BIOGRAPHY OF KHAWAJ GARIB NAWAJ

                BIOGRAPHY OF KHAWAJA GARIB NAWAZ

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life 

When Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin was born (536 AH) at Chisht in Sistan, which is also known as Sajistan, East Persia. The peace of the Muslim world was horribly disturbed. Sistan and its surrounding lands were experiencing unprecedented bloodshed and plunder at the hands of barbarous Tartars and other rebels. These intruders had taken advantage of the weak government of Sultan Sanjar. The life and honour of the people were in constant danger. The wild Tartars had completely destroyed the follower of the Muslim nation. They outraged humanity practically in all the centers of the 600-year old Muslim civilisation and culture.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life >Migration To Neshapur

Due to these intermittent political disturbances in sistan, khawaja Ghiyasuddin Hasan, father of khawaja Muinuddin, one day decided to pack up and leave Sistan for a safer place. He migrated with his family to Neshapur the Capital city, which was one of the most flourishing cities in those days. It was a great centre of intellectual and economic activities and possessed the famous “Nizamia” university with a precious library that contained rare collection of Original literature. There lived learned Ulama and reputed Sufis who imparted knowledge in moral and spiritual enlightenment to scholars drawn from far and near. There lived physicians and artists of rare qualifications. There were rich gardens and canals with flourishing agricultural fields. One of the suburbs was called Rewand which was famous for its grape orchards. It is recorded that khawaja Ghiyasuddin Hasan bought an orchard with a windmill in this vicinity to settle down for a peaceful life.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > No Peace Of Mind

“Man proposes but God disposes” is an old saying. The peace in search of which Khawaja Ghiyasuddin Hasan had migrated to Neshapur was not to be had even in this great city. Here too the people were hanging in a terrible suspense between life and death. The brave Sultan Sanjar had been fighting the Tartars at the border to check them for a long time without success. Due to his prolonged absence from the capital, his administrative machinery was showing signs of disintegration. Internally, the Fidayees of the ‘Qarmti’ and ‘Baatini’ sects (one of whose members had already murdered the able Wazeer Nizamul Mulk) had also come out of their hideouts and were roaming about the country unabated, spreading wild fire of rebellion all round. These armed hordes were busy in wholesale plunder and massacre of the innocent people.

These awe-inspiring events had a very deep impression on the mind of the young Khawaja Muinuddin who was watching the whole barbarous drama objectively at his impressionable young age.

The ‘Qarmti’ and Battani’ intriguers had carried centuries-old grudge against the Hanafi Muslims who held both temporal and spiritual powers in succession for more than 500 years after the death of the Holy Prophet (May peace of God be on him). Although it was an age-old grudge but. As Islamic history shows they utterly failed in all their designs to destroy their rivals. Islam has survived many vicissitudes of history and Quran has promised its survival up to the last Day-of-Judgment.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > Defeat Of Sultan

In spite of all his best efforts to turn out the invaders from his country and to control the internal rebels, Sultan Sanjar unfortunately could not succeed. He was engulfed in mutual wars between himself and his unfaithful brothers on the one hand, and the Fidayees and barbarous Tartars on the other. It was indeed a terrible situation for him, yet they fought the forces of evil to the bitter end though he was ultimately defeated and had to run for his life.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > General Massacre

After the defeat of Sultan Sanjar, the invaders had a free hand to plunder every town in Khorasan. Flourishing fields were destroyed, cities were razed to the ground, inhabitants, Ulama and Sufis were mercilessly murdered honour of the woman was brutally outraged, girls and boys were taken as salves mosques, hospitals and the historic educational institutions were destroyed.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life >Destruction Of Neshapur

When the news of this terrible destruction reached the defeated sultan, he once more summed up his courage and collected his shattered army to save his country. But Sultan Sanjar was born under most unlucky stars and his luck once more betrayed him. He failed to check the invaders and this time he was arrested. When this bad news reached Neshapur, the capital was plunged into indescribable grief. It was now at the mercy of the enemy. The invaders entered Khorasan and destroyed the cities of Tus and Mashhed, reaching Neshapur like a sweeping storm. Everything was destroyed leaving this once flourishing city of Islamic culture and learning into a heap of rubble and ruin.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > Death Of Khawaja’s Parents

Khawaja Muinuddin again saw all this ghastly drama at his early age. But this was not all for him. Just at this time he lost his dear father (551 AD) and the worst part of it was that he had already lost his dear mother too. The young orphan was now left all alone to take care of himself in a world full of hate, murder and greed. Although by virtue of legacy he had enough material resources to sustain himself in his traditional standard of life but the sack of Neshapur coupled with the death of his dear parents plunged him into deep thinking. At times he was over whelmed with grief and saw a very vague picture of this terrible world though he bore it out with courage and exemplary forbearance. He was a hard-working youth and looked after his orchard, personally trimming and watering the plants with his own hands.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > Yet Another Shock

Hardly a year had passed after the death of Khawaja Muinuddin’s father, when the mischievous Tartars once more ransacked Khorasan and repeated the same bloody drama of murder arson and loot. This time Sultan Mahmood, one of the brothers of Sultan Sanjar, came forward to check the invaders but he too failed to rout them. Neshapur was again the scene of the same ghastly tragedies. And once more Khawaja Muinuddin was overwhelmingly dismayed to see these scenes of terrible devastation. He often plunged himself into deeper thoughts about these ugly events in order to try to come to some definite conclusion about his own future course of life. The thought of helping the helpless humanity against all such persistent pillage always tormented his tender heart. Yet they could not come to any definite conclusion.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life > Destined For A Sacred Mission

As helpless human beings, we can never understand the will of the Almighty God. Should we surmise that by exhibiting these tragedies perhaps God Almighty meant to show Khawaja Muinuddin the sins of this wretched world in order to prepare him for a mighty divine mission of reform and peace for the mankind? As it will be seen later on that Heavenly Father did mean this for which He enlightened the mind of the young Khawaja quite unexpectedly. Whenever injustice, oppression and greed reigned supreme in this world, God has always been merciful to mankind by sending His saviours to fight the satanic forces and put the people on the path of righteousness and mutual love.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life >Khawaja Sahib’s Genealogy And Childhood

Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Chishty was one of the descendants of the illustrious family of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (May peace of God be on him). His father Syed Ghiyasuddin Hasan was a very pious personality and a well to do and influential gentleman. His mother, Syeda Bibi Ummul-wara alias Babi Mah-e-Noor was the daughter of Syed Daud. While Khawaja Muinuddin’s paternal genealogy is traced from Hazrat Imam Husain, the younger son of Hazrat Ali Karam Allah Wajahu, his maternal genealogy is traced from Hazrat Imam Hasan, the elder son of Hazrat Ali.

Childhood

According to historians, Khwaja Muinuddin Chishty even during his childhood gave early promise of his rare piety and sacrifice for others. Whenever any woman with a baby came to see his mother and if the baby cried for feeding,” the infant saint of the future” used to make a sign to his mother to feed the crying baby from her own breast. When his mother did this, the spectacle pleased the little Muinuddin very much. At the age of 3 or 4, he used to share his own food with his playmates.

