Ajmer Sharif: The Sufi Spirit

The 21st of July (6th Rajab hijri) this year marked the 795th (hijri) Urs or death anniversary of the greatest mystic saint of the Indian sub-continent, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Devotees and pilgrims from all over the world converge at the Dargah sharif in Ajmer to pay their respect.Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti is one of the most outstanding figures in the annals of Islamic mysticism. He was born in Sejistan, around 533 H / 1138 A.D. to Khwaja Ghayasuddin and Syeda Bibi Ummalwara (alias Bibi Mahe-Noor) who were the descendents of Hazrat Ali through his sons Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hazrat Imam Hussian. As a young child Khwaja Sahab was drawn to mystics and began visiting seminaries in Samarkand and Bukhara which were then important centres of Islamic learning. On the way to Iraq at Harvan, he met Khwaja Uthman e Harooni and joined the circle of his disciples.

The Chishtia Sufi order derives its name from a Chist-e-sharif, a Ajmer Sharifvillage near Herat in Afgahnistan where the founder of the order Hazrat Abu Ishq Shami of Syria had settled.

Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz brought the Chishti Sufi order in to India at the close of the 11th century A.D, and established its center in Ajmer Sharif from where it spread all over the Indian sub-continent. Khwaja Saheb brought the message of universal Love ,Peace and Brotherhood. He chose the way of non-compulsion in the true spirit of the Holy Quran, which says –

“Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error ; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks .And Allah hearth and Knoweth all things.�? (Quran 2:256)

Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is a shining luminary from the family of Holy Prophet Muhammed .The light of his personality has dispelled darkness, and has illuminated thousands of hearts throughout the world. He is not only respected, esteemed, honored, implored, but in fact is the focus of attention, and a center of hope to myriads of people, belonging as they do to different castes, creed, religions and nationalities .

In Khwaja’s presence commoners and the kings stood in line to receive his blessings. Shahbuddin Gohri and Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish served as his humble attendants in his lifetime. The Moguls emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan presented themselves in Khwaja Saheb’s Court. Sufi Princess Jahan-Ara, cleansed and swept the blessed tomb with her eyelids. Saints would come here and dedicate their lives in his service and devotion . Today the dargah at Ajmer continues to draw people irrespective of caste and creed and nobody goes back deprived of blessings.

The spiritual descendants of Gharib Nawaz are to be found in the Faridi’s, the Nizami’s the Sabiri’s and other Sufi orders which owe existence to the patron Sufi and remain the torch-bearers of his message of universal love. Chishti sufism is both an experience and a memory. It is the experience of remembering God so intensely that the heart burnt, the soul is destroyed. It is also the memory of those who remembered God, those who were devoted to discipline and prayer but above all, to remember, whether they recited the Divine name (Zikr) or evoked His presence through music (Sama).

“The heart of a lover ( the true devotee of God ) constantly burns with the fire of Love so much so that whatever ( passion ) intrudes upon its sanctity is burnt to ashes�? – Khwaja Gharib Nawaz.

Divine Love was expressed in the verse Shyakh Baba Fariduddin Ganj e Shakar recited when he first met with his chief disciple and successor, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Awliya.

“Ay atishi i firaqi at dili ha kabab karda

Saylabi i Ishtiyaqi at jani ha kharab karda�?

Ah, the fire of absence from you has burnt many a heart

And the flood of yearning for you has destroyed many a soul !

Chishti principles of love towards all is seen among the non-muslim south Asians who appreciate and also appropriate Chishti spiritual experience. Hazrat Baba Farid is so highly respected by Sikhs that they have incorporated his Punjabi verses for their holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. Similarly, Hindus flock in great numbers to the blessed Shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at his annual Urs festival .

The Chishti’s were spiritual adepts with a flexible creative mission. Initially the Chishti mission was directed to South Asia but has now become a diverse global phenomenon upon which many feel free to draw, whether within the framework of traditional South Asian Islam or beyond that framework. Chishti ethos will continue to resonate, whoever sings, whoever listens .

Besides being a great mystic, Gharib Nawaz was an erudite scholar and poet. He left a collection of his poems in Persian. I leave the readers with a translation of a very beautiful verse which I often hear while walking through the blessed lane’s of Ajmer sharif……

“The clouds of mercy have spread out ecstatically

For spring has arrived in the garden of Chisht .

Friends, get a ticket to Ajmer

For Khwajah’s festival has arrived .

The soul acquires peace in Ajmer

Life smiles in Ajmer ……

A treasure of mercies lies in Ajmer .

Khwaja’s tale took place in Ajmer …..

Why do you hesitate ?

Pay heed to what I say

Once this opportunity slips away it will not return

Friends ,get a ticket to Ajmer .�?

Syed Salman Chishty belongs to a family of caretakers of Ajmer Sharif and calls himself a humble Khadim (servant) of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA). This article earlier appeared in Hindustan Times.