TH Darimi

History of khaja-2 / At Ajmeer

The caravan of saints camped in the bank of Ravi river. The Ravi river is a transboundary river of India and Pakistan and it is an integral part of the Indus River. It is the river Ayravati mentioned in upanishads. They stayed there because there was the Mazar Shareef of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Hajweeri who is known as Shaikh Data Gunj Bakhsh(R). Hazrat Data Gunj Bakhsh Ali Hajweeri(R), was born in 400 A.H. in Ghazni (Afghanistan). He belonged to a Syed family (descendant of the Holy Prophet). He completed his earlier education in Ghazni by memorizing the Holy Quran. Then he studied Arabic, Farsi, Hadith, Fiqh, Philosophy etc. At that time Ghazni was the center of education in Central Asia, and it was the realm of the famous Afghan ruler Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi.



After completing the primary education, he searched for the spiritual education. He travelled to many places for this purpose, and finally became spiritual disciple of Hazrat Abul Fazal Mohammad bin Khatli, in Junaidiya Sufi Order, who lived in Syria. In Syria, Hazrat Ali Hajweeri started his spiritual education under the guidance of Hazrat Abul Fazal, he slept less, ate less, performed tough contemplations and meditation. Then he travelled to many countries and places like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Arabia, Azerbaijan etc. There he met many Sufi saints and dervishes. Once he entangled in a spiritual mystery, and was not able to solve it, so then he went to the tomb of Hazrat Bayazid Bistami(R), where he meditated for many days, and he finally solved that spiritual mystery.
During the journey of Syria, he visited the tomb of the great Companion of the Holy Prophet, Hazrat Bilal(R).



Later his spiritual teacher Hazrat Abul Fazal ordered him to go to Lahore to preach the spiritual teachings of Islam. He said: Hazrat Shah Hussain Zanjani is already there for this purpose, so then why should I go to there? Hazrat Abul Fazal said: It is none of your business, just go to Lahore. So he left Syria and came to Ghazni. From Ghazni he went to Peshawar and then to Lahore, in 1041 A.D (431 A.H). When he reached to Lahore, he saw that people are taking a coffin towards the graveyard for burial. He asked who was he? People replied that it is the dead body of Hazrat Shah Hussain Zanjani(R). After hearing that, he understood why his Murshid Hazrat Abul Fazal sent him to Lahore.



Hazrat Data Gunj Baksh Ali Hajweeri (R) built built a mosque and a room adjacent to that mosque, and used that room as Khanqa (Spiritual School). Many unbelievers accepted Islam on his hands, many people touched the higher stages of spirituality under his guidance. He married twice, but both of his wives died soon after marriage. He had a son, named Hasan. He died at the age of 65 in 465 A.H., in Lahore. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty(R) came to Lahore in 561 A.H (1165 AD), he stayed at the tomb of Hazrat Ali Hajweeri for two weeks seeking blessings and left.



5 To Ajmeer



From Lahore Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) and disciples started to Samana (Patiala now) and stayed there for some days. Patiala was the capital of Prithviraj Chouhan the ruler of Delhi and Ajmeer. Mother of the king was an astrologer and she felt a bad omen which interpreted as danger upon her son. She described it as someone has arrived their kingdom and he will cause to demolition of their kingdom. Afreid the King take close signs and attributes of the new comer and sent it the boarders in order to kill the similar ones. Knowing the danger Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty(R) and his companions slipped from their hands and were safe. Then they get off the Patiala and moved towards Delhi.



At Delhi Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) began to preach his message. His way of approch was quite defferent. Everybody fascinated by his way of call, because it was so polite and gentle as every one feel love, affection and noble intention in it. The Islamic culture began to spread in the city rapidly. Then it was noticed by the governor of the city Raja Kanda Rao. He became worried and began to think a way to expell Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) and his mission from the city. He sent his soldiers for that but whoever reaches Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty(R) was used to undergo a change and soon became as his disciples. At last he, Raja Rao arranged somebody to kill Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty(R) but it was also in vain. The murderer turned disciple. Then Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) assigned his preaching duties to Khaja Bakhtiyar Kaki (R) and moved to Ajmeer.



