Hz. Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty (ra)

According to the authentic historical sources it is evident that a small batch of the pious followers had escorted Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty on his Indian mission. Their number is said to be around 40, but one of them was certainly Hazrat Khawaja Syed Fakhruddin Ahmad Gurdezi (R.A.) also known as Maulana Ahmad.

When Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin proceeded for India, his Peer – o – Murshid (spiritual mentor) Hazrat Khawaja Usman Haruni asked him to take one of his blood relations and follower, Hazrat Khawaja Fakhruddin Gurdezi (R.A.) along with him. Hazrat Khawaja Syed Fakhruddin Gurdezi, the khadim – e- khas used to attend on Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty (R.A.) day in and out, therefore, he and his descendants the present khadim community took pride and deemed it an honour to be called “KHADIM”of Hazrat Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz (R.A.).

Syed Fakhrudin stayed with the great Khawaja upto his last breath and when Khawaja Sahib kept himself busy in prayer and meditation or in seclusion for a number of days he looked after his affairs and management of Khangah and Langar Khana. Hazrat Syed Fakhruddin Gurdezi (R.A.) died at Ajmer, on 25th of Rajab 642 A.H./1245 (nearly a decade after the “Wissal” (death) of Hazrat Khawaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) and was buried near Mazar – e- Pak of Khawaja Saheb in the Hujra, which is known as “Tosh – e- Khana” (Toshak – Khana). His annual Urs is celebrated on the 25th of Rajab, with all religious ceremonies by the Khuddam, Khawaja Saheb (Syedzadgan).

The khuddam of khawaja Sahib known as “Syedzaddgan” trace their descent from Hazrat Khawaja Syed Fakhruddin Gurdezi (R.A.) through his sons. Khawaja Syed Masood, Khawaja Syed Mahoob Bahlol and Khawaja Syed Ibrahim. Thus the ‘Khadims’ are performing their religious duties as their fore – fathers had done in the past.

They served the Mazar – e- Pak (Shrine) and pray also on behalf of those unable to come to Ajmer and have faith in Khawaja Sahib and are desirous of obtaining his blessings. Their rights to serve the Shrine, to perform religious rituals and arrange spiritual functions and to receive all kinds of Nazar are hereditary and have also been judicially recognised. The documentary evidence in the “Malfoozat” (Sayings) of Chishtia order and historical literature, Shahi Faramin, Sanads etc. (imperial orders) Jagirs, honours and rewards conferred upon them from time to time not only by Muslim Rulers but also by many Hindu Rajas and Chieftains of India, which was also conferred by the British Government during their succeeding regimes indicate that they are the real custodians of the Shrine, as the whole management, control of all the affairs, inside the tomb (Gumbad Mubrak) of the Shrine, are exclusively in their hands. Although the Khadims have faced a number of revolutions and changes of Government, but under all circumstances and worst political upheavals they kept themselves attached to the Shrine and performed all their traditional duties and services.

Birth, Early life (Childhood)
Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) was born in 536 Hijri in Siestan (East Persia) also known as Seijestan, which is in Iran, in a pious, respected and prominent family.

His father, Hazrat Khawaja Giyasudeen (RA) was a pious and influential man and mother Syeda bibi Ummalwara alias Bibi Mahe Noor were the direct descendants of Hazrat Ali Shere Khuda (AS) (Ahle Baith) house of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
It was the time of chaos and great upheavals in whole in Muslim world and specially in Sistan and Khurasan, where Garib Nawaz (RA) was brought up though it was a civilized country but at that time it was quite shaken due to bloodshed and barbarism act at the hands of Tartars and other rebels. They attacked the week government of Sultan Sanjar and in that atmosphere and difficult time, there was no safety to human life and conferred no spiritual freedom on anyone, the wild Tartars had completely destroyed the follower of the muslim nations. 

