EDUCATION
Departure for Bokhara:
The immediate inspiration of the miraculous experience with Sheikh Ibrahim
Qandozi was that Khwaja sahab renounced the world. He lost no time in
selling away his orchard and the windmill along with all his other worldly
belongings and distributed every pie of the sale proceeds among the poor
and the needy. He then cut off all his ties with his dear and near ones
bade them a last good-bye and left Neshapur for Bokhara, which was the
seat of learning in those days in search of religious knowledge and moral
education.
Khwaja Sahab, who had renounced the world in his early age, was seen walking,
all alone, on the Neshapur-Bokhara highway, amidst jungle and animal life,
without a friend, without a penny in the pocket and without any present
or future hope of provision for his livelihood, resolutely determined
to seek the Truth. The ever growing discontentment of his earlier years,
inspite of all his rich traditions and material possessions, had suddenly
changed into a perfect contentment immediately after a divine vision received
through the help of a great 'Mazhoob'. He seemed to be very happy with
his apparently gloomy lot. At this stage, however, he did not know that
one day he would be one of the greatest holy saints and 'Mujaheds' of
his day in the history of Islam who would turn the tables of the evil
world, who would apply the balm of solace and salvation to the wounds
of the afflicted humanity and who would cause downfall of the pride and
arrogance of the mightiest monarchs of his time to redeem the sufferings
of the oppressed? Khwaja Sahab in a friendless world was playing in the
hands of Destiny for an exceedingly grand mission and amazing career dedicated
to the cause of peace and happiness of mankind.
Khwaja
Sahab decided to go to Bokhara for his education because the famous oriental
universities of Baghdad and Neshapur had suffered damage due to the ravages
of continuous wars and plunder, but Bokhara had still some of the best
educational institutions and the learned 'Ulama' of its time.
While in Bokhara, Khwaja Sahab received his education in all the oriental
sciences and literature from many learned 'Ulema' of the day, prominent
of whom was Maulana Hissamuddin Bokhari from whom he received his 'jubba'
(cloak) and Dastaar-e-Fazilat' (turban of learning)-the two highest academical
diplomas or "robes of learning" of that time.
At Samarqand:
Having completed his education at Bokhara,Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty(R.A)
went to Samarqand which was also a great seat of learning in those days.
There too he attended many leading institutions to perfect his knowledge
in Theology, Philosophy and Grammar. The years of his education in Bokhara
and Samarqand are reported to be between 1150 and 1160 A-D. or 552 and
561 AH.