Arriving In Ajmeer they rested under a tree near the river. It was place for camels of the king to drink water and take rest. When camels men came with them and they saw a group of faqir people tented their they become angry and they wanted them to move and leave the place for their camels. Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) and his men moved to a place near to Anna Sagar. But something wonder happened next day which caught eye of everybody. When the camel's men indent to take then to pasture the camels could not stand. All of their efforts to make then stand were in vain. The lugs of the camels were like caught with somewhere. They went to King Prithviraj and from the news he understood that it was nothing but the divine power of Khaja(R). He ordered his men to seek pardon from him and it was done and the camels were released.



Bank of Anna Sagar Lake was full of temples. So, Brahmins were the major dwellers of the place. As khaja(R) and his desciples camped there they were taking bath and ablution from Anna Sagar. And they used to catch fish from the lake and rarely slaughtered cows. But the Brahmin people were disturbed as they believe the water of Anna Sagar being impure by the touch of Muslims. The Brahmin priests of the temples complained about such anti-Hindu activities to the Raja. The Raja immediately ordered the removal of all these Muslim saint and his companions from the Ana Sagar Hill. So, they tried to prevent Muslims from Anna Sagar and they have done even mischievous actions for that. Prithvi Raj Chauhan's soldiers not only demanded the removal of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty(R) and his followers but also arrogantly insisted to vacate Ajmeer soil. At last Khaja Mueenuddeen (R) asked them to let him allow to fetch some water from Anna Sagar and did so. Khaja(R) sent his servent with a small earthen pot to fetch the water. He did so, but when he take the water the whole water entered the pot and Anna Sagar became dried. Astonished they came to Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) and saught his pardon. Khaja (R) commanded the servent to pour the water to Anna Sagar again and it became as before.



Consequently, a large number of people embraced Islam at the hand of the Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chishty(R). The strength of the opposition to him decreased owing to this unprecedented miracle. Prithvi Raj Chauhan was criticised by the public for the disappearance of the water. In spite of his strong efforts and tactics water could not be restored. At last Prithvi Raj Chauhan said that in future he would not ban the use of water for any human being or creature, which is a free gift of nature.



6 Confrontation with master of magicians



The mother of Prithvi Raj, the ruler of India at that time, had predicted that a Muslim Dervesh would one day arrive in his kingdom. She warned her son that if he maltreated that Muslim Dervesh, his kingdom would perish. Prithvi Raj was very much astonished to hear such words from her. Twelve years after the predicted was happened and Prithvi Raj was informed that a Muslim Dervesh had arrived in his kingdom. It was Hazrat Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R). Prithviraj and his men had several strives to expell Khaja and his companions. But in spite all of his efforts and plans to torture Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (R) it proved that Prithvi Raj was unable compat with him or bring him under his control. He could not succeed in arresting or killing the Great Hazrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz (R). Even in such misbehaviour from Prithvi Raj , Hazrat Khwaja(R) several times invited him directly and indirectly to Islam, but he always rejected the invitation.



At last Prithvi Raj consulted with the priests and his trusted counsellors to find a way to succeed on khaja(R). The chieftains among the priests were two. They were Ajai Pal and Shadi Dev. Ajai Pal was most famous and he had a large number of disciples in the field of magic, black arts, witchcraft and astrology. The king commanded his most worthy magicians to kill this Muslim Faqir along with his followers and remove the threat in order to save their religion. At the same time his heart was trembling recalling the prediction of his mother about the fall of his kingdom. On recieving the command of the king Guru Ajai Pal assured him that he should not worry at all, and he would turn him out of Ajmer and in future no such a Muslim would dare to come here.



The next day Ajai Pal and a group of disciples arrived at the place where Khaja(R) and his desciples have tented. Shadi dev was there with his as a right hand. When Ajai Pal, arrived Hazrat Khwaja's disciples informed him of the situation. They believed that this confrontation will be high risk because Ajay Pal was a mighty magician. But when they looked at the face of their master they found that the great saint was cool. Soon, Khaja(R) drew a circle on the ground around him and his followers for protection against majical attacks of Ajai Pal. He was fencing themselves. Ajai Pal started his moves. Firstly, Ajai Pal launched a number of Chakras (circles) into the air through a whirlwind. This is considered as one of strong magical attack. The function of these chakras was that they cut everything it touched or came across into pieces. But these did not harm either the Great Khwaja(R) or his followers. These chakras, whirling violently in the air went back to Ajai Pal and his disciples. They got furious because their magic proved useless. Thus the first attempt of Ajai Pal failed.