Once he was going to Idgah for the Id prayers in rich clothes. On the way, he saw a blind boy in rags. He pitied the boy so much that he at once gave him some of his own clothes and led him to Idgah with all due affection.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Birth And Early Life >Khawaja Sahib’s Genealogy 

Paternal Genealogy

Khawaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishty, son of Khawaja Syed Ghyasuddin Hasan, son of Syed Ahmed Muddin Tahir, son of Syed Khawaja Abdul Aziz Husain, son of Syed Imam Mohammed Mehdi, son of Syed Imam Hasan Askari, son of Imam Ali Naqi, son of Syed Imam Mohammed Taqi, son of Imam Ali Musi Raza, son of Imam Musi Kazim Raza, son of Imam Mohammed Jafar Sadiq, son of Imam Mohammed Baqar, son of Hazrat Syed Imam Zain-ul-Abideen, son of Syed-ul-Shohoda Syed Imam Husain, son of Amir-ul-Momineen Hazrat Ali, son-in-law of the Holy Prophet Mohammed.

Maternal Genealogy

Syeda Bidi Mah-e-Noor, daughter of Syed Daud

, son of Hazrat Abdulla, son of Syed Zahid, son of Syed Morris, son of Syed Daud I, son of Syedna Moosa, son of Syedna Abdulla Mahaz, son of Syedna Hasan Musa, son of Syedna Hazrat Imam Hasan, son of Syedna Hazrat Ali Karam Allah Wajahu.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation

Khawaja Muinuddin used to ponder for hours together over the ugly scenes of the ghastly massacre in Khorasan which he had been witnessing with great pain for several years ever since his younger days. With these tragic impressions, his interest in worldly life and pleasures was diminishing fast. Inwardly he was very much worried and longed to be away from such a mad world if he could manage to see a way out.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation > Renouncement

One day (in 556 AD), he came across a ‘Majzoob’ (a divine person constantly engrossed in communion with God) in the person of one Sheikh Ibrahim Qandozi who happened to come to his orchard. The young Khawaja Muinuddin was watering the plants at that time. Immediately he saw the dervish, he welcomed him enthusiastically and after kissing his hands reverently made him sit down under a shady tree. He then bought a bunch of fresh grapes and requested the holy man to eat it. The request was complied with. The divine seemed to admire the manners and this gesture of the young Khawaja’s hospitality and at once perceived, by his intuitive powers, that his host was inwardly worried and upset, had a spark of divine love in his heart and was an ardent seeker after Truth. Overwhelmed by the pleasure of this understanding the dervish brought out a bit of ‘Khul’ (the substance left after the oil was extracted from the sesame seed or Til – some historians say it was a piece of bread) from his wallet and after chewing it put it in the mouth of Khawaja Muinuddin. No sooner had he eaten it, than the veil of all worldly imagination was lifted from his mind and he found himself in quite a strange world radiating with ‘divine manifestation.’ When Khawaja Muinuddin recovered from this extraordinary experience, he found that Sheikh Ibrahim Qandozi had gone.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>Not A Fable

This strange spiritual experience, which laid the foundation of Khawaja Muinuddin’s divine career, would look like a queer fable from the Arabian Nights to the present world engrossed in materialism. But it is neither a fable nor a dream because such miracles have happened with the spiritualists or Sufi dervishes or Rishis and Munis of the highest order in the East. And they do happen even today if one is lucky enough to come across any ‘real’ divine (who prefers to live in perpetual obscurity away from all worldly gaze to avoid interruption in his devotional career). Such miracles are amply supported by the old religious books or Scriptures of nearly all the leading and recognised religions of the world all of which are based on spiritualism. The people of this 20th century in which materialism overwhelmingly dominates spiritualism may ridicule and refuse to believe in such superhuman feats and may naturally demand some substantial logical or scientific proofs to support them. But such doubts can be easily dispelled by a minute study of their own respective religious Scriptures. The philosophies of Islamic Sufism and the ancient Yogic and Vedantic sciences of Hindu civilisation also help us to believe in such miracles unquestionably. In this hidden science of spiritual communion or oneness with God all logical arguments are deliberately rejected because logic and Sufism do not go hand-in-hand, which was the creed of Khawaja Muinuddin and numerous other great Sufis and saints of the East. It is neither taught in our modern Universities nor can it be analysed in our scientific laboratories. It is Knowledge from God that comes to His “beloved” devotees only.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>Departure for Bokhara

The immediate inspiration for the above-mentioned miraculous experience with Sheikh Ibrahim Qandozi was that Khawaja Muinuddin renounced the world. He lost no time in selling away his orchard and the windmill along with all his otherworldly 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 goodbye and left Neshapur for Bokhara, which was the seat of learning in those days in search of religious knowledge and moral education.

A handsome youth who had renounced the world in his early teens was seen walking all alone on the Neshapur-Bokhara highway amidst jungle and animal life, without a friend without a penny in his pocket and without any present or future hope of provision for his livelihood resolutely determined to seek Truth. The ever-growing discontentment of his earlier years in spite 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 ‘Majzoob’. 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 redeem the suffering of the oppressed? This youthful traveler in a friendless world was none but Khawaja Muinuddin playing in the hands of Destiny for a exceedingly grand mission and amazing career dedicated to the cause of peace and happiness of mankind.

This illustrious son of Islam and dutiful servant of the oppressed humanity, had 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 his time.

Nothing is recorded by historians about Khawaja Muinuddin’s primary education but considering his noble heritage; it is safe to presume that he must have received at least his early Quranic lessons at home. One historian reports that he had learned Quran by heart at the age of 7.

While in Bokhara, Khawaja Muinuddin received his education in all the oriental sciences and literature from many learned ‘Ulama’ 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 academic diplomas or “robes of learning” of that time.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>At Samaqand

Having completed his education at Bokhara, Khawaja Muinuddin 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 of Theology, Philosophy and Grammar. The years of his education in Bokhara and Samarqand are reported to be between 1150 and 1160 AD or 552 AH.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>In Quest For A Spiritual Preceptor

After equipping himself with all the best available education (moral and religious) which he could obtain, Khawaja Muinuddin now diverted his attention to the spiritual side of his training. He now needed a ‘spiritual preceptor’ and decided to leave Samarqand in quest of the country towards Baghdad. On this journey he came to the town of Harwan or Haroon where one of the greatest Sufi dervishes of his time Hazrat Khawaja Usman Harooni, lived. (Born 510 A.H. died 617 A.H. and buried at Mecca.) This great saint had a resounding fame which attracted scores of persons from far and near for their spiritual enlightenment and religious and moral training under him.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>At the feet of Murshid

One day Khawaja Muinuddin decided to present himself before this great saint. When he approached the saint, he kissed the ground with all due reverence and pleaded: “Sir, may I request you to enlist man as one of your humble and devoted ‘mureeds’ (disciples)’? Hazrat Khawaja Usman at once perceived by his intuitive powers that Muinuddin was the fittest candidate to join the circle of his disciples, and granted his request without hesitation.