Migration To Nishapur
Due to this unsafe environment and time, Garib Nawaz (RA)’s father, Khawaja Giyasudm Hassan, along with his family migrated to Nishapur the capital city, which was famous for its Nizamia University and precious library of rich and original Islamic literature, also Nishapur was place of rich gardens and canals with flourishing agricultural fields. One of the suburb called Rewand, was famous for its grape orchards and here due to its fertile land his father bought grape orchard with windmill for  peaceful life.
But the social evil and unrest did not spare the Nishapur as well, When Sultan Sanjar was fighting these Tartars at the border area for a long time his absence from the Capital caused disintegration in his administrative machinery and internally the Fidayees of the Qarmiti and Batini sect came out from their hiding and start looting and killing people and became the scene of massacre.
These all incidents, stirred something deep within Khawaja Garib Nawaz‘s heart and he plunged himself in deeper thoughts due to these ugly events but with no definite conclusion.
After the defeat of Sultan Sanjar, the enemy got free hand and they destroyed all the flourishing cities of Islamic culture into a heap of rubble and ruin.
By all these events one can surmise that, by exhibiting all these events and tragedies, Allah Almighty meant to show and prepare Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) for a mighty and divine noble mission of reform and peace for whole mankind and he was destined for an extra ordinary career of showering love, harmony, peace and showing true Islamic way. 

Light Of Wisdom
Khawaja Saheb lost both his father and mother at the young age of sixteen and he inherited an orchard and a wind mill as his means of livelihood, even during his early age Garib Nawaz (RA) showed rare pity and sacrifice for other and he exhibited the noble traits of character, so peculiar to the house of  the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) (Ahle Baith) to which he belonged.
One day while watering his orchard he saw a pious Dervish (Saint) Hazrat Ibrahim Qandoozi came and took a seat under a tree shade, When Khawaja Saheb saw him he approached and offered him fresh bunch of grapes and fruits to eat, the visitor was delighted and after having the fruits he took out something from his bag and after chewing it himself, he offered that to his young host. Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) ate at once without any hesitation or question and at the the same moment he felt and experienced the light of wisdom and knowledge dawned upon the young Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA).
Immediately after this spiritual incident he disposed all his worldly belongings, including orchard and windmill and distributed the money among poor. Having broken all the ties with worldly pleasure and comfort, he set off for spiritual journey and that led him to Samarkhand and Bokhara then the great centers for religious education and knowledge. Here he became Hafiz (Learned Quran by heart) and distinguished Aalim and fully conversant in all aspect of Islamic topic and thoughts
He took great intense in prayers, meditation, fasting and remembrance of Allah Almighty but he felt that still he is missing something to approach Allah Almighty,
In his own words he stated “Success is not possible, without a Peer (Guide)”.

Peer-O-Murshid, Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA)
He now needed a Spiritual Master and decided to leave in quest of such a master, on this journey he traveled far and widely in search of his true guide and then he reached the town called Harwan, where one of the greatest Sufi Dervish of that time, Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) lived. This great Saint was very popular and attracted score of people for their spiritual enlightenment and religious and moral training. So Khawaja Baba presented himself to this Great Saint and he kissed the ground with all due reverence and requested, “Sir, may I request you to please enlist me as one of your humble and devoted Mureed (disciple). Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) at once perceived by his intuitive power that this disciple was the fittest candidate to join the circle of his spiritual chain and granted his request without any hesitation. 

