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This
world of multiplicity has an adverse effect,
Whereas in reality my origin is unity;
These days the garden of my heart is slowly withering.
Salutations to you, O beauty of Aurang Chist,
O Nizamudeen! May my garden be refreshed.
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Hazrat
Shah Nizamudeen Aurangabadi (rahmatullahi alaihi) was a
leading saint of southern India. As the khalifa-e-azam of
Hazrat Shah Kalimullah Jahanabaadi (rahmatullahi alaihi),
the responsibility of propagating Islam, as well as the
reformation of the Muslim community at large fell onto his
able shoulders. The Mughal empire, the light-bearer of civilisation
in India for three centuries and more, was on the wane,
and political instability had created an all-time low in
morale. In these trying times it was Hazrat Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi
alaihi) who became the torchbearer for a struggling society.
Khwaja
Nizamudeen Aurangabadi (rahmatullahi alaihi)'s birth and
early history are somewhat vague, though it is known that
he was a descendant of Hazrat Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (rahmatullahi
alaihi), the first caliph of Islam. His birthplace is thought
to be Kakor, India and it was there that he received his
early education. To further his studies he travelled to
Delhi, the centre of learning at the time, and sought out
a university. Word of the popularity of Hazrat Shah Kalimullah
Jahanabaadi (rahmatullahi alaihi) reached his ears, and
he decided to meet the great saint. When he arrived at the
seminary of Shah Kalimullah (rahmatullahi alaihi), he found
the door locked, as the shaykh was engaged in the spiritual
musical assembly of Sama, to which outsiders were not permitted.
Unaware of this, he knocked at the door and, to the amazement
of the other disciples, was welcomed in by Shah Kalimullah
(rahmatullahi alaihi) and shown great love.
Soon
after, he enrolled in the great saint's university. Initially,
his primary aim was to obtain religious external knowledge
only; but after a time the intense spiritual atmosphere
that surrounded Shah Kalimullah (rahmatullahi alaihi) drew
him closer to the path of the sufis. One day, as his shaykh
prepared to leave, Hazrat Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi)
came forward, dusted his murshid's shoes, and placed them
before him. Upon seeing this, Shah Kalimullah (rahmatullahi
alaihi) inquired,
"O
Nizamudeen, have you come to acquire knowledge, or do you
seek the path to Allah?" To this Hazrat Nizamudeen
(rahmatullahi alaihi) humbly replied,
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"You
know better what is for me;
You know better, for us, for me."
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Upon
hearing these lines, Shah Kalimullah (rahmatullahi alaihi)
recalled the prophecy of Hazrat Yahya Madini (rahmatullahi
alaihi) who stated that the one who would utter these words
would be responsible for the spread and propagation of the
Chishtia silsila. Hazrat Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi)'s
spiritual instruction began immediately.
After
a period of strict spiritual training, Hazrat Nizamudeen
(rahmatullahi alaihi) was made the khalifa-e-azam of Shah
Kalimullah (rahmatullahi alaihi) and instructed to spread
Islam and serve the needs of the community in south India.
He travelled extensively throughout the whole of the southern
Indian plateau teaching and catering for the needs of the
community, before settling down and establishing a seminary
in Aurangabad. The seminary had ten doors, and none were
forbidden entrance or education. At each door stood a scribe,
and whenever anyone came with financial problems, they would
write the following lines,
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"The
remembrance of Allah is the greatest;
On this my heart is fully concentrated.
To this world, Nizamudeen is oblivious."
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poor would then take this to the rich who, because of their
great respect and deep love for the great saint, would regard
it as the highest honour to fulfill their brother's needs.
Wit this kind of practice, is it any wonder that the sufis
of India were loved and venerated by rich and poor alike?
Those who spread Islam not only by words but by actions, who
not only preach but live the eternal principles of Islam,
such men and women have truly sacrificed their lives for Allah.
It is they to whom Rasulallah refers in a hadith wherein he
states, |
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"The
saint are like prophets unto their communities."
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| Hazrat
Nizamudeen Aurangabadi (rahmatullahi alaihi) was actively
involved in the propagation of Islam, and along with this
he gave special attention to the spiritual training of his
mureeds. Historians have quoted the number of those disciples
as being over one hundred thousand. At any given time after
salaat, about 300-500 people would gather in his mosque for
zikrullah. Hazrat Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi) was strict
in his observance of the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu
alaihi wasallam) . His concern for the welfare of the community,
as we have seen above, was sincere and very great. He would
always ensure that in whatever way possible he would fulfil
the need of anyone who Shah Kalimullah (rahmatullahi alaihi)
him for assistance. The life of a saint is not only miracles
and ecstasies; they live in the real world of ordinary mortals
such as ourselves, but yet transcend it, for they breathe
Allah's love with every breath. |
Hazrat
Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi)'s book, Nizamul Quloob, hold
very pertinent lessons for us today, as it stresses the spiritual
upliftment of the muslims prior to them commencing propagation
of Islam. He states that in order to be a true representative
of Islam, one necessarily must possess those qualities of
spiritual perfection that would allow the person to spread
the religion not only by word but also by practice and principle.
Hazrat Nizamudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi) had thirteen khulafah
who continued his work after his demise, foremost of whom
was his son Hazrat Moulana Fakhrudeen (rahmatullahi alaihi).
He left this world on the 12th Zil Qadah 1142AH and lies buried
in his mazaar in Aurangabad. Ample testimony to his great
services to Islam both during his life and posthumously can
be found in the title afforded to him, "Qutbe Daccan",
or "axis around which revolves the south." |
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The
beloved sleeps, covering her face with the beautiful locks of
her hair.
Khusro, go home! The darkness of evening has engulfed the whole
world.
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