Zikr and Speeches were made in Razvia Mosque, Southampton, on the occasion of the Urs of Khawaja Muinuddin
Hasan Chishti on the 8th of June 2011 after the Fajr Namaz (Salat). Prior to this a complete recitation of the Holy
Qur'an had been completed by various Muslims in Southampton.
We first heard some delightful recitation from the holy Qur'an and Nath in Urdu by a young child (Ali Mazar) and some
fine Nath by a gentleman whose name I did not catch.
Zikr (repetition of the name Of Allah) was preceded by verses from the holy Qur'an and accompanied by the following
verses from Khadim Hasan Nawob Gudri Shah Baba (ra)
Sab sey pehley Bismillah. La ilaha ilallah
Eke hai Allah, Eke hai Allah
Is key siwa Rab koi nahee hai
Khaliq voh hai, Malik voh hai,
Is jaysa Rab koi nahee hai La ilaha ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Rab hai humara sab say Aala,
Jiseney is a-lam ko-banaya
Koi nahee hai hamsar uska
Hum hain bandey voh hai mola Allah, Allah, ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Yad-e-Khuda sey dil roshan kar
Eis sey behter kaam nahi hai
Naame Khuda ka wirdey zaban ka
Is sey behter naam nahee hai Allah, Allah, ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Ayee Mohammed jub duniya mai
Achee, achee bateyn batayee
Pahr pahr kar Qu'r-an Khuda ka
Sidhee, sidhee, rahen batayee Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
Aye Muhammed is a-lam mai,
Sab ko sunaney Rab ki ba-teyn,
Maet dee saree jhuti ba-teyn
Jub farh-maee sachee ba-teyn Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
Raa-hatey jan hai deen-i-naabi ka
Wajah e amma hai deen naabi ka
Shamma-ay jahan hai deen-i-naabi ka
Sid-qay nishan hai deen-i-naabi ka. Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
La ilaaha, ilallah, Muhammed dur Rasuulallah.
for translation see this link
The first speech was by Mikail Ali Clark
For Khawaja Sahb's Urs
Auwzubillahi minach Chaitan nir Rajim
Laysal-birra an tuwalluu wujuuhakum qibalal-mashriqi wal-maghribi walaakinnal-birra man 'aamana bil-
laahi wal-yawmil-aakhiri wal-malaa'ikati wal-kitaabi wan-nabiyyiin -- wa 'aataal-maala :alaa Hubbihi dhawil-
qurbaa wal-yataamaa wal-masaakiina wabnas-sabiili was-saa'iliina wafir-riqaab - wa 'aqaamaS-Salaata
wa'aataa'az-zakaah wal-muufuuna bi:ahdihim idhaa :aahaduu waaS-Sabiriina fil-ba'saa'i waD-Darraa'i
waHiinal-ba's ulaa'ikal-ladhiina Sadaquu wa'ulaa'ika humul-muttaquun
Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west,
but pious is one who believes in God and the Last Day, and the angels,
and the Book, and the prophets, and who gives his wealth
out of love of God to the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy,
and the traveller, and to those who ask, and to free those in slavery;
and the one who performs the prayer, and practices regular charity;
and those who keep their agreements when they make an agreement,
and those who are patient in the face of pain (or suffering) and adversity
and when in despair. These are the ones who have been truthful,
and these are the righteous. Qur'an 2:177
The model and example of this perfect behaviour is our beloved Prophet Mohammed (saw) and those who
like dust in his footstep sought to emulate him.
Amongst these one cannot avoid to mention with due reverence, respect and praise, Khawaja Muinuddin
Hassan Chishti (ra).
From his earliest childhood Khawaja Moin Uddin Chishti displayed a love of God, manifested by a love of
those around him. Once, on the way to Eid prayers, he swapped his smart new Eid clothes with the rags of a
poor blind boy he met on his way, then he took the boy with him to prayers. Still just a child, he was
practising the generosity which was the feature of his whole life.
His father died when he was 15, leaving him as an inheritance an orchard and a grindstone, from which he
could make a living. It is said that one day he was visited by a Sufi named Ibrahim Qandoozi. He offered the
Sufi some fruit, and, in return, Ibrahim Qandoozi gave him a piece of bread and told him to eat it. After this,
he found himself totally transformed and enamoured of the search for Truth. He sold the orchard and the mill,
giving the money to the poor.
Later he became a Muriid, a disciple, of Khawaja Uthman Harooni Chishti, and devoted himself to his
service for 22 years. Dr Zahurul Sharib says, in "The Psalm of Love": The truth dawned upon him and the
reality was opened unto him that Sufism is in fact another name for love and service.”
Though in their travels they visited on foot so many countries Khawaja Saheb travelled in another sense
crossing all the stages of Sufism, such as Repentance, Striving, Taqwa (awe of Allah), and Mahabbat (love)
and Tauhid (unity). We are told he learnt the inner reality of these words by direct experience.
It is said that, in a dream, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, (sallalahu alaihim wa salaam) gave him the task of
taking the Message of love to the Indian subcontinent, and this finally led him to Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Without knowing the languages of that place, and despite the hostility of the ruler he made Ajmer a centre for
devotees of Truth. His spiritual presence and the universality of his profoundly simple message of service to
man as service to God, brought many to the love of Allah. He did not turn seekers away whatever their
religion, colour, nationality or class or caste. To this day so many people from so many backgrounds, Sikhs,
Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus seek his blessings.
He is remembered as Gharib Nawaz, the Patron of the Poor, and poverty is not the exclusive state of any
religion, group, or nationality.
Here are words he used to convey to disciples his message:
Love all and hate none.
Mere talk of peace will not help you.
Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far.
Bring out all the strength of your being and reveal the full magnificence of your immortal Soul.
Be overflowing with peace and joy, and scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go.
Be a blazing fire of truth, be a beauteous blossom of love and be a soothing balm of peace.
With your spiritual light, dispel the darkness of ignorance; dissolve the clouds of discord and war and
spread goodwill, peace, and harmony among the people.
Never seek any help, charity, or favours from anybody except God.