Period with his Peer-O-Murshid.
In his own words, Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) said about his initiation, : I had the honour of appearing before Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA), when other luminaries were also present. I bowed my head in solmen reverence, Hazrat Usman Harooni (RA) asked me to offer two rakat of namaaz (Prayer), I did it, he then directed me to sit facing Kaaba (Mecca) then he asked me to read Durud Sharif (Praise and blessings for Holy Prophet (SAW) and his family) 21 times, Subhan Allah, 60 times and I did it. After that he took my hand in his own hand and looked towards the heaven saying “Let me present you to Allah Almighty”, after he cut my hairs with scissor and placed special Tarki Cap on my head. He then asked me to recite surah Ikhlas (Quranic Verse) for one thousand times, I did it. he then said “among our followers there is only one day and one night’s Mujaheda (Probation) hence, go and do it today. ” Accordingly I spent one day and one night in prayers and reappeared before him the next morning. He asked me to to sit down and repeat again Surah Ikhlas one thousand times. I did so. Then “he asked me to look towards heaven”. When I raised my eyes towards the heaven, he inquired “how far do you see?” I said up to Arsh-E-Moalla (Zenith). He asked me to “look below”. I said up to Tahtu-Sara (Abyss). He then asked to to sit and repeat ‘Surah Ikhlas’ one thousand times and I did it. He then again asked me to “look toward heaven”  when I did, he inquired “how far do you see now?”. I said up to Hijaab-E-Azmat (dazzling glory of God). He then asked me to “close my eyes”. I did so and after a moment he asked to “open my eyes”. I did so. then he showed me his two fingers and inquired ” what do you see through them? I said 18,000 Aalam (Worlds). When he heard this, he said “now your work is over”. Then he looked towards the brick lying nearby and asked me to pick it up. When I picked, I found some dinaars (gold Coins) under it. Then he asked me to distribute these dinaars among the poor and the needy, which I did. After this I was instructed to remain with him until the prescribed period. 

Travelling With Peer-O-Murshid
Khawaja Baba along with his Peer-O-Murshid, Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) traveled several places including Damishk, where he met several prominent Sufis of the period, also they traveled several times to Macca Muazamma  and Madina Munawara to perform Haj and during one of these trip, Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) prayed for for Khawaja Baba at Macca for his success and they heard the nida or spiritual answer saying ” O Usman we have accepted Moinudeen as our beloved devotees” and then they left for Madina Munawara, there Peer-O-Murshid asked Khawaja Baba to offer his homage and salutations at the shrine of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). In Khawaja Baba own words” After the salutation I heard the voice in response saying ” Walekom As-Salam, Ya Qutubul Mashaikh-E-Bahr-O-Bar” (Peace be on you also, O spiritual leader of all the Walis on the earth.) and upon this Peer-O-Murshid Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) informed Khawaja Baba that you have now reached the stage of perfection as a Dervish.

And during one of those visit to Macca Muzamma and Madina Munawarra Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) got basharat (Prophetic Dream) ” Where Prophet (SAW) said ” O Moinudeen you are the promoter of our religion and you proceed to Hind (India) as they are unaware of Islam, show the path of truth to the people and Islam will shine there with Allah Almighty’s help”. He even saw the geographical route to Ajmer (India) in that dream.

Parting with his Peer-O-Murshid and Khilafat.
After serving 20 years, under the guidance of his Murshid, Khawaja Baba was ready to embark on his noble mission and before parting with Khawaja Baba, Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) awarded the “Khirqa-E-Khilajas’ (Robes Conferred on Successor).and Mustafawi Tabarukaat, traditionally handed down by Sufi Dervish to his Khalifa (Successor) in Chishtiya Silsila from generation to generation. Also on this occasion Khawaja Usman Harooni (RA) addressed his beloved Khalifa “O Moinudeen, I have done all this work for your perfection and you must carry our tradition and keep your duty diligently, a spiritual son is one who follows the commandments of his Peer and include them in his shijra (Genealogy) and discharge his duties faithfully, so that shame may not befall us on the day of judgment (Qayamat). After the sermon Peer-O-Murshid handed over his Asa Mubarak, Khirqa, wooden sandals and musallah (Praying Carpet) and said these taburakaat (sacred relics) are mementos of our piran-e-tariqat (Way of Succession fom Murshid to Khalifa) and these tradition and relics have come down to us from the holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) in succession, now it is bestowed upon you. Keep them with you with same reverence as we have kept them. These should be handed down to those who prove strictly worthy of the same. You should perfect yourself in renunciation, stay away from the common people and should never demand or expect anything from anyone”. Then Hazrat Khawaja Usman Haroon (RA) embraced Khawaja Baba, kissed his forehead and said “I entrust you to Allah Almighty”. Then Khawaja Baba departed from his Peer-O-Murshid with his heavy heart 


