The Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is one of the most honored Dargha not only in the state of Rajasthan but also throughout the nation. This Dargah is placed in the city of Ajmer in Rajasthan. Traditionally referred as Ajmer Sharif (Holy Ajmer), the Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti’s Dargah is visited by copious devotees annually. It is here where the mortal remnants of the esteemed Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti is buried. Both Muslims and surprisingly masses of Hindus visit this place, worship and follow the preachings of “Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti” who is also called as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. He is well thought-out to be the vicar of human race in the midst of the mankind. Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti was a famous Sufi saint who was the forerunner of Islam religion in India. He worked for the welfare of the poor people and blessed them. It is assumed that people who visit Ajmer Sharif and pray with pure faith and loyalty at his Dargah or crypt will be free from all desolation. Dargah Shariff of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti is certainly a treasure to the city of Ajmer. The Dargah is open for the visitors from 4 am to 10 pm in summer season and from 5 am -9 pm during winter season.
Inside the Dargah Sharif
Location:
Spread over a colossal area and placed at the core of Ajmer,
the Dargah of Hazart Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti is at a Distance of about 4 Km
from the Ajmer railway station.
Historical Sketch:
It is a well known historical fact that in spreading the
ethical and spiritual values of Islam, major and effective contributions have
been made by the walis (saints) of Allah. It was their humanism, disposition
and piety which won over the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people. They
contacted the masses directly. They served and loved them. They lived with them
and inspired them in the realisation of Eternal Truth. The proof of this is
more than evident from the history of the growth of Islam in India. Although
India was penetrated in the first century of Hijra, the noble task of inspiring
the people to its tenets and values was accomplished by Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin
Chishti, r.a. popularly known as Khwaja Sahib and Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. He did
it all through his own great moral power, glorious and appealing character,
with love and dedication to mankind, without any worldly resources of wealth,
power, force or support.
Khwaja Sahib was a scholar of great repute. He
interpreted the true Islamic message of love for mankind and through that, love
for the Almighty Creator. He preached the Qur'anic philosophy of unity of
religion and worked out its potentialities for the whole of humanity. He was
the greatest mystic of his time. He laid the foundation of the liberal Chishtia
order of Sufis in India, and inspired millions of souls to be his followers,
and thus served the masses of the Indian sub-continent.
Birth: Early life and
Education:
Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, r.a.
was born in Seistan (East Persia) also known as Sajistan, around 533 Hijri
(1138-39 A.D.) in a well respected family. His father, Khwaja Ghayasuddin, r.a.
and mother, Syeda Bibi Ummalwara (alias Bibi Mahe-Noor), were the descendants
of Hazrat Ali, r.a. through his sons Imam Hassan and Imam Hussain. Khwaja Sahib
lost both his father and mother at an early age of sixteen years. He inherited
an orchard and millstone which were his means of livelihood. One day when
Khwaja Sahib was working in his orchard, a pious dervish and majzoob, Ebrahim
Qandoozi, came and took his seat under the shade of a tree. When Khwaja Sahib
saw him, he brought a bunch of grapes and presented it to his guest. The
visitor ate the grapes and was delighted. He then took something out of his
bag, chewed it, then offered it to his young host. Khwaja Sahib ate it without
any hesitation, and at once the light of wisdom and knowledge dawned upon the
young Khwaja. Immediately he disposed of all of his worldly belongings and
distributed the money amongst the poor. Having thus broken all the ties with
worldly affairs, he set off for Samarkand and Bokhara then the great centres of
learning for religious education and knowledge.
Spiritual Guidance:
When Khwaja Sahib
had acquired the best knowledge and wisdom of the time, he travelled widely in
search of a Pir (spiritual guide) who could provide him with the best spiritual
guidance. He came to know of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni , r.a, who was the greatest
scholar and unrivalled spiritual guide of that period. In the very first
meeting, Khwaja Sahib completely submitted himself to his Murshid and remained
in the company of this great divine spiritual leader, for twenty years and
served him devotedly, passing through the various stages of spiritual life.
Thus the great Murshid trained and elevated Khwaja Sahib to the highest
spiritual attainments.
Hajj and the
Prophet's (s.a.w.s) Command:
As the great
Khwaja Sahib became accomplished and perfect in every respect, the divine tutor
honoured him with the robe and took him to Hajj. Both then proceeded to Mecca
and performed the Hajj, and then went to Medina and stayed there for some time,
to receive blessings from the prophet of Islam (s.a.w.s.)
One night, while
in a trance, he was ordered by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.):
"O
Muinuddin! you are a prop of our faith. Proceed to India and show the Path of
Truth to the people there."