Never go the court of rulers, but never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor, the widow, and the
orphan, if they come to your door.
This is your mission, to serve the people.....
Khawaja Saheb further says:
Carry it out dutifully and courageously, so that I, as your Pir-o-Murshid, may not be ashamed of any
shortcomings on your part, in front of Almighty God, and our holy predecessors in the Silsila, on the Day
of Judgment.
Thus it is that his name became synonymous with Universal love, and in Ajmer, the place where he settled,
and even across the world, people celebrate the life of Khawaja Moin Uddin Hassan Chishti, as we today do
also in Southampton. Time has not dulled his message nor his spiritual grace. May The All-mighty be well
pleased with him and may his blessings be upon us.
Mikail Ali Clarke Southampton June 2011
Hasan Chishti on the 8th of June 2011 after the Fajr Namaz (Salat). Prior to this a complete recitation of the Holy
Qur'an had been completed by various Muslims in Southampton.
We first heard some delightful recitation from the holy Qur'an and Nath in Urdu by a young child (Ali Mazar) and some
fine Nath by a gentleman whose name I did not catch.
Zikr (repetition of the name Of Allah) was preceded by verses from the holy Qur'an and accompanied by the following
verses from Khadim Hasan Nawob Gudri Shah Baba (ra)
Sab sey pehley Bismillah. La ilaha ilallah
Eke hai Allah, Eke hai Allah
Is key siwa Rab koi nahee hai
Khaliq voh hai, Malik voh hai,
Is jaysa Rab koi nahee hai La ilaha ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Rab hai humara sab say Aala,
Jiseney is a-lam ko-banaya
Koi nahee hai hamsar uska
Hum hain bandey voh hai mola Allah, Allah, ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Yad-e-Khuda sey dil roshan kar
Eis sey behter kaam nahi hai
Naame Khuda ka wirdey zaban ka
Is sey behter naam nahee hai Allah, Allah, ilallah, ilallah, ilallah.
Ayee Mohammed jub duniya mai
Achee, achee bateyn batayee
Pahr pahr kar Qu'r-an Khuda ka
Sidhee, sidhee, rahen batayee Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
Aye Muhammed is a-lam mai,
Sab ko sunaney Rab ki ba-teyn,
Maet dee saree jhuti ba-teyn
Jub farh-maee sachee ba-teyn Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
Raa-hatey jan hai deen-i-naabi ka
Wajah e amma hai deen naabi ka
Shamma-ay jahan hai deen-i-naabi ka
Sid-qay nishan hai deen-i-naabi ka. Nuri Muhammed salallah, salallah, salallah
La ilaaha, ilallah, Muhammed dur Rasuulallah.
for translation see this link
The first speech was by Mikail Ali Clark
For Khawaja Sahb's Urs
Auwzubillahi minach Chaitan nir Rajim
Laysal-birra an tuwalluu wujuuhakum qibalal-mashriqi wal-maghribi walaakinnal-birra man 'aamana bil-
laahi wal-yawmil-aakhiri wal-malaa'ikati wal-kitaabi wan-nabiyyiin -- wa 'aataal-maala :alaa Hubbihi dhawil-
qurbaa wal-yataamaa wal-masaakiina wabnas-sabiili was-saa'iliina wafir-riqaab - wa 'aqaamaS-Salaata
wa'aataa'az-zakaah wal-muufuuna bi:ahdihim idhaa :aahaduu waaS-Sabiriina fil-ba'saa'i waD-Darraa'i
waHiinal-ba's ulaa'ikal-ladhiina Sadaquu wa'ulaa'ika humul-muttaquun
Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west,
but pious is one who believes in God and the Last Day, and the angels,
and the Book, and the prophets, and who gives his wealth
out of love of God to the relatives, and the orphans, and the needy,
and the traveller, and to those who ask, and to free those in slavery;
and the one who performs the prayer, and practices regular charity;
and those who keep their agreements when they make an agreement,
and those who are patient in the face of pain (or suffering) and adversity
and when in despair. These are the ones who have been truthful,
and these are the righteous. Qur'an 2:177
The model and example of this perfect behaviour is our beloved Prophet Mohammed (saw) and those who
like dust in his footstep sought to emulate him.
Amongst these one cannot avoid to mention with due reverence, respect and praise, Khawaja Muinuddin
Hassan Chishti (ra).
From his earliest childhood Khawaja Moin Uddin Chishti displayed a love of God, manifested by a love of
those around him. Once, on the way to Eid prayers, he swapped his smart new Eid clothes with the rags of a
poor blind boy he met on his way, then he took the boy with him to prayers. Still just a child, he was
practising the generosity which was the feature of his whole life.
His father died when he was 15, leaving him as an inheritance an orchard and a grindstone, from which he
could make a living. It is said that one day he was visited by a Sufi named Ibrahim Qandoozi. He offered the
Sufi some fruit, and, in return, Ibrahim Qandoozi gave him a piece of bread and told him to eat it. After this,
he found himself totally transformed and enamoured of the search for Truth. He sold the orchard and the mill,
giving the money to the poor.
Later he became a Muriid, a disciple, of Khawaja Uthman Harooni Chishti, and devoted himself to his
service for 22 years. Dr Zahurul Sharib says, in "The Psalm of Love": The truth dawned upon him and the
reality was opened unto him that Sufism is in fact another name for love and service.”
Though in their travels they visited on foot so many countries Khawaja Saheb travelled in another sense
crossing all the stages of Sufism, such as Repentance, Striving, Taqwa (awe of Allah), and Mahabbat (love)
and Tauhid (unity). We are told he learnt the inner reality of these words by direct experience.
It is said that, in a dream, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, (sallalahu alaihim wa salaam) gave him the task of
taking the Message of love to the Indian subcontinent, and this finally led him to Ajmer, Rajasthan.
Without knowing the languages of that place, and despite the hostility of the ruler he made Ajmer a centre for
devotees of Truth. His spiritual presence and the universality of his profoundly simple message of service to
man as service to God, brought many to the love of Allah. He did not turn seekers away whatever their
religion, colour, nationality or class or caste. To this day so many people from so many backgrounds, Sikhs,
Jews, Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus seek his blessings.