Hazrat Khwaja (R) instructed his followers that nobody should go out of that circle around them. Whatever would come either magical or material weapons would fall only outside of that circle.



After this failure, Ajai Pal became very angry and he sent against them a large number of horrible boas, venomous snakes, scorpions and dreadfully injurious worms. All these sprang up and rushed towards Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty(R) and his followers from all directions. But as soon as they proceeded near the Great Saint’s protective circle, they all perished. This attack also failed and Ajai Pal got more furious because his second attack was repulsed infront of the great Saint.



At last Ajai Pal and his chelas made the last attack by raising a cloudy storm cyclone, with fire, water and stones. All these ran towards the Great Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti (ra) causing an intolarable noise. Even this had no effect on the Holy Saint and his companions. Instead it turned back to wreak havoc among followers of Ajai Pal. These failed attacks on the Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty (R) and his followers were being watched carefully by the public and it made them think carefully as to which side possesses blessings of Allah. Ajai Pal and the Raja were faced with a seemingly hopeless and desperate situation. The frustrated Prithviraj the king threatened Ajai Pal with dire consequences if he did no save the honour and religion of the kingdom. Being threatened Ajai Pal made the last bid to recover his faded prestige and honour.



Ajai Pal brought out a big leaf and sat on it and flew up into the sky. In a few moments he disappeared in the air. And then he began to put the balls of fire upon the desciples of Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R). It was very hard among the feats of Ajai Pal. Up till now, the followers of Hazrat Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty(R) were able to tolerate but it was very hard and intolerable for them. Seeing this the attention of Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) turned to the situation and he ordered his wooden chappals ( which was used by Muslim faqirs in the ancient times) to thew up in the air and bring Ajai Pal down to the ground. As Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty(R) ordered, both of the wooden chappals flew up to the air flying and instantaneously brought the flying magician down to the feets of Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisti(R) by continuously striking at head of Ajai Pal. Ajai Pal was shocked to see the great power of the sandals the Holy Saint. He totally surrendered himself to the Great Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty (R) after losing his final attack. Ajai Pal was now at the mercy of the Great Khwaja (R). He lay there waiting for the orders of the Holy Saint. Shadi dev also became changed. Hazrat Khwaja(R) then asked them to embrace Islam and accepted their apology. Ajai Pal and Shadi dev immediately embraced Islam and became devoted disciples of Khwaja(R). Khwaja(R) named him Abdullah and Shadi as sa adi.



7 End of Prithviraj



After the conversion Abdulla and Sa adi asked Khwaja (R) to move to a convenient and spacious place to live there. So, they selected a place not very far from Anasagar as their dwelling place. Sa adi was the owner of that land. It is the holy place in which The Great saint lived throughout his life and lives now in the Mazar Shareef. Till then thousands of common people were embraced Islam. There were mainly two things attracted them. First one was the miraculous scenes they experienced from this great saint and second one was the valuable life style of Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R). Consequently, Ajmeer became a center of piety and Indian Islamic identity.



Though everybody had a change at least with a kindness or respect towards Khwaja(R), Prithviraj the arrogant king never changed from his stands. He continued searching for a way to expell Khaja and his followers from his territory. Gradually he became only one who keep severe hostile towards Khwaja (R). In this time as a last effort, kwaja(R) sent a message to Prithviraj inviting him to Islam. Prithviraj refused it. Then Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) proclaimed: If so, we will arrest him and handover to Muslim Army. The desciples arround him could not understand what Shaikh has said. They simply looked each other.



But Shihabuddeen Muhammad Ghori knew the meaning of that message. While he was sleeping a Shaykh came to his dream and said: Oh Shihabuddeen, stand up start, for Allah has given you the rule of India in your hands. As deamt Shihabuddeen Muhammad Ghori started with his force to India and invited Prithviraj to compat. The battle field was at Thaneshwar where they had a fight there in year 1191 AD (587 AH) and Gouri was defeated by Prithviraj. It was when Khaja(R) and his desciples stay in Delhi on their way to Ajmeer. This time Shihabuddeen Gouri was very confident and dare because of the dream. Two forces met together at Thaneshwar and Gouri Army succeeded on the Prithviraj and his Army. In this battle Prithviraj Chauhan was arrested and latter he was killed.



