The patriarch of the Chishti Habibi Silsila is the celebrated sufi saint of Hyderabad, Sayed Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (rahmatullahi alaihi). It is this personality whose influence and wilayah is so great, that his specially appointed successor, Hazrat Soofie Sahib illuminated Southern Africa with the light of Islam. Hazrat Khwaja Habib Ali Shah as born in a noble family, whose lineage is traced back to Sayyiduna Abu bakr Siddiq (radiallahu anhu). His father was a "Nawaab" and a famous philanthropist. He was very pious as well and was a mureed of Sheik-ul-Islam Sayed Hafiz Muhammad Ali Shah of Khairaabaad. The birth of Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi)) was foretold by the great Sheikh himself who remarked that "his" son would be born in the home of Nawaab Ahmad Yar Khan. At this stage the mother of Hazrat was beyond child bearing age, but since the grand sheikh had spoken, they knew that Allah willed otherwise.

Two years later, a child was born the fourth child of Ahmad Yar Khan, who was named Habib Yar Khan. Four years later, the grand Sheikh arrived at the home and requested to see his son. Immediately the grand Sheikh proceeded with the Bismillah of the child, and thereafter put the child to a test. A handful of coins and a handful of sweetmeats were placed in front of the child and he was asked by the grand Sheikh to choose that which he desired.

The child placed his hand on both. Upon this the Sheikh replied that this child would choose spirituality over wealth, and would be a wealth of spirituality.

At the age of 16 Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi) gave himself to his grand Sheikh and proceeded to traverse the path to Allah. This brilliant seeker of Truth soon began reaching the heights of spirituality and God -consciousness, burning with the fire of Ishq (intense love) for Allah. Such was the affinity with his sheikh, that even when absent from the company of his sheikh people would note as if he were still present.

When this strange occurrence was reported to the grand Sheikh, the sheikh smiled and replied: Do not call my son Habib Ali Shah "Hayderabadi", but call my son Habib Ali Shah "Khairabaadi". Once whilst in the company of his sheikh, he held an inward wish that he were a poet, so that he could compose poems to illustrate the love for his sheikh. At this moment, the sheikh was chewing betel -leaf; he immediately removed some from his blessed mouth and gave it to his mureed, thereafter instructing him to recite a line of poetry.

(The Safeguarder of both the haram and the temple is Allah; in both places are the manifestations of one beloved).

After completion of his spiritual course and acceptance in the spiritual assembly of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) his sheikh instructed him to go to the cosmopolitan area of Kokan, which is now Mumbai, to serve and educate mankind. Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi) attracted thousands of mureeds who flocked to his Khanqah in what is now Dockyard Road, Mumbai. He was a sheikh in all four major Salaasul (Qadri, Chishti, Naqshbandi, and Suharwardi) as well as in 14 other salaasul as well as others via the Owwaisia link. He himself in his era trained +-40 adepts who were then despatched to various parts of the Indo-Pak sub continent, Khurasan, the Middle East, as well as South Africa. Hazrat Soofie Sahib, the famous saint of South Africa was also his mureed and chief Khalifa. He himself was placed into a state of Istigraaq (submerged in God-consciousness-oblivious of even self) in one glance of his sheikh and had completed his sulook (path to Allah).

Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi) has written +-30 books on Tasawwuf and Islam. His anthology of poetry, Diwaan-e-Habib, is a treasure of Irfaan (true knowledge of Allah) and clearly shows the burning love of this devotee of Allah. His grand Sheikh, gave him the treasure of Ishq (intense love) an attribute that is the hallmark of the Habibi branch of the Chishti silsila. Khwaja Habib's karaamaat (miracles) are so numerous that it fills up a complete book alone.

Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi) spent his last moments in Mumbai. He passed away on 6 Zill-hajj 1323a.h. His body was taken by a special train supplied by the British authorities to be taken to Hyderabad. At ever station the train was stopped so that people could perform his Janaaza (funeral prayer). The train finally reached Hyderabad on 10 Zill Hajj and final janaaza was performed at the Makkah Musjid. He was laid to rest in the courtyard of his mosque in Ahmad baagh. His blessed tomb is a testimony to the great saint of Islam and his legacy lives on in the hearts and souls of thousands throughout the globe. May the Fuyooz (spiritual benedictions) of this beloved of Allah bless us.