He is remembered as Gharib Nawaz, the Patron of the Poor, and poverty is not the exclusive state of any
religion, group, or nationality.
Here are words he used to convey to disciples his message:
Love all and hate none.
Mere talk of peace will not help you.
Mere talk of God and religion will not take you far.
Bring out all the strength of your being and reveal the full magnificence of your immortal Soul.
Be overflowing with peace and joy, and scatter them wherever you are and wherever you go.
Be a blazing fire of truth, be a beauteous blossom of love and be a soothing balm of peace.
With your spiritual light, dispel the darkness of ignorance; dissolve the clouds of discord and war and
spread goodwill, peace, and harmony among the people.
Never seek any help, charity, or favours from anybody except God.
Never go the court of rulers, but never refuse to bless and help the needy and the poor, the widow, and the
orphan, if they come to your door.
This is your mission, to serve the people.....
Khawaja Saheb further says:
Carry it out dutifully and courageously, so that I, as your Pir-o-Murshid, may not be ashamed of any
shortcomings on your part, in front of Almighty God, and our holy predecessors in the Silsila, on the Day
of Judgment.
Thus it is that his name became synonymous with Universal love, and in Ajmer, the place where he settled,
and even across the world, people celebrate the life of Khawaja Moin Uddin Hassan Chishti, as we today do
also in Southampton. Time has not dulled his message nor his spiritual grace. May The All-mighty be well
pleased with him and may his blessings be upon us.
Mikail Ali Clarke Southampton June 2011
Bismillah ar Rehman ir Rahim
Full Programme for ‘Urs of Khawaja Gharib Nawaz (ra) in Southampton 2011
inshallah.
• Thu 2nd June: 7. 15 pm: Flag ceremony at Zahuri Manzil
• Sat 4th June: 7.30 pm: Zikr and Sema (with recorded Qwaal) at Zahuri Manzil
• Sun 5th June: 7.30 pm: Zikr and Sema (with recorded Qwaal) at Zahuri Manzil
• Mon 6th June: 7.30 pm: Zikr and Sema (with recorded Qwaal) at Zahuri Manzil
• Tue 7th June: 7.30 pm: Zikr and Sema (with recorded Qwaal) at Zahuri Manzil
- Wed 8th June:
- 07.15 pm Qudum/Zikr/speeches, Langar, at Razvia Mosque
- 09.45 pm Fatiha at Zahuri Manzil
- 10.00 pm Langar at Zahuri Manzil
- 10.30 pm Sema (with recorded Qwaal)
- Thursday 9th June:
- 10.30 am -12.30 pm Cul (Qur’an recital and short Sema) at Zahuri Manzil
- 9.00 pm- midnight: Poetry recital at Zahuri Manzil
- Friday 10th June Jumma Namaz. 6pm; Short Sema (with recorded Qwaal);; Langar
- Sunday 12th June
- 5.00 pm Langar at 4 Polygon Court
- 7.30 pm Fatiha at Zahuri Manzil
- 8. 30- midnight: Zikr and Sema (with recorded Qwaal)
• Zahuri Manzil is located in the garden at 4 Polygon Court, The Polygon, Southampton SO15 2GT (opposite Lynden Guest
House) at the junction with Morris Road. Parking is free after 6pm. (tel 07825322801 for directions) .
| The following address was delivered on this occasion by Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri a video of the speech is available on U tube - here is the address. http://vimeo.com/34627072 there are 4 parts |
link to photos
Bismillah ar Rehman ir Rahim
Salaam Aleikum
Merhaba
Auwzubillahi minach Chaitan nir Rajim
To give praise to God and express our gratitude for His Prophet, and to pay our respect
and make our Salaam to one of the Friends of God - Humari niyat aisi hai (is our
intention).
It is said, by the wise that before time and space were brought into existence Allah, the
Uncreated Creator, desired to Manifest Himself. He first manifested His undifferentiated
Light without boundaries. That Absolute unimaginable and unfathomable Light brought
forth the Nur i Muhammed by its own powers: then from the Light of holy Prophet
Muhammed Allah created the souls of the perfect men. The first of these souls was our
father, the father of all mankind – the perfect man – Hazrat Adam. He was made of clay
but the Divine Essence breathed of Himself into that clay so that even the angels were
required to prostrate before him and thus recognise the Divine Breath that pervaded the
clay - which is our material existence.
The holy Qur’an says that man was created in the best of moulds. ‘Laqad khalaqnal-
‘insaana fiii ahsani taqwiin’. Then he was made the lowest of the low. Thus all
subsequent men and women inherited both Divine Grace and a lower nature and both are
intertwined - mixed together, leaving us are in a state of conflict. Thus it is hardly
surprising that the world around shows constant conflict – reflecting our own nature.
If we see the world we live in today we see all the evidences we need. Man set against
woman, father against son: mother against daughter; rich against poor: black against
white: family against family; class against class: the strong against the weak; country
against country; culture against culture. But if this is our inheritance, the inheritance of
our clay, so is Divine Mercy, the Rahmat, which was breathed into that clay.
Its nature is Unity.
Shaitan saw the clay but he did not see the Rehman so he disobeyed the command of his
Creator.
It is further said by the wise that Allah looked on his creation for some time with Wrath
and for a longer time with Love and Mercy. Thus His Love and Mercy comes before His
Wrath.
The Mercy and Love of Allah pervades creation in every respect. In nature we see the
mercy of water in cleaning and drinking, but we also see its wrathful nature in drowning
and destroying. We can say the same for fire, and air, and earth. Think about it.
The wise tell us that one of the greatest Mercies of ar-Rehman, is that he sent to mankind
the perfect souls. They were created outside of time and space but Allah caused these
souls to pass though the wombs of selected and blessed mothers. The womb is like a
passage-way from the eternal unseen place inhabited by these souls to the material
world. These perfect souls were enabled by the grace of Allah to overcome the lower
nature of the clay and to deliver a message from Allah directly to mankind. We know
them as the Prophets (may the Mercy of Allah be upon them each and every one).
