Category Archives: Personalities

June 9, 2011   Rajab, Saints   No comments

Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddeen Hassan Chishti Ajmeri (Rehmatullahi Alayhe)

With every breath, my restlessness increases; Why does the bud of my heart not blossom? Grant you my wishes, for the sake of Ali (radiallahu anhu). Salutations to you, O Khwaja, the saint of Hind! May this devotee’s aspirations be fulfilled.
The small town of Ajmer, 400 kilometres south and west of Delhi, is unremarkable to the eye at first glance. However, on closer inspection, one beholds the reason that it stands out; pilgrims. In thousands upon thousands they come, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, of all nationalities; raising their voices in celebration and prayer, in praise and remembrance of one of the greatest saints ever produced in the long and illustrious history of Islam. The deservedly titled Sultan of India, the Qutb or spiritual axis of the eastern Islamic world; he is the fountain from whose spiritual light have sprung all the beautiful, mighty saints of the Chishtiyya silsila: Hazrat Khwaja Moinudeen Hassan Chishti Gharibun-Nawaaz Ajmeri (rahmtullahi alaihi).
The chieftain and founder of the Chishtiyya silsila, one of the four great orders that radiate throughout the world, Khwaja Gharibun-Nawaaz (radiallahu anhu) is one of the most respected and universally recognised figures in Sufism and Islam. He stands tall as a great spiritual leader; a reformer and purifier of hearts at the most turbulent of times. Most of the saints before his time had been concentrated around the lands of the Middle East, but he was a pioneer, a missionary who was responsible for spreading the Sufi and Islamic sphere of influence to the remotest regions of polytheistic India. His pious character was a true picture of Islam; his practice exactly in accordance with the dictates of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, and his teachings beautiful lessons in godliness, truthfulness, and equality which enlightened the hearts of multitudes. Authentic estimates place the number of people he guided to the path of Islam at nine million. It is a historical fact that his Chishtiyya silsila wielded a direct and crucial influence on the course of Indian history, the development of the embryonic Bhakti Consciousness Movement of Hinduism, and modern (pantheistic) Buddhism.
Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) was born in the year 536 AH in Sijistan, the son of Khwaja Ghyasuddin Chishti, a pious and influential man of what is now Iran. He was a direct descendant through both his parents of Hazrat Ali (radiallahu anhu). It was a time of chaos and great upheavals in both India and the Muslim Empire as a whole. In the year of his birth, Sultan Sanjari was finally defeated before the implacable advance of the Mughals, spelling the beginning of the end of the Sultanate; and in Khurasan, where he was brought up, religious sects and barbarism had lain waste a once civilised country. He was orphaned at the tender age of fourteen, and was thus raised in the same condition as Rasulallah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam).
But social evils, moral degradations and personal tragedy stirred something deep within the young man, and he began to turn towards the spiritual life. Once when watering his father’s garden, he came across a dervish, Hazrat Ibrahim Qanduzi (radiallahu anhu). He was deeply affected by the saint’s holy manner, and Hazrat Ibrahim (radiallahu anhu) for his part transformed Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu)’s inner being. His eyes became opened to the ultimate realities of the spiritual world. Renouncing all material things, he sold his father’s garden, all his possessions and distributed the money among the poor.
Still at a young age, he arrived at the great centres of learning in Samarkand and Bokhara, where he swiftly became a hafiz and distinguished alim, fully conversant in all aspects of Islamic thought. Unsatisfied with this, he began a strict regime of prayers, meditations, fasting and self-renunciation which continued for years and grew more intense and vigorous until Allah granted him the exalted rank of sainthood. He used to fast for seven days and nights, breaking fast on the eighth with a small crust of bread soaked in water. At this point, he felt the need for a shaykh, or spiritual guide, feeling the truth of the Qur’anic injunction,
O ye who believe! Be mindful of your duty towards Allah, and seek a means of approach unto Him, and strive in his way in order that ye may succeed. (5:35)
He himself used to state, “success is not possible without a guide.” He travelled extensively throughout the near East, finally finding a spiritual guide in Hazrat Khwaja Uthman Haruni (radiallahu anhu). In twenty years he spent under his murshid’s guidance, he attained perfection in tasawwuf and was awarded the khilafat-e-azam by Khwaja Uthman (radiallahu anhu). He offered many pilgrimages both with his murshid and alone. It was during one of these, while in Madinah Sharif, that he was directed spiritually by Rasulallah (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) to go to India and spread Islam there. He left immediately with 40 of his disciples, on the long and arduous journey.
Along the way, he stopped in several places including Baghdad, Isfahan and Balkh. In Baghdad Sharif, he was the guest of Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (radiallahu anhu), the greatest of saints and founder of the Qadriyya silsila. Hazrat Ghaus-ul Azam (radiallahu anhu) organised a qawwali in his own house for the visitors, and he himself stood outside that night, with eyes closed and his staff tightly held against the ground. When asked the reason for his actions, he replied, “I needed to stop the ground shaking, such was the power of Khawja’s wajd.”
In Sabzwar, he came across a ruler of such corruption that he would not even hesitate to denigrate the holy sahaabi of the Holy Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam). Yet one glance from the great saint sufficed to render the man unconscious. When he awoke, his personality had changed completely; he gave up his kingdom, renounced all his possessions and became a mureed of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu).
Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) and his disciples were in a cave in the mountains of the Hindu Kush when one of the most famous events in sufi history occurred. Hundreds of miles away, in Baghdad Sharif, Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (radiallahu anhu) pronounced his chieftainship of all auliya-allah by saying, “My foot is on the neck of all walis.” Spiritually hearing the great saint’s statement, Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) immediately threw himself down and stretched his neck against the floor, signifying his submission to that truth.
