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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.
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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
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