The message was the same in essence for all of them, a reminder of where we came
from, and to where we will return. Allah says in the holy Qur’an ‘Unto Us you will
return’. The holy book also says there is nothing better before God than remembrance of
Him. In each case however the Prophet or Messenger’s particular message was adapted
to the needs of the time and place into which he was born.
The highest point and the furthest reach of this Message came with the advent of our
beloved Prophet Muhammed (saw) into physical form, and it was given first to a most
divided and fractious tribal society filled with superstition and mutual enmity . With the
holy Prophet (saw), Allah brought to perfection the religion that would enable men and
women to be sure of a good return to Him. Well pleased with Him and He well pleased
with them. Ar-Rehman also gave as a mercy to the Prophets the ability to inspire those
around them, their companions and families and followers, so that when their clay had
returned to clay there would still be those alive who would continue to remember and
remind; even those who were not present at the time of the physical presence of the
Prophets. In his final sermon the holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) says maybe those who
are not present may remember and be benefitted even better than those present.
In Islam there was born the tradition of spirituality known later as Sufism, to keep alive
not just the actual words conveyed by the Prophet (which was the duty of the scholars so
well performed over centuries) but the inner sense of those words understood by direct
intuition.
These inspired souls became the trustees, in this world, of the inner dimension of the
spiritual message of the Prophets and thus of the eternal Essence, Allah. Time and
circumstance changed but they expressed through words, and deeds, and their beautiful
behaviour and by the spiritual Baraka that was with them, to each new generation, a
renewal of the eternal essence of that message. Maulana Muhammed Rumi of Balkh and
Konya tells us of the relationship of the Saints to the Prophets - he says:'Anyone who
understands what I say to mean anything other than that I am the dust in the footprint of the
Holy Prophet (saw) has misunderstood me.'
Thus it is that we reach the object of our gathering today: to pay our respect, make our
Salaam and to express our gratitude to one of the greatest of these. The holy book talks of
those 'men of faith whose love for Allah is overflowing'.
Such a one was born to certain Khawaja Ghyasuddin and Bibi Mah Nur over 600 years
after the time of Rasul Allah on this earth. He was named as Muinuddin Hasan and he
was born in Asfahan but brought up in Sanjar.
Even as a child he exhibited some remarkable traits indicating his spiritual status, but it
was at the age of 15 after the death of his much respected father that his spiritual
awakening occurred, of which we heard earlier. He sold his property and distributed the
proceeds to the poor. In Khorosan, Samarqand and Bukhara he learned the basics of
religious knowledge to better understand the deeper meanings of the Holy Quran, Hadiths
and religious law. Bur he sought not only the shariat but the inner dimension of the holy
law which are called Tariqat and the even more subtle Haqiqat.
Later he travelled to Baghdad where he met for the first time the illustrious saint Hazrat
Abdul Qadir al-Jillani (ra).
Ghous Pak made a prediction about Khawaja Saheb. The author of ‘The life and
teachings of Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti,’ Dr Zahurul Hasan Sharib, tells us that he said
– ‘This young man will be a great figure of his time – the source of inspiration and
centre of devotion .. for myriads of people.’
It is said the two are related both on the mother’s and the father’s side.
Later in his travels he reached Haroon where he became initiated into the Chishti
Shilshilla by Khawaja Uthman Harooni.
The shilshilla of the Chishti order until that time were the holy men who were recipients
of a grace ( Baraka ) that was passed spiritually by the Holy Prophet (saw) to his son in
law, Hazrat Ali Murtaza (ra). This Baraka was passed on to Khawaja Hassan Basri (ra)
and from him to his disciple Khawaja Abdul Wahid bin Said (ra). The succession
continued through the following saints:
Khawaja Abul Fuzail bin Ayaz (ra)
Khawaja Ibrahim bin Adhem of Balkh (ra)
Khawaja Sadeeduddin (ra)
Khawaja Aminuddin Hubera (ra)
Khawaja Mumshad Al Denoori (ra)
Khawaja Mumshad named one of his disciples as 'Chishti' because of the place he came
from in Afghanistan. After that all the saints in the order became known as Chishti.
They are:
Khawaja Abu Ishaq Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Ahmed Abdul Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Mohammed Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Yusuf Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Modood Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Hajji Sharif Zindani (ra)
Khawaja Uthman Harooni (ra) the beloved guide of Khawaja Muinuddin Hassan Chishti
(ra).
Khawaja Saheb travelled for over twenty years often in the company of his spiritual
guide. He met many holy men – here is his description of one.
‘In Bukhara, ‘ he says, ‘ I met a blind Dervish, much absorbed in contemplation. I
enquired when he became blind. He replied ‘When I reached the highest pinnacle of
glory and I could see only the Majestic Glory of Almighty God...it so happened that
one day I looked upon something other than God. A voice was heard ‘O claimant Thou
claim to see only Us but thou see objects and things other than us’ . ...I felt ashamed
and prayed.. that the eye that looked upon other than the Friend may lose its sight. I
had not yet finished my prayer when I lost sight in both eyes.*’
He also visited the graves of many great saints and got blessings from them. We may
mention Hz Abu Said bin Abil Khair in Afghanistan and Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh in
Lahore.
In Baghdad he was initiated a second time by his spiritual guide and he has described
this himself.
I, Moinuddin Hasan of Sanjar - well wisher of the all the faithful, had the honour of
meeting Hazrat Khawaja Uthman Harooni in the mosque of Khawaja Junaid of
Baghdad (ra). His holiness was surrounded by inspired Dervishes…….(he).. asked me
to offer two genuflexions…Then he asked me to sit with my face towards Kaaba – he
asked me to recite sura Baqara – which I did.
Further he commanded me to recite benedictions on the holy Prophet Muhammed
(pbhu). I obeyed.
Khawaja Uthman Harooni stood up and holding my hand lifted his face towards the
sky and said --‘Come let me cause thee to reach Allah.’
After placing the four edged cap and bestowing a robe on Khawaja Saheb they sat
down. There followed a day and night of asceticism.