Gharibnawaz(R.A) > Renouncement And Initiation>Initiation

Khawaja Muinuddin says, in his own words, about his spiritual initiation “I had the honour of appearing before Hazrat Usman when many other spiritual luminaries were also present. I bowed my head in solemn reverence. Hazur Usman asked me to offer 2 ‘rakaats’ of Namaaz (prayers). I did it. He then directed me to sit facing the Kaaba (Mecca). I did it. He told me to repeat Darud Sharif (praise and blessings for the holy prophet and his family) 21 times and to say ‘Subhan Allah’ (God be praised) 60 times. I did it. After that he stood up took my hand in his own and looked towards the heaven saying: “Let me present you to God”. After that he cut off my hair with scissors and then put a special Tarki cap (Kolah Chahaar Tarki) on my head and asked me to sit down. He then asked me to repeat ‘Surah Ikhlas’ (a Quranic verse) one thousand times. I did it. He then said, “among our followers there is only one day and one night’s Mujahid (probation) hence go and do it today” Accordingly I spent one day and one night in prayers and reappeared before him. He asked me to sit down and repeat ‘Surah Ikhlas’ again one thousand times. I did so. “Look towards the heaven”, he then asked me. When I raised my eyes towards the heaven he enquired “how far do you see?” I said, to Arsh-e-Moalla (zenith). He then asked me “look below”. I said to Tahu-Sara (abyss). He then asked me to sit sown and repeat ‘Surah Ikhlas’ one thousand times and I did it. He then asked me ” Look towards the heaven “. When I did so, he enquired “how far do you see now? ” I said to Hijaab-e-Azmat (dazzling glory of God). He then asked me “close your eyes”. I did so, and, after a moment, he told me “open your eyes.” I did so. Then he showed me his two fingers and enquired “what do you see through them?” I said I see 18,000 Aalam (worlds). When he heard this, he said, “now your work is over”. Then he looked towards a brick lying nearby and asked me to pick it up. When I did so. I found some deenars’ (gold coins) under it. He asked me to go and distribute them among the poor and the needy which I did. I was then instructed to remain with him for some time.”

Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Necessity of Religion

In this 20th century, new scientific inventions and political theories are causing irreparable deterioration in the religious faith of mankind. Public mind is too much engrossed in these attractions and man is getting away farther and farther from religion and God. The force of the ‘matter’ overwhelmingly dominates the influence of the ‘spirit’. People are being torn away by ideological warfare from their religious moorings and are left to drift astray, creating all sorts of new troubles and miseries in an already much tormented world. The solutions sought through man-made laws, against the time honoured and irrefutable religious laws and traditions give little or no solace to the afflicted mankind. It seems that the world is fast drifting towards religious bankruptcy.

Bonds Of Religion

What is religion? Of all the forces that have been working for the emancipation of mankind ever since its origin, nothing is more potently powerful than the manifestation of those forces which form religion. In spite of all the vicissitudes of time, that peculiar force is still visible in the background of all our social, economic and political systems. It has been the greatest cohesive impulse for the unity of mankind. In many cases the bonds of religion have proved stronger than the bonds of climate, race and descent. People of the same family and descent.

Beginning Of Religion

The result of all ancient explorations to trace out the origin of religion shows that it is ‘something’ super-human or supernatural and that its genesis is not in the human brain but it has originated ‘somewhere else’. The theories are advanced about this analysis. One group maintains ancestor worship as the origin of religion, while the other thinks that it originates in the personification of the powers of Nature. A study of the ancient religions of the Babylonians, Chinese, Egyptians and some American races reveal traces of ancestor worship as the beginning of religion.

Ancestor Worship

The Egyptians believed in two souls, one of the external body and the other of the internal soul that motivates it. They thought, when a man died, his ‘double’— the internal soul went out but still lived, and it lasted so long as the ‘dead body’ was preserved intact. That is why they preserved their dead and built huge pyramids over them. They thought if the ‘body’ was hurt its double’ would also be injured. This was ancestor worship. The ancient Babylonians believed in the same idea of ‘double’ but with slight variations. They believed that the ‘double’ lost all sense of love; it even frightened the living to give if food and drink and so on. Among the ancient Hindus too, traces of ancestor worship are found. The Chinese were also ancestor worshippers. Thus the theory of ancestor-worship as the beginning of religion is strengthened by one school of thought.

Nature Worship

According to the other theory, religion is said to have originated in nature worship as the ancient Aryans maintained. The human mind has always been inquisitive and curious to find out the philosophy behind the sun, the moon, the earth and the heavens, the stars, the hurricane and so many other stupendous forces of nature and its beauties. It has tried to understand these phenomena to which it attributes souls and bodies with something transcended. The result of all investigations culminates in ‘abstractions’ whether personalised or not. The ancient Greeks also followed this ‘nature worship’. Their mythology proves their ‘abstracted nature worship’. The ancient Germans, Scandinavians and other Aryan races also followed the Greeks. All this makes a strong case to show that religion had its origin in the personification of the “powers of Nature”.

Spiritual Kingdom

A third theory which some of the highly learned people think to be the real origin of `organised’ religion. It is known to be the “struggle” to transcend the limitation of the sense”, whether man seeks to worship the dead spirits of his ancestors or tries to understand the limitations of the senses. And yet he does not seem to be satisfied with this alone but wants to investigate further. His search for the `Truth’ about these phenomena has continued through all ages till he could assert a definite state of things called `ecstasy’ or inspiration which we find in all the `organised’ religions of the world.

All Lead To One Goal

The prophets, the rishis, the saints, and the Sufis, all have discovered these ‘hidden’ facts according to their own experiences and findings. All the principal religions of the world claim that human mind has been able to transcend both the “limits of senses” and” the limits of reason” with this peculiar power of transcending which they put forward as “a statement of Facts”.

Finite And ‘Infinite’

Every human being seems to be struggling for an ‘Infinite power’ or an infinite pleasure, if we may call it so but only a few have realised that this,‘infinite power’ or the infinite pleasure is not to be had through senses which are too limited to understand and explain the ‘Infinite’. As a matter of fact,‘Infinite’cannot be expressed through finite. Sooner or later man is compelled to give up the finite and this state is called ‘renunciation’ which as its root in the ethics, or say, Ethics stand on renunciation..

Philosophy Of Ethics

Ethics always says “Not I, but thou”, “Not Self but Non self” the laws of ethics demand that in the search of “Infinite Power of Pleasure” selfish individualism to which man clings so stubbornly, must be given up altogether. We must hold ourselves first, and all else last.” Ethics say; we must hold ourselves last.