It was because of this type of humble obedience that Allah granted him the title, “Sultan-e-Hind”, for he is the leader and spiritual head to all the hundreds of walis that have blessed India in after-times. So it was that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) arrived in India at a time of tremendous upheaval and moral decay. The Ghaznavi dynasty was in its death throes, and the Rajput kings were gaining power. Tyrannical rulers were making life unbearable for common people, especially the muslims whose numbers were diminishing day by day.
Yet India is not named for no reason, “the land of saints and sufis”; its people had inherited a wealth of spirituality that yearned for expression. It was into such an arena that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) stepped, a torch to India’s tinder. First he went to Lahore, a centre of learning where resided a great number of Muslim theologians, philosophers and sufis. Yet he soon left this place, for his divinely guided mission was not to men such as these, but rather to those who were deprived of the light of Islam.
Thus he arrived in Delhi, which was to become the seat of his most famous successors. At the time, the city was a place of much fear and mutual hatred between Hindus and Muslims, but Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) began delivering his sermons in a soft tongue, dipped in honey. As a result of this kindness and forbearance, both Hindus and Muslims were turned towards the path of truth. The great wali was revered and loved by those of both religions, a trend which, was to be the hallmark of Sufism in India.
Soon, however, he left Delhi too, heading instead for the remote city of Ajmer, deep within the kingdom of the most powerful Rajput prince in Northern India, Raj Prithviraj.
This city was completely alien to Islam; no muslims at all lived within its bounds. It was in this hostile environment that Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) and his forty disciples settled and began the bulk of his teaching. Very soon, however, he changed the entire civic atmosphere, gathering people of all races, castes and stations to the shining truth of Islam. His high morals and frugal lifestyle deeply impressed the Hindus and all the while, the beautiful messages of the Qur’an and Sunnah entered deep into their hearts. Soon they started to convert, in multitudes upon multitudes, and the raja became alarmed as even his courtiers and high-ranking servants took up Islam.
It is interesting here to note that the raja’s mother had predicted the arrival of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu), and had warned her son not to interfere with him lest he suffer total destruction. Whether Raj Prithviraj forgot this prophecy or ignored it is unknown, but he began to harass the shaykh and trouble his followers. But Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu), holding firm to the Islamic doctrine that, “Allah is with those who patiently persevere,” steadfastly carried on his peaceful mission. One day, however, he said, “The raja will be captured alive, and his kingdom snatched away.” This prophecy was proven true not months later. The raja, was defeated by Sultan Shahabuddin, was captured alive and brought into the presence of the sultan, who ordered him executed. The power of the Rajputs was thus broken for more than three hundred years.
Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti (radiallahu anhu) carried on his work in Ajmer for 45 years, and millions entered Islam through his spiritual light and endeavours. Besides this great service, he also established permanent sufi centres which were run by such mighty disciples as Khwaja Qutbudeen Khaki, Hazrat Nizamudeen Auliya, Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj Shakar and Khwaja Nasiruddeen Chiragh Delhawi (rahmatullahi ta’aala ajmaeen).
On the 29th Jamaad-us-Saani, before entering his bare cell for his usual meditations, he advised his attendants that he should not be disturbed until his khalifa-e-azam, Khwaja Qutbuddeen Khaki (radiallahu anhu), arrived from Delhi. On the 6th Rajab, 633 AH, his khalifa arrived and, receiving no answer to his polite knocking, the mureeds broke down the door. There they found that their beloved murshid had already left the world, at the ripe old age of ninety-six. To the wonder and amazement of all, upon his forehead was inscribed in letters of light: He was a lover of Allah, and he died in the love of Allah.
Such was the passing of one of the greatest saints in Islamic history. Undoubtedly, if not for him and his enormous sacrifices, many of those who read this would not have been born into the mercy of this beautiful religion. One can only imagine the hardship he endured in his early years in Ajmer, in the kingdom of a hostile king, surrounded by a nation of polytheists, a people even whose native tongue – Sanskrit – was foreign to him.
How similar was his situation, and his conduct under adversity, to the Holy Prophet (saw) himself! How he managed to convert so many Hindus to Islam, working from the heart of their own kingdom, at a time when the only words that the two religions could address each other with were hatred and war, is a miracle in itself. He not only moulded the character of a people, but also led them to a more prosperous, nobler way of living, and cultivated in them the qualities of humanity and truth. Through him and his immediate successors, the entire culture and civilisation of India underwent a profound change.
As alluded to before, apart from the millions of converts to Islam, the Bhakti Consciousness movement, modern Buddhism and Sikhism, all monotheistic or pantheistic in outlook emerged from the ancient religions of Hinduism and Buddhism due in great part to the Chishtiyya silsila’s efforts in the path of Islam. As is stated in Sura al-Nasr, When Allah’s succour and triumph cometh, and thou seest mankind entering the religion of Allah in troops, then hymn the praises of thy Lord, and seek. forgiveness of Him Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy.
Courtesy of Chishti-Habibi Tariqa Webpage.
© 2007 Islamic Studies and Research Association (ISRA)
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February 4, 2011   Ahl us-Sunnah, Holidays, Poetry, Prophets, Rabi ul-Awwal, Shaban, Spirituality, Uncategorized, Urs   No comments

Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Our Role Model

During the blessed month of Rabiul Awwal 1431, a women and youth conference was organized in the beautiful country of Bahrain by Sister Shagufta Ahmad Qadri, representative of the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center, IECRC USA and Canada, and Sister Zarine Riaz Shaikh Qadri, a long time active member and teacher of the Bahrain community. The Conference was titled “Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Our Role Model” and attended by almost 200 women and children from around the island.

The purpose of the Conference was to bring forth the foundational element of holding on to the Sunnah (practices) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the way to improving our lives, societies, countries and the world at large. The spiritual gathering began with a recitation from the Holy Quran followed by its English translation. Both reminded the audience through the beautiful chapter of Ar-Rahman, that truly “which of the favors of our Lord can we deny”? The greatest favor upon humanity is the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through whom we received the religion of Islam. It is a point to ponder that if Allah Almighty Willed it He could very easily have guided each of our hearts to Islam by revealing the Holy Quran into it. However, this honor of being the mediary to humanity as its perpertual guide was reserved for none other than the “Rahmatul lil Aalameen” in whose praise and devotion this blessed gathering of Dhikr (remembrance) was organized as a measure of thanks for the great gift of Islam.

The gathering continued with the recitation of the Qaseedah Burdah Shareef of the great 12th CE scholar Imam Sharafuddeen Al-Busiri rahmatullah alayh which he wrote in honor of the Holy Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam which then became the cause of his paralysis becoming cured. The youth group presented some verses of this 160 couplet poem. Writing and reciting poetry (Naat) in praise of Holy Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam is a confirmed practice of many great Sahaba (Companions) of the Holy Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa Aalihi wa sallam, the most well known being Hazrat Hassan ibn Thabit radi Allahu anhu, the author of the famous Naat “As-subhu bada min tala’atihi”.

Many enlightening speeches were given by Bahrain’s illustrious youth on the topics of “Importance of Dhikr Allah,” “Importance of Knowledge in Islam,” “Rights of Parents in Islam,” and “Patience and Forgiveness in Islam.” Below are links to all the speeches and Naats that were a part of this program. We pray that Allah Almighty accepts this spiritual gathering which was organized purely for the sake of His Pleasure. Aameen.

The organizers would like to thank the dedicated volunteers of this event: Sister Shabana Zain, Sister Sadia Naiman, Sister Shabina, Sister Uzma and the many others whose name we couldn’t mention but Allah is well aware of their contributions and everyone’s reward is with the Almighty!