Khawaja Saheb continues.
‘The next day, when I attended upon him he asked me to sit down and recite Sura
Ikhlas 4000 times. I did.
He asked me to look towards the sky. I did.
He asked me ‘How far do you see’. I replied ‘up to the Great Throne’. Next he asked
me to look towards the ground. I did.
He asked me, ‘How far do you see?’ ‘I replied – to the furthest reaches of the earth’ .
Next he asked me to recite Sura Ikhlas again a thousand times. I did.
He asked me to look towards the sky again. I did.
He asked me ‘How far do you see now? I replied, ‘Up to the Great Hidden’.
Next he asked me to close my eyes. I did. He asked me to open my eyes. I did.
Next, showing me two fingers, he asked me what I saw there. I replied 18000 worlds.’
After that Khawaja Saheb was instructed to look under a certain brick where he found
some dinars. He was instructed to distribute them amongst the poor.
Later the following account is given of events in Mecca.
Khawaja Saheb says: ‘After going round the Kaaba Khawaja Uthman Harooni took my
hand and entrusted me to Allah. He prayed in Kaaba for my humble self. A voice was
heard -‘We have accepted Moinuddin’.
On reaching Medina they presented themselves at the court of the holy Prophet
(pbuh). Khawaja Saheb was instructed to offer his reverential salaams. A voice came
out saying ‘Peace be on you also, O head of the Pious of the Earth and the Sea.’ On
hearing this Khawaja Uthman said - ‘Now, indeed, you have reached perfection’.
For ten further years Khawaja Saheb accompanied his guide on his travels carrying on
his head his bedding and water pot.
After serving Khawaja Uthman Harooni for altogether 22 years Khawaja Saheb parted
from him in Baghdad, having received the holy relics of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
that were passed down through the Chishti order.
Khawaja Saheb travelled on, staying in graveyards. He met Qutub Saheb (ra) and
accepted him as his disciple. They went on Hajj.
One day when he was absorbed in prayer in Kaaba he heard a voice saying -
‘ O Moinuddin! We are greatly pleased with thee. Thou art given salvation. Ask for
anything thou may like so that We may grant it to thee.’
Khawaja Saheb prayed for salvation for his followers and disciples and the reply came:
‘O Moinuddin thou art our accepted one. I will give salvation to thy followers and
disciples, and also to those who may enter thy fold till the Day of Resurrection.’
After reaching Medina he received from the holy Prophet (pbuh) a mandate to the effect
that:
‘O Moinuddin! Thou art a helper of my religion. I entrust to thee the country of
Hindusthan. There prevails darkness. Proceed on to Ajmer and spread there the gospel of
Truth’.
Khawaja Saheb became drowsy and was blessed with seeing in vision, the city of Ajmer.
He was bidden farewell and given the gift of a pomegranate from heaven.
There are many stories related of his journey to Ajmer. During that journey he received
instructions from the holy Prophet after seeing him in dream for 40 nights continuously.
He was told –
O Muinuddin, Qutubuddin is a friend of God – make him thy Caliph and confer on him the
robe.’
After those forty nights Khawaja Saheb said,
‘Tonight I saw in dream the Al-mighty making a similar order to the effect that I
should confer on Qutubuddin the robe of the Dervishes and make him Caliph.
Qutub Saheb was only 17 years old.
Eventually with 40 followers he reached Ajmer. The King’s followers refused to allow
him to stay at a place he had chosen because the camels used to sit there. Khawaja Saheb
demonstrated his spiritual powers giving the command that if the camels sat there then
they should remain seated. Accordingly the camels refused all the efforts of their drivers
to make them move. Only after the camel drivers had apologised profusely to Khawaja
Saheb did he say –‘ very well let them move’ and so it actually happened.
There were many other miracles – on one occasion he was informed that a man had been
hanged for a crime he did not commit. Khawaja Saheb reflected a while then went to the
place where the man’s body was on the gallows. He pointed with his stick and said ‘if
you are innocent come down from there’ – the man returned to life.
Later the Raja asked Khawaja Saheb to leave Ajmer – he complied but warned he would
return shortly. It so happened that Shahabuddin Ghori was making preparation for war
and subsequently the Raja was forced to leave Ajmer.
Later Khawaja Saheb went on further travels returning a third time to Ajmer via Delhi
where he and Qutub Saheb and conferred blessings on Hz Baba Farid. Here he also met
again Khawaja Uthman Harooni and made a disciple of the ruler of Delhi, Sultan
Iltutmish.
Having settled in Ajmer the time came, as it comes to all, to lay down the burdens of his
physical body – he made Qutub Saheb his successor. On the 6th Rajab he retired to his
room – all night mystical sounds were heard from therein but no could enter. When he did
not appear for morning prayers the people entered and found him dead and on his
forehead was written
Haza Habeebullahi mata fii Hubullahi.
He was a beloved of God and died in the love of God.
This brings us to today’s celebration; the remembrance of the day of union when the soul
returns to the Beloved – a wedding, not of man to woman, but of loving soul to Beloved
Allah. It is the overflowing of that union, of pure spiritual love, Ishq, that draws so many
on pilgrimages to the Urs in Ajmer, to be benefitted.
Like a great Royal wedding the people come from all corners of the land: from many
lands. Imagine if you will the main street leading to the Bulland Dvarza (the huge main
gate) – a half million people making their way to the shrine. There are many motives but
one goal. All kinds of people can be seen in the throng. Tall and short, fat and thin, black,
yellow, brown, pink. People from India and from Pakistan and Bangladesh, Arabs,
Israeli’s, Americans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Japanese, Turks, Afghanis, Europeans,
Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Shia and Sunni, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and so on. They are
from many backgrounds and professions; children and babes in arms, students and
professors, carpenters and millionaires, plumbers, electricians, clerks, computer
engineers, housewives, doctors, nurses, learned lawyers and illiterate farmers, peons and
industrialists, film stars and beggars, the handicapped and healthy, train drivers, taxi
drivers, camel drivers, waiters, salesmen and Muftis, priests and nuns, police men and
women and artists and so on and on and on ...