Ethical Laws

It thus follows that man has to give up the plane of ‘matter’ in his search for the ‘infinite’. All ethical laws enjoin ‘self-abnegation or perfect self-annihilation’ as we have seen. But people are surprised when they are asked to lose their selfish individualism because it is very dear to them and is not an easy thing to be given up. And yet, at the same time, they declare highest ideals of ethics to be right ignorant of the fact that the idea, the goal of all ethics, is self-destruction and not the building up and sustenance of a selfish individualism

Role Of Sufi Saints

Those who have straightened the curly tail of the sinful world from time to time have never been politicians or statesmen. They have always been the founders and reforms of great religions endowed with “supernatural” powers to overcome even the mightiest forces of evil. Their spiritual spark ignited the souls of millions. Such is the superhuman beings we always find in the past history of mankind and shall continue to have them at appropriate periods in future also despite all evolutions and revolutions of the world. There has always been a tussle between spiritualism and materialism or between the spirit and the sword in which the former has always vanquished the latter. While the holy founders and teachers of great religions, acting as apostles of God, tried to establish righteousness and peace on earth, the worshippers of evil have furiously defied them in order to retain their own temporal supremacy. But history repeats itself and the struggle between the two still goes on.

Religion And Human Character

Religion is the greatest motive power for building up a virtuous human character for achieving everything that is good and beneficial to mankind and for bringing peace and happiness to the afflicted souls including one’s own self.

Nizam Gate

Mir Osman Ali Khan, The Nizam of Hyderabad Deccan, erected the main gate of the Dargah Sharif in 1911.

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Buland Darwaza

High entrance that was erected by Mahmood Khilji or one of his successors. Before the commencement of Urs Sharif, a flag is hoisted on top of this gate with grand ceremony on the 25th Jamadiulsaani for ushering the ‘Urs’ of Khawaja Saheb, which starts from 1st of Rajab (The 7th month of Lunar Calendar)

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Degs

On either side of the second Boland Darwaza in front of Saham Chiragh (courtyard lamp), there are two huge Degs (cauldrons for cooking food) fixed into solid masonry in which a palatable mixture of rice sugar, ghee (butter) and dried fruits are cooked for distribution to the public as tabarruk.

The circumference at the edge of the larger cauldron is 10-1/4 feet. It cooks 70 mounds of rice, while the smaller Deg takes 28 mounds. One of them was presented by Akbar in 1567 A.D. The princes or the well-to-do pilgrims order these Degs to be cooked generally during the Urs period

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Mahfilkhana

On the west of the Saham Chiragh stands the magnificent building of Samakhana or Mahfilkhana (auditorium with darbar hall) which was built by Nawab Bashir-ud-Dowla Sir Asmaan Jah of Hyderabad Deccan in 1888-91 A.D. This spacious hall is 46 feet square with a gallery of 14 feet running around it.

It is used for 6 days only during the annual Urs for religious ‘Mahfils’ in which Qawwali is the chief item of programme commencing at 11 P.M. and ending with Fatiha (a relifious ceremony) in the early hours of morning at 4 A.M.

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Begami Daalaan

Overhanging the principal eastern to the Shrine or Mausoleum, there is a handsome porch known as Begami Daalaan which was built in 1643 AD by Princess Jahan Ara Begam, the favorite daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan.

The walls and the beautiful marble pillars of the Begami Daalaan were done in colorful gold in 1888 AD. Later on, the ceiling of this Daalaan was also embellished in gold with the money donated by a Muslim merchant of Bombay. This beautiful portico was used by the Begams or ladies of the Moghul harem during their frequent visits to the shrine.

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There are two simultaneous entrances to the Shrine through the Begami Daalaan. The doors of both of them are mounted with heavy silverplate carved in ornamental details. The tomb is of white marble inlaid with pieces of precious stones and is daily bestrewed with sandal-paste and Itars (perfumes). It is always covered with very costly ‘ghilaafs’ (coverings made of velvet and silk) embroidered with pleasing gold and silver tracings.

Dargah Shrine

Over the tomb, there is a silver ‘chaparkhat’ (canopy) inlaid with pieces of mother-of-pearl presented by Emperor Jahangir. Between the four poles supporting this `chaparkhat’, there is silver `katehra’ (railing) with an arch towards the south. There is another outer silver katehra running around the tomb at a distance of about 2 feet. The devotees are led into this space to offer flowers and prayers over the tomb. The ceiling of the dome is covered by a costly velvet chatgiri. A peculiar kind of fascinating aroma prevails in the shrine which inspires the visitors with a spontaneous and irresistible urge for devotion and homage towards the asleep saint. As soon as one enters the interior of the shrine, he feels as if he is in the presence of some exalted soul or mighty spiritual king.

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Sanadli Masjid

This Mosque was built by the Empror Aurenzeb the elder son of Shah Jahan who build the Taj Mahal.

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Mazar of Bibi Hafiz Jamal 

The Mazar of Bibi Hafiz Jamal, daughter of Khawaja Sahib, is situated to the south of the Shrine. There is a small dome with a kalas on top of it. The doors of this tomb are plated with silver.

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The two enclosures situated just outside the southern gate of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Bibi-Hafiz Jamal bear the graves of some of the early descendants. The Holy Quran is recited by the devotees especially by ladies in these enclosures and the reward of this virtuous action is offered to the noble soul of Hazrat Khawaja Saheb

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Aulia Masjid.

The place where Khawaja Sahib stayed for a few days, when he came to Ajmer for the first time, has now been turned into a mosque called Aulia Masjid. It is made of white marble. Devotees use it only for recitation of Holy Quran and thanks giving prayers.

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Arcot Dalan

This small hall on the southern side of the Shrine was erected by Nawab Muhammad Ali of Arcot around 1800 for the comfort of the devotees. It is also used for the death rituals by Khadims

Babafarid Ka Chilla

Is situated between Jama Masjid and Sandali Masjid in the premises of Hazrat khwaja Muinuddin’s Dargah at Ajmer. Along the left-hand wall, in the background of the Sandali Masjid there is a small gate which leads down to the under-ground cell in which Hazrat Baba Farid remained in a chilla (secluded prayers) for 40 days in spiritual communion with the Holy Saint of Ajmer.

This gate is opened for public Ziarat (visit) on the night of the 5th of Moharram (the date of Baba farid’s death) every year when thousands of pilgrims visit the place from all over India to seek his spiritual benediction.

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Jama Masjid

On the south wing of the Mahfil khana stands the Jama Masjid or Shah Jahani Mosque, which is a fine piece of Moghul architecture. All the 99 sacred names of Allah with 33 Quranic verses are beautifully inscribed in the mosque.

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A King of the Day.

This man was a water man who use to supply water in the Goat skin. He was filling water in his water bags suddenly he saw a man is drowning in River Jamuna. He just throw him self and saved that man. That man was Mughal Empror Humayun Father of Akbar the great. He was drowning during his war with Sher shah Suri.

After winning the battle he called that water man (Nizam Sikka) and asked what reward he wants for saving a life of king. The Water man asked that he wants the throne of india for one day, He wants to rule India for One day. King allowed to give him a throne for one day. He ruled on India for One day, His name was Nizam Sikka. This is the tomb of Nizam Sikka.

Jannati Darwaza

This gate too is situated on the western side of the Shrine adjacent to the tomb of Gaiti Ara. The doors of the gate are covered with silver metal. It is opened only four times during the year, viz twice on ids (for one day) during the annual Urs (for six days) and on the 6th of Shawwal, the Urs of Khawaja Saheb’s Pir.