Links to items presented at the above Conference:

Surah Ar-Rahman Recitation by Brother Muzammil

Surah Ar-Rahman translation by Sister Mubashshira

Hamd by Sister Nazreen

History of Qaseeda Burda Shareef by Brother Alim

Qaseeda Burda Shareef by Youth Group

Importance of Dhikr Allah by Brother Shaiz

Importance of Knowledge in Islam by Sister Sadaf

Rights of Parents in Islam by Sister Danya

Dua after Adhan by Brother Inshaal

Lab pe aati hai dua by Children’s Group

Patience and Forgiveness in Islam by Sister Sadia

History of Tala’al Badru ‘alayna by Brother Aaqib

Tala’al Badru ‘alayna by Youth Group

Aaminah Bibi ke Gulshan Mein by Sisters Group

Jashne Aamade-e-Rasool (pbuh) by Sisters Group

As-subhu bada by Sister Zarine

Importance of Durood Shareef by Sister Zarine

Durood Shareef

Har ek sham-o-sahar se pehle by Sister Shagufta

Adab in Islam by Sister Shagufta

Salam by Sisters Group

Dua by Sisters Group

Nabi-e-Karim (pbuh) Ki Zindagi Namoona-e-Amal by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Qadri, Founding Director, IECRC

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd4m-DDjfoQ]

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May 15, 2010   Ahl us-Sunnah, Ayyaz Yousaf Qadri, Dhul Hijjah, Eid ul-Adha, English, Hajj, Islam, Makkah and Madina, Personalities, Practice, Prophets, Shaban, Uncategorized   No comments

Visiting the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)

February 1, 2004 / Dhul Hijjah 1424

Volume 1, Issue 4

Visiting the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is the best of all devotions and recommended acts.  As a matter of fact it is from those necessary acts of worship which are obligatory for us to perform because the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) emphatically urged us to desire it.

He (Peace Be Upon Him) said:

“For whom it is possible to visit Me and he  or she still does not do so, has committed a great injustice against Me.”

He (Peace Be Upon Him) also said:

“Whoever visited My honorable grave, My intercession becomes incumbent upon him or her.”

He (Peace Be Upon Him) also said:

“Whoever visited Me after My passing onto the next realm, it is like he or she visited Me in my life.”

And there are Ahaadeeth (sayings of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)) besides these.

According to the scholars, it is proven that the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)  is alive and is given sustenance and is enjoying worship; however people who are unable to reach these high stations, the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) is hidden from their eyes.

And when we saw many people unaware of the right a visitation requires and its details (in its entirety and small portions, obligations and recommendations) which are sunan (the Way of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)) for visitors, we wanted to write the “Etiquette of Visitation” after completing the topic of Hajj to complete the usefulness of this book.

So we say that one who is intending to visit the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), this person should send Darood Shareef (noble prayers on the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)) in abundance as a gift to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) because He (Peace Be Upon Him) listens and this is conveyed to Him (Peace Be Upon Him) and the virtues of Darood Shareef are so famous that they don’t need to be mentioned here.

When we see the walls of Madinah, the Pure, start reciting Darood Shareef and say: “O Allah! This is the Blessed Sanctuary of Your Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) and Keeper of Your Revelation. So send me Your favors so I can enter into it, make it the cause of safety for me from Hell and punishment and make me among the people who will be awarded intercession of the Noble Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) on the Day of Reckoning!”

Before entering Madinah, the Pure, or after entering it, but before visiting the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), if possible, take a shower, wear perfume and nice clothes. He should do this out of respect for presenting himself in the Presence of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). After this when his companions are settled in one place and he is at peace regarding his family and luggage etc., then, keeping in mind the awesomeness of the place, with calm and dignity, enter the city reciting these words if possible:

“I enter with the Name of Allah, Most Exalted, Most High and upon the community of the Noble Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him). O my Lord! Enter me with a good entrance, and bring out good, and bless me with energy and help from You. O Allah! Send blessings on our leader Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (Peace Be Upon Him) and His followers. (Read Darood Shareef till the end.) Forgive my sins and open the doors of Your Mercy and Blessings for me.”

After entering the Noble Mosque of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) pray two cycles near His Noble Pulpit and stand there in such a way that the handle of the Pulpit is next to your right shoulder. The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) used to stand here.

And there are gardens of paradise between the Holy Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) Illumniated Grave and Noble Pulpit. As the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has informed us about it:

“My Pulpit is on My Basin”

In addition to the Tahiyyatul–Masjid (2 cycles offered upon entering a mosque out of respect for it), read two cycles of prayer of Shukr (gratitude) because Allah Almighty endowed you with the tawfeeq (success) to come here and granted you the favor of bringing you here.

The above piece was translated from the famous Hanafi Fiqh Text “Noor-ul-Idah” by Ayyaz Yousaf Qadri, Managing Director of IECRC.

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