Some seek enlightenment, some religion, some a cure for ill health or a child or success
in exams, some receive some specific thing that they seek, but all are blessed in some
way – whether they realise it or not.
Khawaja Saheb says: ‘The enlightened person, like the sun, showers his rays of light
on the entire world. The whole world is lit bright by his light.’
Bathed in the overflow of love between the lover and the Beloved, entranced by the
beautiful music and captivated by the atmosphere of fellow feeling, they take back home
with them more than a precious memory – a realisation that life can be so much more
when Divine Love colours all.
My own Shaikh Dr Zahurul Hasan Sharib wrote:
‘Take Love as best – and leave the rest.’
Khawaja Saheb was given many titles for example:
Ata-i-Rasul (Gift of the Prophet)
Khawaja i Ajmer
Khawaja i Bazurg
Hindul Wali
Gharib Nawaz
Sultan –ul-Hind.
The true Saints are a blessing of God to mankind – 'Fabi ayyi aalaaa-i Rabbikamaa
takazziban (And which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?) (sura Rehman)
O Khawaja Saheb we from Southampton, England, live in a country of material wealth
but lacking in spiritual grace. The pursuit of pleasure and selfishness is the creed
followed here: therefore like beggars we ask thee to bestow on us from the blessings of
Allah and from the overflowing love of God, that which gives life true meaning; that
gives true prosperity; true joy, and real harmony. That which unites rather than divides;
that which inspires to good conduct. The spirit of service to our fellow man. for the sake
of and to the Glory of Al-might Allah. Amin.
Ya Allah, Ya Rasulallah, Ya Ali Murtaza, Ya Khawaja Khawajagan, Ya Khawaja
Gharib Nawaz.
Amin.
Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri Southampton June 2011
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Salaam Aleikum
Merhaba
Auwzubillahi minach Chaitan nir Rajim
To give praise to God and express our gratitude for His Prophet, and to pay our respect
and make our Salaam to one of the Friends of God - Humari niyat aisi hai (is our
intention).
It is said, by the wise that before time and space were brought into existence Allah, the
Uncreated Creator, desired to Manifest Himself. He first manifested His undifferentiated
Light without boundaries. That Absolute unimaginable and unfathomable Light brought
forth the Nur i Muhammed by its own powers: then from the Light of holy Prophet
Muhammed Allah created the souls of the perfect men. The first of these souls was our
father, the father of all mankind – the perfect man – Hazrat Adam. He was made of clay
but the Divine Essence breathed of Himself into that clay so that even the angels were
required to prostrate before him and thus recognise the Divine Breath that pervaded the
clay - which is our material existence.
The holy Qur’an says that man was created in the best of moulds. ‘Laqad khalaqnal-
‘insaana fiii ahsani taqwiin’. Then he was made the lowest of the low. Thus all
subsequent men and women inherited both Divine Grace and a lower nature and both are
intertwined - mixed together, leaving us are in a state of conflict. Thus it is hardly
surprising that the world around shows constant conflict – reflecting our own nature.
If we see the world we live in today we see all the evidences we need. Man set against
woman, father against son: mother against daughter; rich against poor: black against
white: family against family; class against class: the strong against the weak; country
against country; culture against culture. But if this is our inheritance, the inheritance of
our clay, so is Divine Mercy, the Rahmat, which was breathed into that clay.
Its nature is Unity.
Shaitan saw the clay but he did not see the Rehman so he disobeyed the command of his
Creator.
It is further said by the wise that Allah looked on his creation for some time with Wrath
and for a longer time with Love and Mercy. Thus His Love and Mercy comes before His
Wrath.
The Mercy and Love of Allah pervades creation in every respect. In nature we see the
mercy of water in cleaning and drinking, but we also see its wrathful nature in drowning
and destroying. We can say the same for fire, and air, and earth. Think about it.
The wise tell us that one of the greatest Mercies of ar-Rehman, is that he sent to mankind
the perfect souls. They were created outside of time and space but Allah caused these
souls to pass though the wombs of selected and blessed mothers. The womb is like a
passage-way from the eternal unseen place inhabited by these souls to the material
world. These perfect souls were enabled by the grace of Allah to overcome the lower
nature of the clay and to deliver a message from Allah directly to mankind. We know
them as the Prophets (may the Mercy of Allah be upon them each and every one).
The message was the same in essence for all of them, a reminder of where we came
from, and to where we will return. Allah says in the holy Qur’an ‘Unto Us you will
return’. The holy book also says there is nothing better before God than remembrance of
Him. In each case however the Prophet or Messenger’s particular message was adapted
to the needs of the time and place into which he was born.
The highest point and the furthest reach of this Message came with the advent of our
beloved Prophet Muhammed (saw) into physical form, and it was given first to a most
divided and fractious tribal society filled with superstition and mutual enmity . With the
holy Prophet (saw), Allah brought to perfection the religion that would enable men and
women to be sure of a good return to Him. Well pleased with Him and He well pleased
with them. Ar-Rehman also gave as a mercy to the Prophets the ability to inspire those
around them, their companions and families and followers, so that when their clay had
returned to clay there would still be those alive who would continue to remember and
remind; even those who were not present at the time of the physical presence of the
Prophets. In his final sermon the holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) says maybe those who
are not present may remember and be benefitted even better than those present.
In Islam there was born the tradition of spirituality known later as Sufism, to keep alive
not just the actual words conveyed by the Prophet (which was the duty of the scholars so
well performed over centuries) but the inner sense of those words understood by direct
intuition.
These inspired souls became the trustees, in this world, of the inner dimension of the
spiritual message of the Prophets and thus of the eternal Essence, Allah. Time and
circumstance changed but they expressed through words, and deeds, and their beautiful
behaviour and by the spiritual Baraka that was with them, to each new generation, a
renewal of the eternal essence of that message. Maulana Muhammed Rumi of Balkh and
Konya tells us of the relationship of the Saints to the Prophets - he says:'Anyone who
understands what I say to mean anything other than that I am the dust in the footprint of the
Holy Prophet (saw) has misunderstood me.'