BIBI Saheba

This tomb is of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty’S R.A. Wife.

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Victoria Tank (Hauz)

In memory of Queen Mary’s visit to the Shrine, the roof of the tank was constructed by the British Government for the convenience of the worshippers

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Akbari Masjid

This Mosque was build by Mughal Emoeror Akbar the great. Who came to Ajmer from Agra to ask for a son to Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty R.A. When he got son he build this Mosque.

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Langar Khana

Langar Khana is a free public kitchen where about 5 mounds of barley meal is cooked twice a day and distributed to the poor without any discrimination.

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Jahalra

It was the main sourse of water during the time of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty R.A. Till today this natural water has been used in daily use of Dargah Premise.

Historical Background

Ajmer is situated at the foot of an 800-feet high mountain on the top of which stands, in solemn splendour, the celebrated fort of Garh Beetli or Bithali named after Bithaldas Gaur the trusted General of Emperor Shah Jahan, which is now called Taragarh (the star citadel). This city stretches out in all directions of a spacious valley and is hemmed in on all sides by picturesque hills. Its holy traditions are equally replete with Rajput chivalry and Muslim supremacy in the past history of Hindustan. Few cities of India can boast of Ajmer’s religious sanctity for both Hindus and Muslims, its glorious history and it natural beauty. It was in Ajmer that Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti laid the permanent foundation of Islam in India in 1192 A.D. by his spiritual powers and peaceful preachings. It was in Ajmer that Sir Thomas Roe, as ambassador of King James I of England, had his audience with Emperor Jahangir on 19th January 1616 A.D. which laid the steping stone of the British Raj in India through the charter of free trading granted to the East India Company by the Emperor. It was in Ajmer that Shah Jahan, on the death of Jahangir, proclaimed himself Emperor of India while returning from Udaipur and proceeding to Delhi in 1627 A.D. And it was in Ajmer again that a beginning of the decline of Moghul Empire was made with the victory of Aurangzeb against his brother Dara Shikeh after a furious battle on 11th, 12th and 13th March 1659 A.D. In addition to these major historical events, Ajmer has seen many vicissitudes of time in its long history of about 1400 years.

Why   Ajmer  Was  Chosen

Why Ajmer was particularly selected to be pivot of Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti’s mission in India? This is a pertinent question which may be asked by some critical readers. A careful study of the history of India before Khawaja Saheb’s arrival, and of the period of his stay in Ajmer will answer this question satisfactory. We have already thrown sufficient light on this point in one of the previous chapters. In this chapter, we trace a brief history of Ajmer and the Khawaja Saheb’s Dargah which attracts millions of people every year to seek spiritual blessings of the great saint.

Geographically, Ajmer is situated in the heart of Rajasthan, at one time the citadel of India kingdom, and thus it suited the grand mission of Khawaja Saheb best. Politically, Ajmer the seat of a most powerful kingdom of the last Rajput Emperor of India, Raja Prithviraj Chauhan (1179-1192 A.D.) whose whole life was “one of unbroken chain of chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits which have won for him eternal fame and a name that will last as long as chivalry itself.” Prithviraj was the son of Someshwara (1170-1179 A.D.) who was the 29th descendant in the lineage of King Vasudeva who flourished as far back as 551 A.D. Vasudeva has descended from Chahuan (the founder of the Rajput clan of Chauhans) whose date is untraceable in the description of Ajmer. As given in Sarga IX of the famous documentary “Prithviraj Vijaya”, runs as below:-

The city was so densely populated and there were so many gardens, tanks and wells that not more than one-tenth of the earth was visible to sun, and water in the wells was only two cubits from the ground surface. Karpurdevi (mother of Prithviraj) under whose regency he was brought up also founded a town”.

Describing Ajmer in his “Picturesque India” (p.77) Mr. Caine, says:-

“It is an ancient, beautiful city full of interest, both historical and architectural; its gay busy bazars and its old houses with carved fronts, some of which are among the finest in India, giving added attractions to its superb situation. A well built stone wall with give gateways surrounds the city”.

Anasager Lake

According to “Prithviraj Vijaya” Arnoraja or Raja Anaji (1130-1150 A. D.) the grandfather of Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan, had built the picturesque lake of Anasagar at Ajmer in order to purify the land which was alleged to have been despoiled by the spilling of the Mussalman blood in a battle fought at this place. (It is the same Anasagar lake on the banks of which the Khawaja Saheb had stayed after his arrival in Ajmer in 1192 A. D. The exact place of his stay is known as ” Chilla Khawaja Saheb ” which is situated on the top of the Anasagar Ghati). In 1637 A. D., Shah Jahan built five beautiful pavilions (called Baradaris) of polished marble on the embankment of Anasagar which are still preserved in their original glory.

Jama Al-Tamish Or Dhai Din-Ka-Jhonpra

One of the oldest and most interesting historical building of Ajmer, is Jama Al-tamish popularly known as Dhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, situating in Ankerkot at the foot of the Taragarh hill According to Tod Rajasthan ” it is a relic of nobler days and architect and the antiquarian because of its multifarious artistic attractions.

The monumental mosque has, however, been the subject of diverse opinion about its origin. According to Ajmer Historical and Descriptive (by Dewan Bahadur Harbilas Sarda) it is claimed to be a Saraswati Mandir which is said to have been built in 1153 A. D. by Raja Visaldeva who was the first Chauhan Emperor of India. But according to the Arabic inscription appearing on the marble arch in the centre of the mosque and the convincing arguments advanced by the author of Main-ul-Arifin (P. 150-154) it is recognised to be a mosque ever since its origin which was built by Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori in 595 A. H. (12th century A.D.) wherein Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti himself (who came to Ajmer in 587 A. H.) is said to have offered his prayers for a considerable time. Later on, Sultan Shamsuddin Altamish of Delhi (607 to 633 A. H.) is reported to have built its present massive structure of red stone which was completed in 614 A. H. by Ali Ahmed mason under the supervision of one Mohammed Ariz – a claim which is also substantiated by another Arabic inscrition on its central arch. (Ahsan-us-Siar, P. 87-92). In any case, this magnificent mosque is one of the rare historic monuments of India.

General Cunningham., Director of Archaeology Government of India, who inspected this mosque in 1864 A. D., appears to have fallen into the error of accepting the common belief that it was built in Dhai-din i.e. two and a half days, as its name implies out of the material released from some demolished temples – a judgment which is difficult to believe in view of its extensive and massive stony structure replete with extremlely fine and most intricate workmanship on stone. It seems that only the smaller marble arch in the centre of the mosque may have been finished in 2-1/2 days to meet an emergency but the whole massive structure, with its elaborate Arabic tracings and delicate engraving details, is definitely a work of many years sustained labour.