After the battle Sultan Shihabuddeen Muhammad Ghori studied about the region and he came to know that the nearby Muslim centre is Ajmeer. He went to Ajmeer and see a Qhankhah there. It was a prayer time and Khwaja (R) was leading the prayer. He joined them in the prayer and on the dispersal he saw the face of the Imam. He was in great surprise because, he realised and recognised that it was the saint who appeared in his dream and insisted him to to fight Prithviraj. With great gratitude he met with him and saught his blessings. With the blessing of Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) he fount his sulthanate in Delhi and he appointed Sayed Hasan Mashhadi a pious man as governor of Ajmeer. As he captured Delhi and set up his throne well he returned to Gaznah in 1206 after he handed over the power to Qutbuddeen Aibeck. Thus India became a fertile soil for Islamic Da awa and propagation. It was began and nurched by the presence of Khaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R).



As he was sent by Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be with him) Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty(R) was the light of entire Indian subcontinent. He was only living in Ajmeer and guiding his desciples but they were carrying his great messeges and preaching it around the subcontinent. His followers have reached Indonasia, Maldives and neighbouring countries also. Ibn Batuta the prominent traveller stated in his travelogue that he met with many saints who are Shaikhs and Murshids of Qadiriyya and Chishthiyya thareeqas. In Indian parts it is said that there were more than 700 Murshid saints who preach and teach Chishthiyya way. In South India Shaykh Muhammad Waliyyullah, Sayyid Alavi Waliyyullah and another prominent saints were also among the Chishthiyya Thareeqa.



8 Marriage and Children



Hazrat Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chishty (R) lived most of his life unmaried. Death of the parents, departing the family, prolonged journeys and deviation of the life from normal to spiritual etc. engaged him from the thaughts of marriage life. After being enlightened also he was in long journeys. When he arrived and settled in Ajmeer he was 50 years old. His concentration was fully on spritual life and guiding the people. At the age of 50 it is quite natural that the thought of a marrige life will fade in the mind of any man. As he was leading such a life on day he dreamt Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be with him) and he told him: Oh Mueenuddeen, you have been very keen and active in obeying the orders of Allah but why do not you follow my sunnah?. Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty (R) understood what is the prophet has intended.



Khwaja(R) made two marriages. One was with Beebi Ismath daughter of Sayed Wajeehuddeen Mashhadi the governor of Ajmeer. It is said by some historians that this marriage was due to a divine proposal from grandfather of Mashhadi who is Muhammad Al Baqir(R). Beebi Ismath was very pious and a pure virgin as Khwaja(R) deserve. The second marriage was with Beebi Amathullah who was said to be daughter of a converted local ruler.



Three sons were born to Khwaja (R) from Beebi Ismath. They were Khwaja Fakhruddeen(R), Khwaja Esamuddeen(R) and Khwaja Ziyauddeen(R). The eldest son Kwaja Fakhruddeen(R) followed his father in all aspects of life and became a great saint in the life time of Khwaja(R) itself. He resided at Salwar(Shalwad). He was very pious and beloved to the people. On 3rd Sha'aban 652AH he died and people recall him in every 3rd day of Sha'aban and observing as his day of Uroos. Khwaja Muhyudeen also was a great saint and followed a different way of salvation and purification. The history say that he disappeared in his childhood and no more information about him. There are different views for historians about his age of disappearance whether it was when he was 14 or 45.



The youngest son Khwaja Ziyauddeen (R) also was a Sufi saint who lived as role model of his father. He died at age of 50 and his grave is on a platform near Khalara Ghat near the Mazar of his great father. His Uroos is being observed in 13th Dul Hijja.



Khwaja Mueenuddeen Chisty (R) had only one daughter namely Beebi Hafiza Jamal(R). She was also a shade of her father and she lived preaching Thareeqa and Shareea among women. She was married to Shaykh Raziyuddeen son of Qazi Hamiduddeen Nagoori. She is laying in last sleep near to her beloved father at south ward of Mazar Shareef.