Thus it is that we reach the object of our gathering today: to pay our respect, make our
Salaam and to express our gratitude to one of the greatest of these. The holy book talks of
those 'men of faith whose love for Allah is overflowing'.
Such a one was born to certain Khawaja Ghyasuddin and Bibi Mah Nur over 600 years
after the time of Rasul Allah on this earth. He was named as Muinuddin Hasan and he
was born in Asfahan but brought up in Sanjar.
Even as a child he exhibited some remarkable traits indicating his spiritual status, but it
was at the age of 15 after the death of his much respected father that his spiritual
awakening occurred, of which we heard earlier. He sold his property and distributed the
proceeds to the poor. In Khorosan, Samarqand and Bukhara he learned the basics of
religious knowledge to better understand the deeper meanings of the Holy Quran, Hadiths
and religious law. Bur he sought not only the shariat but the inner dimension of the holy
law which are called Tariqat and the even more subtle Haqiqat.
Later he travelled to Baghdad where he met for the first time the illustrious saint Hazrat
Abdul Qadir al-Jillani (ra).
Ghous Pak made a prediction about Khawaja Saheb. The author of ‘The life and
teachings of Khawaja Muinuddin Chishti,’ Dr Zahurul Hasan Sharib, tells us that he said
– ‘This young man will be a great figure of his time – the source of inspiration and
centre of devotion .. for myriads of people.’
It is said the two are related both on the mother’s and the father’s side.
Later in his travels he reached Haroon where he became initiated into the Chishti
Shilshilla by Khawaja Uthman Harooni.
The shilshilla of the Chishti order until that time were the holy men who were recipients
of a grace ( Baraka ) that was passed spiritually by the Holy Prophet (saw) to his son in
law, Hazrat Ali Murtaza (ra). This Baraka was passed on to Khawaja Hassan Basri (ra)
and from him to his disciple Khawaja Abdul Wahid bin Said (ra). The succession
continued through the following saints:
Khawaja Abul Fuzail bin Ayaz (ra)
Khawaja Ibrahim bin Adhem of Balkh (ra)
Khawaja Sadeeduddin (ra)
Khawaja Aminuddin Hubera (ra)
Khawaja Mumshad Al Denoori (ra)
Khawaja Mumshad named one of his disciples as 'Chishti' because of the place he came
from in Afghanistan. After that all the saints in the order became known as Chishti.
They are:
Khawaja Abu Ishaq Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Ahmed Abdul Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Mohammed Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Abu Yusuf Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Modood Chishti (ra)
Khawaja Hajji Sharif Zindani (ra)
Khawaja Uthman Harooni (ra) the beloved guide of Khawaja Muinuddin Hassan Chishti
(ra).
Khawaja Saheb travelled for over twenty years often in the company of his spiritual
guide. He met many holy men – here is his description of one.
‘In Bukhara, ‘ he says, ‘ I met a blind Dervish, much absorbed in contemplation. I
enquired when he became blind. He replied ‘When I reached the highest pinnacle of
glory and I could see only the Majestic Glory of Almighty God...it so happened that
one day I looked upon something other than God. A voice was heard ‘O claimant Thou
claim to see only Us but thou see objects and things other than us’ . ...I felt ashamed
and prayed.. that the eye that looked upon other than the Friend may lose its sight. I
had not yet finished my prayer when I lost sight in both eyes.*’
He also visited the graves of many great saints and got blessings from them. We may
mention Hz Abu Said bin Abil Khair in Afghanistan and Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh in
Lahore.
In Baghdad he was initiated a second time by his spiritual guide and he has described
this himself.
I, Moinuddin Hasan of Sanjar - well wisher of the all the faithful, had the honour of
meeting Hazrat Khawaja Uthman Harooni in the mosque of Khawaja Junaid of
Baghdad (ra). His holiness was surrounded by inspired Dervishes…….(he).. asked me
to offer two genuflexions…Then he asked me to sit with my face towards Kaaba – he
asked me to recite sura Baqara – which I did.
Further he commanded me to recite benedictions on the holy Prophet Muhammed
(pbhu). I obeyed.
Khawaja Uthman Harooni stood up and holding my hand lifted his face towards the
sky and said --‘Come let me cause thee to reach Allah.’
After placing the four edged cap and bestowing a robe on Khawaja Saheb they sat
down. There followed a day and night of asceticism.
Khawaja Saheb continues.
‘The next day, when I attended upon him he asked me to sit down and recite Sura
Ikhlas 4000 times. I did.
He asked me to look towards the sky. I did.
He asked me ‘How far do you see’. I replied ‘up to the Great Throne’. Next he asked
me to look towards the ground. I did.
He asked me, ‘How far do you see?’ ‘I replied – to the furthest reaches of the earth’ .
Next he asked me to recite Sura Ikhlas again a thousand times. I did.
He asked me to look towards the sky again. I did.
He asked me ‘How far do you see now? I replied, ‘Up to the Great Hidden’.
Next he asked me to close my eyes. I did. He asked me to open my eyes. I did.
Next, showing me two fingers, he asked me what I saw there. I replied 18000 worlds.’
After that Khawaja Saheb was instructed to look under a certain brick where he found
some dinars. He was instructed to distribute them amongst the poor.
Later the following account is given of events in Mecca.
Khawaja Saheb says: ‘After going round the Kaaba Khawaja Uthman Harooni took my
hand and entrusted me to Allah. He prayed in Kaaba for my humble self. A voice was
heard -‘We have accepted Moinuddin’.
On reaching Medina they presented themselves at the court of the holy Prophet
(pbuh). Khawaja Saheb was instructed to offer his reverential salaams. A voice came
out saying ‘Peace be on you also, O head of the Pious of the Earth and the Sea.’ On
hearing this Khawaja Uthman said - ‘Now, indeed, you have reached perfection’.
For ten further years Khawaja Saheb accompanied his guide on his travels carrying on
his head his bedding and water pot.
After serving Khawaja Uthman Harooni for altogether 22 years Khawaja Saheb parted
from him in Baghdad, having received the holy relics of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh)
that were passed down through the Chishti order.