Writing of the beautiful details of this marvellous edifice, Mr. Furgusson, author of the Eastern and Indian Architecture (P. 513 ) says – “As example of surface decoration, the Jhonpra and the mosque of Al-tamish at Delhi are probably unrivalled. Nothing in Cairo or in Persia and nothing in Spain or Syria is so exquisite in detail and can approach them for beauty or surface decoration. The gorgeous prodigality of ornamental work , the fascinating richness of tracery, the delicate sharpness of finish, the fascinating richness of tracery, the delicate sharpness of finish, the endless variety of detail and the accurate and laborious workmanship, are eternal credit to its past Indian engineers and masons”. There is a rich variety of Quranic verse inscribed all over the building to tax the brains of both inquisitive historians and the antiquarians alike . In short, it is a model of excellence in the art Indian architecture.

Dargah Of Miran Syed Husain

On the highest point of Taragarh fort stands the Dargah of Hazrat Miran Syed Husian Asghar Khangswar who was the governor of Ajmer after its conquest by Sultan Shahabuddin Ghori.. On the death of Qutubuddin Aibak in 1210 A.D., the Rathor and Chauhan Rajputs joined in a night attack on the Taragarh Fort when most of the men of Miran Saheb were out collecting taxes in the district, and the number of his garrison was, therefore, numerically very small. The Rajpurs thus massacred Miran Saheb and his garrison to a man on 18th Rajab.

The Fort Of Taragarh

According to Akhbar-ul-Akhyar, the first fort built on a hill in India was the fortress of Taragarh at Ajmer. Its unique defence and strength lie in the impregnable ruggedness and acclivity of the mountain upon which it is built. This ancient fort has seen many historic battles and nerve-wrecking sieges and has changed hands with the Rajput, Muslim, Maratha and the British conquerors during its long and checkered history. Ajameru Doorg, as it was originally called, was built by Raja Ajairaj Chauhan who was the king of Sapadlaksh territory having Sakambhari (now Sambhar as his capital in the early part of 6th century A.D. He also built the town of Ajmer and the village of Ajaisar, lying in the south of Foysagar lake, still commemorates his name.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam

“Say to My servants that they should only say those things that are best. For Satan doth sow dissension among them. For Satan is to man an avowed enemy.” (Quran XVII: 53)

According To The Muslim Faith, When the Almighty God created Adam (the father of the human progeny) out of a lump of clay, and commanded the angels to greet him with a ‘Sijda’ (prostration in humility), Ibless the Satan hesitated to obey and accept Adam as his superior because he claimed his own superiority over Adam by virtue of his age long devotion to God and creation out of fire. His reluctance to obey and bow before Adam, however, resulted in his condemnation and he was therefore, eternally banished from the pleasure of God. Under this great humiliating disappointment, the Satan, however, pleaded with God that he and his progeny (the Satan belongs to the progeny of the genii) may be granted an everlasting opportunity to mislead mankind into error and sin in order to test the devotion of Adam and his progeny to God. This request was granted by the Almighty God with the commandment that whosoever followed the Satan’s path will forfeit His pleasure and that his abode will be in the fire of hell eternally. To accept either of the two options for the creation Adam and his progeny, would not have been in the best interests of mankind just like illness and health, blindness and clear vision, night and day, heat and cold, good and evil, and so on.

The first treacherous act of Satan under this arrangement started with the beguilement of Adam himself in the well known episode of Eve and the “forbidden fruit” which resulted in the banishment of both Adam and Eve from the heavenly paradise as a punishment against God’s pleasure and thus the treachery of Satan, the avowed enemy of the progeny of Adam, has continued throughout the ages causing perpetual misery among the best majority of those people who succumb to his mischievous allurements in defiance of the commandments of God.

In this respect there are two kinds of people in the world, those who follow the commandants of God, and those who are susceptible to the beguilement of Satan. There has always been a mighty struggle between the followers of Satan and the believers of God ever since the creation of Adam in which the latter have always vanquished the former

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > Injunction Of Islam

According to the Holy Quran, those who follow the Satan’s enticement are rebels of God. They will have to render an account of their misdeeds and sins on the Day-of-Reckoning and suffer punishment in hell for they acted against the pleasure of God, but those who defy Satan and stick steadfastly to the path of Righteousness and Truth as ordained in the Holy Quran and preached by Prophet Mohammed, are promised salvation and eternal bliss in paradise. This is one of the principal articles of faith in Islam.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > Retribution

The pages of the history and all religious books of the world are full of the terrible stories of God’s retribution upon those past rebellious generations of mankind who defied the teachings of His Prophets and apostles under the mischievous influence of Satan. There have also been numerous bloody wars between the forces of evil and good, Truth and falsehood, the followers of Satan and the devotees and believers of the Almighty God in which the latter few have always vanquished the over -whelming many. As stated above again and again God has sent His Prophets and apostles to all races and nations of the world in order to warn and keep them on the right path of Truth. As it happened, after their death people forgot their sacred lessons and became victims of Satan’s treachery only to forfeit the pleasure of God and earn His retribution. This is a divine decree which no civilisation or modern progress can change in spite of all our scientific and material advancement.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > The Holy Prophet Mohammed

When the holy Prophet of Islam Hazrat Mohammed (May peace and blessing of God be upon his soul) appeared on the scene of Arabia in 750 AD, Satan had virtually established his devilish kingdom over the Arabs who were steeped into abysmal ignorance and sin.

What was the actual condition of Arabia before the birth of holy Prophet Mohammed? According to the holy Quran, “It was on the verge of fiery abyss.” The barbarous Arabs were completely submerged under the evil influence of Satan. They were soaking in superstition, ignorance, cruelty and idolatry and were torn asunder by internecine feuds and wars. They had no settled government and lived a nomadic life. Wine, women and every kind of vice and crime summed up their general attitude towards life. Even the Jews and the Christians had forgotten the teachings of their Prophets Moses and Jesus, and had become idolaters. Writing about the condition of Christianity in the 7th century was itself decrepit and corrupt. It was disabled by contending schisms and had substituted the peculiarities of superstition of the pure and expansive faith of the early ages.”

The teachings of the Prophet of Islam, however wrought a dynamic transformation in the sinful life of the Arabs within only a few years despite all the worst type of oppression, insults and persecution by the evil forces of Satan in order to stick to their devilish ways of life. But, in spite of all these obstacles, Prophet Mohammed succeeded and succeeded triumphantly in completely routing the forces of Satan and religion of Peace and Prosperity happiness of the whole world as well.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > Purpose Of Islam

The true purpose of religion is that human beings should follow the right path according to divine teachings. But before asking people to follow these teachings, it is first necessary to explain the teachings and whose teaching they are: secondly, about the one who is preaching them, and finally, the great benefit that will be derived by following them. These are the fundamentals on which religions are formed. To have a comparative study of Islam in the light of the teachings found in other sacred books, is to know what a comprehensive world religion Islam is pointing out also how the author of such a religion was decidedly the last great Prophet, there being consequently no further necessity at all for another Prophet to rise. Quran is the final revealed Book of God and Mohammed is the last Prophet.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam> Islam – An Ancient Religion 

As a matter of fact, Islam which means peace and which represents the Divine Code for a disciplined, contented and harmonious life of man on earth already existed in one or the other form long before the advent of the Holy Prophet Mohammed. It however needed a revival in an up to date form because due to individual and political intrigues, certain abuses had crept into it. The preceding generations had altered the true spirit and version of the former Holy Scriptures to suit their own selfish ends and conveniences. Thus mutilating the original commandments of God and bringing an ugly slur on the fair name of Religion. These unauthorised intrusions and mutilations therefore necessitated up to date ‘divine code’ in its pristine glory and that is why a final and perfect religion in the form of Islam was revealed through the Holy Quran and Prophet Mohammed with the explicit warning that no more Prophets were to come after him. Islam is therefore, a perfect religion for all humanity and for all time, and not for the Muslims alone, whether the world accepts this divine claim or not.

