happened that everyone had enough food and there was a great
deal of food left over. [11]
It is narrated that a certain Shamsuddin was a very rich man and
had no faith in the spirituality of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia.
Instead he used to speak ill of him in his absence. One day, he was
drinking wine with his friends and suddenly he saw Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia appear in front of him, who made a prohibiting
sign with his finger. Shamsuddin then threw the wine in the water
and started towards the house of Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia after
performing the ritual ablutions. Seeing him, Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia said: "Whoever is blessed by Allah, he abstains from sins like
this." Hearing this, Shamsuddin became very astonished and with
complete faith became his murid. He distributed all his money to
the dervishes and in a short time became a Wali (saint) himself.
A story
One day Hazrat Nizamuddin Awlia was listening to Qawwali and in
ecstasy, waving his handkerchief, said: "We regret, we have not
become equal to the washermans' son even." At that moment no
one dared to ask what he meant, but some days afterwards he was
asked about it by Hazrat Amir Khusru. The explanation of Hazrat
Nizamuddin Awlia was like this: "The son of the washerman of the
king, without seeing the princess, was in love with her. He used to
wash her clothes with utmost care, and even mended and improved
them by various means. Without seeing her, he used to moan and
weep in the memory of her beauty. His parents became very
worried. To speak about it is a problem and not to speak about it is
a problem. We are washers and she is a princess. How can the dust
of the earth be compared with the sky?
So they tricked him in order to try and change their son's ideas.
One day his mother came to him with a grief-stricken face. He
asked what was the matter with her. Then she explained "Today
was the soyam (the third day after the death) of the princess whose
clothes you used to wash. The boy three times asked: "Has she
died?" -- and then with a shriek died.
On the fourth day, the washerwoman brought the clothes back to
the princess. She asked: "Who has washed these clothes today?
They do not look as clean as they used to be. Their neatness used to
look as if love has been involved." Hearing this, the washerwoman
became sad and started weeping. On being forced by the princess,
she explained everything. The princess then wished to visit his
grave. At once, when she was there, the grave cracked and the
princess said: "It cracked at places. Ah! Whose grave is this?
Probably a restless heart is buried in it." Then the princess fell
down and expired. [12]
Poetry: The following is a translation of Hazrat Nizamuddin
Awlia's famous poem in honour of the Prophet:
O breeze! turn towards Medina (and) from this well-wisher recite
the Salaam.
Turn round the king of the prophets (and) with the utmost humility
recite the Salaam.
Sometimes pass the gate of mercy (and) with the gate of Gabriel
rule the forehead.
Salaam to the prophet of God (and) sometimes recite Salaam at the
gate of peace.
Put with all respect the head of faith on the dust there.
Be one with the sweet melody of David and be acquainted with the
cry of anguish.
In the assembly of the prophets recite verses from the humble being
'Nizam'.
Notes:
1. Astrabadi, Mohammed Qasim Hindu Shah: "Tarikh-e-Farishta."
2. Sijzi, Amir Hasan: "Fawwai 'du'l-Fu'ad."
3. Khrd, Amier: "Siyaru 'l-Auliya."
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Bulaq, Mohammed: "Roza-e-Aqtab."
7. Ibid.
8. Same as note 1.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Translated from the "Tazkara-e-Ghousiya."
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-