In compliance with the above spiritual
command, Khwaja Sahib left Medina for India. He continued his journey, passing
through Isfahan, Bokhara, Herat, Lahore and Delhi meeting several prominent
Sufis of the period. He arrived at the barren and desolate land of Rajputana
which is now known as Rajasthan. On his way to India, he enrolled large numbers
of people into his fold and blessed thousands of others with spiritual power.
Khwaja Sahib at Ajmer, India:
Khwaja Muinuddin
Chishti, r.a., arrived in Ajmer at the age of 52 years around 587 A.H. (1190
A.D.), on his divine mission, unique in the annals of Islam. His only armour
for the success of his great mission was the greatest "invisible
power" that pervades and sustains the whole universe. At that time, Ajmer
was ruled by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the famous Rajput king. In his court, he had
a large number of powerful magicians with Ajai Pal as their leader. Khwaja
Sahib stayed on a hill close to Ana Sagar lake now known as the Chillah Khwaja Sahib. When
the news spread that a very pious Dervish had come to Ajmer, people began to
flock to him in increasing numbers. Whoever came to him, received the kindest
treatment and blessings. People were so much inspired by his divine teachings
and simplicity that they began to embrace Islam. Many became his disciples.
Even Ajai pal submitted himself to the divine powers of Khwaja Sahib, gave up
all his magic and became his disciple.
Meanwhile,
Shahabuddin Ghori again attacked India, in 1192 A.D., and in the famous battle
of Tarain, defeated Prithvi Raj. When Shahabuddin Ghori came to know of the
presence of Khwaja Sahib at Ajmer, he personally came to see him at his place,
and enjoyed the grace of his meeting.
Khwaja Sahib
continued his noble magnificent mission, showing the Path of Truth to the people.
He also sent his disciples and successors to the different part of the country
who also served the people and preached the tenets of Islam. A few of his
prominent successors are:
Khwaja Sahib
Breathes His Last:
After achieving
the objectives of his mission and complying with the command given to him by
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), his noble soul left the mortal body on the 6th of
Rajab 633 A.H. (March 16, 1236) at the age of 97. He was buried in the same cell
which was the centre for his divine activities, throughout his stay at Ajmer.
Today his tomb is popularly known as The Dargah
Sharif (holy tomb). People of
all walks of life and faith from all over the world, irrespective of their
caste, creed and belief, visit this great shrine to offer the flowers of their
esteem and devotion. The rich and the poor stand side by side to pay homage and
respect to this divine soul.
Mission and Teaching
of Khwaja Sahib:
The life and mission of
Khwaja Sahib have been of an exceptional character as compared with any other
saints in India. His simple teaching penetrated even the stoniest of hearts,
his affectionate look silenced his fiercest of enemies. His matchless piety and
blessings knew no distinction and his "Spiritual Power", amazed and
defied his bitterest adversaries who came in order to harm him, but were
inspired instead to embrace Islam and become his devotees for the rest of their
lives. He brought the message of Universal Love and Peace. He chose the way of non-compulsion
in the true spirit of the Holy Qur'an, which says:
"Let there be no compulsion in religion.
Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah
hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth
and knoweth all things." [Qur'an 2:256]
Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti. r.a. followed this dictum strictly
throughout his mission. It is because of this that he became popularly known as
Gharib Nawaz, which means ‘the one who show kindness to the poor’. This was later
reinforced by succeeding Chishti Sufis, who became religious pioneers in national
integration in the country. They fulfilled the objective of bringing together
the various castes, communities and race, elevating humanity from the swamp of
materialistic concerns,which is the leading mankind to destruction even today.
The teachings of Khwaja
Sahib have been recorded in several books on mysticism. The essence of his
teachings are:
The true friend of
Allah is one who has these three qualities:
1. A friend of God must have affection like the sun. When the sun rises, it is
beneficial to all. All persons derive heat and light from it irrespective of
whether they are Muslim, Christian, Seik,
Hindu, etc.
2. A friend of God must be generous like an ocean or a river. We all get water
from the river or sea to quench our thirst. No discrimination is made whether
we are good or bad or whether we are a relation or a stranger.
3. A friend of God is one who has the quality of hospitality like the earth. We
are raised and cradled in its lap, and it is always spread below our feet.
The noblest of
characters is possessed by one who is:
1. Bountiful in poverty.
2. Content in hunger.
3. Cheerful in grief.
4. Friendly in hostility.
The surest way to ward off
the eternal punishment of hell is:
2. To redress the aggrieved.
3. To help the distressed.
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