Unlike the past, Islam is now preserved in its up to date perfection in the Holy Quran and because the past generations proved themselves incapable of preserving the original commandments of God in theory and true perspective had, as stated above, tampered with them to suit their own intriguing conveniences, therefore the Almighty Allah promised in the Quran to be its preserver Himself this time. One of the living instances of this jealous guardianship is that millions of Muslims easily commit this ‘Book of God’ to memory- a feature unique in its own way which is nothing short of a miracle. There is no instance in the living memory of mankind to show that any of the ancient religious books or any other kind of book of such a voluminous nature as the Holy Quran is, was ever committed to memory. This fact alone proves that God’s original words have been preserved as He willed, and that there have been no tampering whatever with them after the death of the Holy Prophet Mohammed through whom the Quran was delivered

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > Unique Virtues Of Islam

There are many unique virtues of Islam and its holy Prophet as compared with his predecessors. While the preceding Prophets were endowed with only one ‘divine’ virtue to help them to make their mission successful, Prophet Mohammed had the exclusive distinction of possessing all those ‘divine’ virtues in him which were bestowed upon his predecessors individually. For instance, Prophet Mohammed was endowed with the exemplary patience granted to Prophet Ayub, the miraculous virtues possessed by the ‘staff’ given to Prophet Moses, the healing spell possessed by Prophet Jesus, the perfect human beauty bestowed upon Prophet Yusuf and the supreme faith owned by Prophet Abraham.

Further, no Prophet ever since the creation of Adam, had the unique distinction of being succeeded by illustration saints and divines among his followers as the Prophet of Islam had a venerable line of religious teachers and saints who shunned all pomp and show of the material world in order to serve the cause of Islam and humanity selflessly and faithfully. Both morally and spiritually they were pictures of perfection and stood out alone in the multitude of intelligentsia, never deviating from the teachings of the Quran or the tradition of the Prophet. Their one paramount aim of life was the selfless service of mankind, strictly in accordance with the teachings of the holy Quran both, in letter and spirit these holy teachers of Islam in the garb of Sufi dervishes continued to keep the banner of Islam flying for a period of nearly 900 years after the death of the holy Prophet Mohammed by their matchless zeal, abstemious character and amazing spiritual powers and it is due to this unique dedication to the service of mankind that there are today 90 crores of Muslims spreading all over the world whose ‘faith’ in their religion remains as staunch and unshakable as it has ever been in spite of all the political and social revolutions of the world ever since the death of Prophet Mohammed.

Islam And Sufism > Blessing Of Islam > Khawaja Shaib

On the illustrious list of these great Sufi Saints who preserved the spirit and promoted the cause of Islam by their strict religious devotion and amazing spiritual powers under all sorts of cruel persecution like the holy Prophet himself, the name of Hazrat Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer stands high in perpetual glory. For the spiritual salvation and moral uplift of the people of Hindustan by peaceful means and universal love. In fact, this lonely saint actually changed both the map and the course of Indian history at a crucial period of her destiny not by sword or cannon but by the sweet and melodious spell of his spiritual sway plus unparalleled moral and religious character, a revolution which ushered in quite a new era of peace and prosperity for millions of Indians, and a revolution which the march of history and the present civilization cannot afford to forget in the interests of mutual love and peace for which the people of the world are so intensely thirsting today.

Because mutual goodwill and confidence between man and man and nation and nation are once more rapidly deteriorating, and because the world is searching for a lasting peace against the forces of Satan that have once again raised their monstrous head under the intoxication of new kind of scientific materialism, the teachings of Hazarat Khwaja Munniuddin and Islam must, therefore, be revived in the interests of world peace, as much as other recognised religions.

We are sure, these lessons will prove of immense value in easing the political and religious tensions and restoring the waning faith of man in God and Religion without which there can be no lasting peace in the world.

Subject Of Islam 

One of the strangest facts in today’s world is that Islam, a religion which in many ways is almost identical to Christianity and Judaism, should be so poorly understood in Europe and America. Since there are millions of Moslems in the world, and since they control many strategic areas of the earth it is essential that we understand them better.

Mohammed, the inspired man who founded Islam, was born about 570 AD at Mecca. Orphaned at birth, he was always particularly solicitous of the poor, needy, widows, orphan, slaves and the downtrodden. At 20 he was already a successful businessman and soon he became the director of camel caravans of a wealthy widow. When he reached 25, his employer recognising his merit proposed marriage. Even though she was 15 years senior, he married her and as long as she lived, he remained a devoted husband.

By 40 this man of the desert had secured for himself a most satisfying life, a loving wife, fine children and wealth. Then, Moslems believe, in a series of dramatic and terrifying events, he began to revive through Archangel Gabriel a revelation of God’s word.

Like almost every major Prophet before him, Mohammed fought shy of serving as the transmitter of God’s word, sensing his own inadequacy. But the angel commanded, ‘Read’. So far as we know, Mohammed was hardly able to read or write, but he began to dictate those inspired words which would soon revolutionize a large part of the earth; “There is but one God”.

Mohammed’s message infuriated those rich Arabs whose faith required many idols, and he and his few followers were driven from Mecca, his home. Forced now to fight in defense of the freedom of conscience which he preached, he became an accomplished military leader. He repeatedly went into battle, out-manned and out-speared as much as five to one, he won some spectacular victories.

Later he became head of the state, and the testimony even of his enemies is that he administered wisely. The wisdom he displayed in judging intricate cases became the basis for the religious law that governs Islam today. In his final years, he was invited to become a dictator or a saint, but he rejected both temptations, insisting that he was an average man to whom God had sent another of his periodic messages to the world.

By the force of his extraordinary personality, Mohammed revolutionized life in Arabia and throughout the Middle East. He preached a religion dedicated to one God and he lifted women from the bondage in which desert custom held them and preached general social justice.

Moslems think it particularly ironic when Mohammed is charged by Western writers with having established a voluptuous religion. Especially considering the fact that he abolished alcohol so that even today all good Moslems are teetotalers. He ordered individual prayers five times each day. In a nation that reveled in feasting he instituted a most rigorous daytime fast lasting a full month each year.

Western critics have based their charges of voluptuousness mainly on the question of women. Before Mohammed, however men were encouraged to take innumerable wives, he limited them to four only and the Qoran is explicit that husbands who cannot maintain strict equality between two or more wives must confine themselves to one.

A widespread misunderstanding arises from Mohammed’s promise of paradise. In a land of blistering drought and sandstorms he predicted that evil men would suffer the tormenting fires of hell. Whereas good men will experience cool breezes, comforting streams and beautiful hours.