Khawaja Saheb travelled on, staying in graveyards. He met Qutub Saheb (ra) and
accepted him as his disciple. They went on Hajj.
One day when he was absorbed in prayer in Kaaba he heard a voice saying -
‘ O Moinuddin! We are greatly pleased with thee. Thou art given salvation. Ask for
anything thou may like so that We may grant it to thee.’
Khawaja Saheb prayed for salvation for his followers and disciples and the reply came:
‘O Moinuddin thou art our accepted one. I will give salvation to thy followers and
disciples, and also to those who may enter thy fold till the Day of Resurrection.’
After reaching Medina he received from the holy Prophet (pbuh) a mandate to the effect
that:
‘O Moinuddin! Thou art a helper of my religion. I entrust to thee the country of
Hindusthan. There prevails darkness. Proceed on to Ajmer and spread there the gospel of
Truth’.
Khawaja Saheb became drowsy and was blessed with seeing in vision, the city of Ajmer.
He was bidden farewell and given the gift of a pomegranate from heaven.
There are many stories related of his journey to Ajmer. During that journey he received
instructions from the holy Prophet after seeing him in dream for 40 nights continuously.
He was told –
O Muinuddin, Qutubuddin is a friend of God – make him thy Caliph and confer on him the
robe.’
After those forty nights Khawaja Saheb said,
‘Tonight I saw in dream the Al-mighty making a similar order to the effect that I
should confer on Qutubuddin the robe of the Dervishes and make him Caliph.
Qutub Saheb was only 17 years old.
Eventually with 40 followers he reached Ajmer. The King’s followers refused to allow
him to stay at a place he had chosen because the camels used to sit there. Khawaja Saheb
demonstrated his spiritual powers giving the command that if the camels sat there then
they should remain seated. Accordingly the camels refused all the efforts of their drivers
to make them move. Only after the camel drivers had apologised profusely to Khawaja
Saheb did he say –‘ very well let them move’ and so it actually happened.
There were many other miracles – on one occasion he was informed that a man had been
hanged for a crime he did not commit. Khawaja Saheb reflected a while then went to the
place where the man’s body was on the gallows. He pointed with his stick and said ‘if
you are innocent come down from there’ – the man returned to life.
Later the Raja asked Khawaja Saheb to leave Ajmer – he complied but warned he would
return shortly. It so happened that Shahabuddin Ghori was making preparation for war
and subsequently the Raja was forced to leave Ajmer.
Later Khawaja Saheb went on further travels returning a third time to Ajmer via Delhi
where he and Qutub Saheb and conferred blessings on Hz Baba Farid. Here he also met
again Khawaja Uthman Harooni and made a disciple of the ruler of Delhi, Sultan
Iltutmish.
Having settled in Ajmer the time came, as it comes to all, to lay down the burdens of his
physical body – he made Qutub Saheb his successor. On the 6th Rajab he retired to his
room – all night mystical sounds were heard from therein but no could enter. When he did
not appear for morning prayers the people entered and found him dead and on his
forehead was written
Haza Habeebullahi mata fii Hubullahi.
He was a beloved of God and died in the love of God.
This brings us to today’s celebration; the remembrance of the day of union when the soul
returns to the Beloved – a wedding, not of man to woman, but of loving soul to Beloved
Allah. It is the overflowing of that union, of pure spiritual love, Ishq, that draws so many
on pilgrimages to the Urs in Ajmer, to be benefitted.
Like a great Royal wedding the people come from all corners of the land: from many
lands. Imagine if you will the main street leading to the Bulland Dvarza (the huge main
gate) – a half million people making their way to the shrine. There are many motives but
one goal. All kinds of people can be seen in the throng. Tall and short, fat and thin, black,
yellow, brown, pink. People from India and from Pakistan and Bangladesh, Arabs,
Israeli’s, Americans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Japanese, Turks, Afghanis, Europeans,
Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Shia and Sunni, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and so on. They are
from many backgrounds and professions; children and babes in arms, students and
professors, carpenters and millionaires, plumbers, electricians, clerks, computer
engineers, housewives, doctors, nurses, learned lawyers and illiterate farmers, peons and
industrialists, film stars and beggars, the handicapped and healthy, train drivers, taxi
drivers, camel drivers, waiters, salesmen and Muftis, priests and nuns, police men and
women and artists and so on and on and on ...
Some seek enlightenment, some religion, some a cure for ill health or a child or success
in exams, some receive some specific thing that they seek, but all are blessed in some
way – whether they realise it or not.
Khawaja Saheb says: ‘The enlightened person, like the sun, showers his rays of light
on the entire world. The whole world is lit bright by his light.’
Bathed in the overflow of love between the lover and the Beloved, entranced by the
beautiful music and captivated by the atmosphere of fellow feeling, they take back home
with them more than a precious memory – a realisation that life can be so much more
when Divine Love colours all.
My own Shaikh Dr Zahurul Hasan Sharib wrote:
‘Take Love as best – and leave the rest.’
Khawaja Saheb was given many titles for example:
Ata-i-Rasul (Gift of the Prophet)
Khawaja i Ajmer
Khawaja i Bazurg
Hindul Wali
Gharib Nawaz
Sultan –ul-Hind.
The true Saints are a blessing of God to mankind – 'Fabi ayyi aalaaa-i Rabbikamaa
takazziban (And which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?) (sura Rehman)
O Khawaja Saheb we from Southampton, England, live in a country of material wealth
but lacking in spiritual grace. The pursuit of pleasure and selfishness is the creed
followed here: therefore like beggars we ask thee to bestow on us from the blessings of
Allah and from the overflowing love of God, that which gives life true meaning; that
gives true prosperity; true joy, and real harmony. That which unites rather than divides;
that which inspires to good conduct. The spirit of service to our fellow man. for the sake
of and to the Glory of Al-might Allah. Amin.
Ya Allah, Ya Rasulallah, Ya Ali Murtaza, Ya Khawaja Khawajagan, Ya Khawaja
Gharib Nawaz.
Amin.
Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri Southampton June 2011
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