Arrival In India
In compliance with the above spiritual command, he set his journey to India along with 40 of his disciples and passed by many places like, Baghdad, Khirqan, Astrabad, Heart, Lahore and Delhi and along the way he met several Shaik / Walis but after a brief stay he continued his journey for Ajmer.
During his stay in Baghdad, he was the guest of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) founder of Qadariya Silsila and there Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) organized a Qawwali program for his guest at his house, it is in books that during this Sama, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) has to hold the ground (Earth) with his spiritual power from shaking because the Jalal (Power/temper) of Khawaja Baba’s wajd was huge, while listening qawwali.
After reaching India he stayed at Delhi for a short period and then resumed his journey to Ajmer, at that time Ajmer was a kingdom of a powerful King Raja Prithviraj Chauhan and this place and its people were unknown to Islam and even someone has predicted the King that there will be a arrival of one Dervishand his arrival will be the destruction of this Kingdom, therefore he ordered all his guards to check everyone before they enter his Kingdom.
In this hostile environment Khawaja Baba entered this Kingdom with 40 of his disciples and at a place called Sammana his Caravan was blocked by guards and when these guards saw one Dervish with his disciples, they all got aside and this caravan reached its destine place (Ajmer).
Khawaja Baba asked his disciples to set a camp near water and trees, called Aana Sagar but even there the King guards appeared and asked Khawaja Baba to move from that place , so King’s camel can sit there, anyway Khawaja Baba shifted his caravan on top of the hill near Aana Saagar (which is now known as Chilla Sharif).
After this incident the King tried hard for not to let Khawaja Baba settle in Ajmer and even he sent his great magician (Ajaypal Jogi) to challenge Khawaja Baba, but with Allah Almighty’s help he could not do anything against Khawaja Baba and hearing Khawaja Baba’s sermon he became one of his mureed, gave up all his magic and converted to Islam.
The news spread in Ajmer as well as the surrounding villages that a very pious Dervish had come to Ajmer, people began to flock to him in masses and which was increasing day by day. Whoever came to him, received the kindest treatment and blessings. People were so much inspired by his divine teaching, sermons and simplicity that they began to embrace Islam. 

Meanwhile, around the same period, Shahbuddin Gori attacked India, in 1192 A.D. and in the famous battle of Taarain, defeated Raja Prithvi Raj Chauhan. When Shahbuddin Gori came to know of the presence of Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) at Ajmer, he personally came to see him at his place and enjoyed the grace of his meeting.
Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) continued his noble magnificent mission, showing the path of Truth to the people. He also sent his disciples and successors to the different parts of the country to serve the people and teach the tenets of Islam. His prominent successors are as follows;

Hazrat Khawaja Qutubuddin Bakhtair Kaki (RA)   (In Delhi)
Hazrat Shaikh Fariduddin Ganj-E-Shakar (RA)     (In Pak Pattan)
Hazrat Shaik Nizamuddin Auliya (RA)                (In Delhi)
Hazrat Shaik Nasiruddin Chiragh Delhi (RA)        (In Delhi)

Marriage and Childrens
Khawaja Garib Nawaz (RA) was settled in Ajmer and busy in love of Allah and preaching the true meaning of Islam to unbeliever. During this time Khawaja Baba got Basharat (Prophetic Dream) in which he was commanded by Prophet Mohammed (SAW) to marry. Therefore he married to Bibi Asmat, daughter of pious saint Wajihuddin Mash Hadi (RA) and his second wife was Bibi Ummatullah, some historians writes, that she was the daughter of some non muslim Raja (King/Prince), but converted to Islam willingly.
Khawaja Baba got three sons and one daughter from these two marriages;

1)                 Hazrat Khawaja Fakhruddin (RA)
2)                 Hazrat Khawaja Hisamuddin (RA)
3)                 Hazrat Khawaja Ziauddin Abu Sayeed (RA)
4)                 Bibi Hazfiza Jamal (RA)