Western imaginations, unfamiliar with this last word hour, defined it by analogy with one of the ugliest words in English and jumped to the conclusion that Mohammed’s paradise was to be a sexual debauch. They were wrong. A hour is a fair-skinned, blacked woman created from musk and spices, incredibly beautiful and perpetually virgin.

In all things, Mohammed was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumours of God’s personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Mohammed is said to have announced-” An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the birth or death of a human being.”

At Mohammed’s own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history. “If there are any among you who worshipped Mohammed, he is dead. But if it was God you worshipped, he lives for ever.”

These things explain why people who follow the religion of Mohammed do not like to be called Mohammedan

Islam And Sufism > Subject Of Islam > The Book

The Quran is probably the most often read book in the world, surely the most often memorized, and possibly the most influential in the daily life of the people who believe in it. Unlike the New Testament, which is written in an exalted style, it is neither poetry nor ordinary prose, yet it possesses the ability to arouse its hearers to ecstasies of faith. Its rhythms have been compared to the beat of drums to the echoes of nature and to the chants which are common in all early societies.

It is written in Arabic, and devout Moslems have often insisted that it must not be translated into any other language. One might expect that such a wish would have limited the spread of Islam. On the contrary, all over the world men have laboured to learn Arabic, not an easy language just to be able to read their holy book and pray in the original.

The Qoran was revealed to Mohammed between the years 610 and 632 AD in the cities of Mecca and Medina. Devoted scribes wrote it down on “scraps of paper, bark and the white shoulder blades of animals. The early revelations were dazzling assurances that there was only one God, Merciful and Compassionate; He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, and the Fashioner. Whatever is in the heavens and the earth declares His glory and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

It was this message that inspired men to revolutionize their lives and their nations. In later years, when Islam began to penetrate large areas of Arabia and had acquired much power, the revelations dealt with the organisation of society its laws, procedures and problems.

The Christian or Jew who reads the Qoran finds himself on familiar ground a good deal of the time. Many revered names from Christianity and Judaism appear in the Qoran. For example, five of the important chapters are entitled Noah Jonah, Joseph, Abraham, and Mary. Lacking specific chapters of there own, but playing quite important roles are Jesus, Adam, David, Goliath, Job, Moses, Lot and Solomon.

Islam is partly founded on the words of four Prophets who lived before Mohammed; Jesus, Noah, Abraham, Moses. The Qoran does not acknowledge that Jesus was the Son of God and that He suffered death upon the Cross. If Jesus were acknowledged the child of God, Moslems believe it would compromise God’s oneness, the belief which is the cornerstone of Islam. It would, moreover be difficult thereafter to contend that Mohammed was the bearer of the final perfect revelation as Moslems do.

It is this dedication to one God plus practical instruction that makes the Qoran unique. Each Islamic nation contains many citizens who are convinced that their land will be groaned well only if its laws conform to Quran

Islam And Sufism > Subject Of Islam > Traditions

In addition to the Quran Islam relies upon ‘traditions’, what Mohammed said and did. These are largely affectionate campfire gossip, the odds and ends that would be remembered after a great man had died.

About 200 years after Mohammed’s death, more than 6,00,000 separator anecdotes about him were still current, and several great scholars undertook the job of checking them for historical validity. More than 5,97,000 were rejected. The remainders called the Hadith, are accepted by all good Moslems.

Much of Islam’s common sense comes from them. For example, one dark night Mohammed had to escort his wife home from the mosque. On the way he saw two men giggling in the shadows so he called them to him, lifted his wife’s veil and said, “See, it is my wife with whom I walk.” When the strangers protested that they trusted him, he said; “I was not worried about your trust of me. I did not want your faith to be affected by your suspicions.

Once a Jew came to the Prophet and protested that Mohammed’s chief assistant had outraged Jews by claiming that Mohammed was more exalted than Moses. The Prophet said to his assistant: “You should not have said this. The feelings of other people must be respected.”

Also some of the profoundest elements of Moslem faith and culture derive from these traditions. Every Moslem, before beginning a meal or entering upon any other task, repeats ‘In the name of God, Most Merciful, Most Beneficent’. This is the opening verse of the Qoran. Moslems greet each other with the traditional salutation “peace be on you.” The whole ritual of congregational prayer is taken from the traditions, including the well-known call to worship.

Some traditions influenced Western behaviour. On one occasion, Mohammed saw a donkey being branded on the face. When asked why this was being done, the herdsmen said, “The Romans taught us this to prevent theft”. Mohammed reflected a moment and said: “An animal’s face is the most sensitive part of its body. If you must brand, then do it on the flanks, where the flesh is thicker”. And the custom spread.

As a successful general, Mohammed left many traditions regarding decent conduct in war. “Faithfully carry out all covenants and agreements. Avoid treachery and do not disfigure the enemy dead. Do not slay children, women, old men or persons dedicated to the service of religion. Do not destroy sacred objects, orchards or crops.

Throughout the traditions Mohammed appears as a saintly man, one whom devout people of all religions would have recognised immediately as deeply concerned about the nature of God. He preached that slaves should be set free, that fathers should not kill unwanted baby girls, that those oppressed by society inherit the earth, that peace is much proof that Mohammed hoped for the day when all who shared a common belief in God would exist together in peace. It is well documented that, on one occasion, when a deputation of Christians visited him, he said, when time for prayers arrived, “Conduct your service here in the mosque. It is a place consecrated of God.

No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam. By the time of Mohammed’s death (AD 632) Islam controlled a great part of Arabia. Soon it triumphed in Syria, Persia, Egypt, and the lower borders of present Russia and across North Africa to the gates of Spain. In the next century its progress was even more spectacular.

The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Quran is explicit in support of freedom of conscience. The evidence is strong that Islam welcomed the people of many diverse religions, so long as they behaved themselves and paid extra taxes. Mohammed constantly taught that Moslems should cooperate with the “people of the Book” (Jews and Christians).

Islam And Sufism > Subject Of Islam > Important Facts

Many Westerners, accustomed by their history books to believe that Moslems were barbarous infidels, find it difficult to comprehend how profoundly our intellectual life has been influenced by Moslem scholars in the fields of science, medicine, mathematics, geography and philosophy. Crusaders who invade the Holy Land to fight Moslems returned to Europe with new ideas of love, poetry chivalry, warfare and government. Our concept of what a university should be was deeply modified by Moslem scholars who perfected the writing of history and who brought to Europe much Greek learning.

More than most religions, Islam preaches the brotherhood of all races, colours and nations within its fold. Mohammed himself probably had the same skin colouring as Jesus, a very suntanned white but today his followers embrace all colours: black men from Africa, yellow men from China, brown men from Malaya, white men from Turkey.

For long periods in history Moslem nations strayed far from the spirit of Mohammed. If one focus only upon the worst Persian and Turkish caliphs one can easily condemn Islam as a religion that failed. But one can find such similar dark spots in the history of Christianity. If one looks at the enormous good that Islam has achieved, however, one sees the permanent greatness of this religion.