|
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 of ALLAH (saints).
It was their humanistic position,
and piety which won over the hearts of lacs
of people. They made a direct contact with
the masses served and loved them, lived
with them in the realisation of Eternal
Truth. The proof of this is more than evident
from the history of growth of Islam in India.
Although Islam had penetrated in this subcontinent
in the first century of Hijra, but the noble
task of inspiring the people to its tenets
and values in India was accomplished by
Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty (R.A.) popularly
known as Khwaja Saheb and Khwaja Gharib
Nawaz. He did it all through his great moral
power, glorious and appealing character,
with love and dedication to mankind, without
any worldly resources of wealth, power,
force and material means.
Khwaja Saheb was a scholar a great repute.
He interpreted the true Islamic message
of love for mankind and through that, the
love for the Almighty creator. He preached
the Quranic philosophy of the unity of religion
and worked out its potentialities for the
whole 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.
|
|
|
The
life and mission of Khwaja Saheb have been of
an exceptional character as compared with any
other saint in India. His simple teaching penetrated
even stony heart, his affectionate look silenced
the fiercest of his enemies. His matchless piety
and blessings knew no distinction and his "spiritual
power", amazed and did defied his bitterest adversaries
who came to harm him but were inspire to embrace
Islam and become his devotees for rest of the
life. He brought the message of universal love
and peace. He chose the way of non-compulsion
in the true spirit of holy Quran he says : "Let
there be no compulsion in religion, will thou
compel men to become believers? No soul can believe
but by the persuasion of Allah". Khwaja Moinuddin
Chishty (R.A.) followed this dictum strictly throughout
his mission. It is because of this reason that
he is popularly known as ' Gharib Nawaz'
which means the one who shows kindness to the
poor. This was later reinforced by succeeding
Chishtia Sufis, who became religious pioneers
in national integration in the country. They fulfilled
the objective of bringing together various castes,
communities and races, elevating the humanity
from the morass of materialistic concerns, which
is the bane of mankind even today.
The teachings of Khwaja Sahib have been recorded
in several books on mysticism.
The essence of his teaching is :
Closest to Allah is one who possesses the
following three qualities :
- Magnanimity
of the river.
- Kindness
of the sun.
- Humility
of the Earth.
Noblest
of the characters is possessed by the one who
is :
- Bountiful
in poverty.
- Content
and hunger.
- Cheerful
and grief.
- Friendly
in hostility.
Surest
way to keep off the internal punishment in the
hell is :
- To
feed the hungry.
- To
redress the aggrieved.
- To
help the distressed.
SACRED
SAYING
- Without
performing "Namaz", none can approach 'Allah'
(God), because 'Namaz' is the climax (Mairaj)
in the process such approach for pious.
- If
all the rules of Namaz were not followed
properly, it is struck back on the face of him
who offers such a Namaz.
- The
heart of a lover (True lover of Allah) constantly
burns with the fire of love so much so that
what ever intrudes upon its sanctity is reduced
to ashes.
- A
sin committed does not harm an individual so
much as the looking down upon one's own fellow
beings.
- Of
all the worship that pleases Almighty Allah,
the best is the grant of relief to the humble
and the oppressed.
- Performance
of charity is the key of attaining the state
of generosity.
- One
who does not perform devotion to Allah is engaged
in the career of attaining a sinful earning.
- There
are four fundamental virtues of the individual
self :
Firstly refraining from begging in the state
of penury.
Secondly, showing the attitude of the well-fed
when feeling hungry.
Thirdly, maintaining cheerfulness in the time
of sorrow,
Fourthly, befriending in the enemy.
- That
man is true devotee of Almighty Allah, who resigns
with pleasure to the misfortune that comes from
his beloved (Almighty Allah).
- The
path of love of God is such a path that who
so ever steps into it, loses himself.
- For
a follower of the path of truth it is worse
than a sin to disdain or look down upon any
one.
- Those
who are true Lovers of God give away both of
the worlds for the sake of their Beloved and
even then feel that they have done nothing worthy.
- Perfection
in faith is evident by three things :
(1) Fear (2) Hope (3) Love
|
