Seerat-e-Paak - Khwaja Garib Nawaz

Hazrat Khwaja shaib was an unusual person right from his childhood. Even as a chid he was generous and kind. Once he gave his share of mother’s milk to a hungry child. At the age of 4, he used to invite poor children and feed them. When he was a young boy he noticed on the occasion of Eid that a boy had no new clothes were torn and dirty. Hazrat khwaja shaib took him home and gave his own new clothes to the poor boy and also fed him.

During his adolescence his father passed away and Hazrat Khwaja sahib looked after his orchard and mill. But he always fed the poor and the passerby. To gain knowledge and enlightenment he decided to travel to Bagdad. He sold off his mill and orchard and distributed the proceeds among the poor and needy and proceeded in search of true knowledge.

Hazrat Khwaja sahib respected his elders and helped the widows and old women. He was always studying and helping others and feeding the poor. He always saluted first. His dress was simple and clean, no doubt his cloak had numerous patches. He used to mend his own clothes. Hazrat Khwaja sahib was an humble, sober and pious man. He spent most of his time in prayers & meditation. He used to recite the whole Qur’aan once during the day and once in the night. Often he used to say his morning prayers with the adlution (wuzu) of the late night prayers. He also fasted very often and ate very little at other times. He usually ate dry crusts of bread soaked in water or a cup of barley soup (delia)

Hazrat Khwaja sahib had great love for Allah and tried his best to please him. He also loved Allah’s Messenger (Blessings oh Allah and peace be on him) and followed the traditions i.e. hadis and sunnah implicitly. He advised his disciple and followers to do the same. It is said that he visited Makka and Madina every night with the help of his spiritual powers. During hajj season he was seen simultaneously in Makka and Ajmer. There were many eyewitnesses to his presence.

Hazrat Khwaja Sahib, being a great sufi saint, was endowed with supernatural powers by the Grace of Allah and by mediation (wesila) of Allah’s Messenger (Blessings of Allah and peace be on him). During his lifetime in the Middle East, Arabia and India he performed about 5000 miracles. The greatest miracle (karamat) being the selfless and dedicated service to humanity. His personality made people flock around him and his preachings made them embrace Islam. His missionary work in Ajmer was a success. Ignorance, superstition, oidilatory, corruption caste system was done away with. There was equality, social and spiritual advancement leading to reformation and liberation.

Hazarat Khwaja Sahib had read love and respect for his spiritual teacher (Murshad), Hazrat Usman-e-Harooni (Allah's Mercy be on him). He served him whole-heartedly for about twenty years and gained much knowledge. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib also loved his disciples and followers and treated them kindly. He prayed in the Ka’aba at Makka for the continuance and welfare of the Chistiyas and also for the good of everyone.

Hazarat Khwaja Sahib was famous for his generosity, magnanimity. Although he ate little, his kitchen was never cold. In his monastary (Khankah) there was a huge kitchen (langarkhana) and no poor and needy left hungry. His charitable nature, his being ever mindful to the needs of the destitutes and poor and needy earned him the title of Khwaja Garibnawaz (the one who endears the poor). Hazrat Khwaja Sahib used to pray to Allah lift a little corner to his prayer-mat and ask the cook to take for the daily expenses only the required amount.

Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak and Sultan Altamash had great regard and respect for Hazarat Khwaja Sahib. During their respective reigns, they used to send many gifts but Hazarat Khwaja Sahib used used to distribute them among the poor and needy. He never kept anything for himself. Even other rich Hindus and Muslim used to present him with gifts and money, but as usual he used to give them away to the poor and needy.

Hazarat Khwaja Sahib was also very kind and forgiving person. Once a man came to him with the intention to murder him but said a lie that he had come to pray. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib became aware of his murderous intention but he treated him well. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib then requested him to accomplish what was in his mind. This man was ashamed and begged for forgiveness and Hazarat Khwaja Sahib pardoned him. He embraced Islam and became a follower of Hazarat Khwaja Sahib. One day an old woman came to Hazarat Khwaja Sahib and complained that the Governor had falsely accused her son and had murdered him. She begged for justice and requested Hazarat Khwaja Sahib to do something. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib accompanied by his devotees and the old woman reached the site where lay the dead body and the head together properly and prayed to Allah. He prayed that may Allah restore the life of the dead man as he was innocent. The young man got up hale and hearty by the Grace of Allah. The old woman and her son thanked Allah and Hazarat Khwaja Sahib for this miraculous favour.

Once Hazarat Khwaja Sahib was passing through a bazar with his disciple Sheikh Ali. Suddenly Ali was caught by his creditor who demanded immediate laon payment. Ali said that he would surely pay him but he would not listen. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib then promised that Ali’s dues would definitely be paid. But the creditor was adamant and this annoyed Hazarat Khwaja Sahib. He placed his blanket on the ground and by the Grace of Allah it was covered with gold and silver coins. He asked the creditor to take only his legitimate dues. But the greedy man helped himself to much more than necessary and instantly the money disappeared. But his hands were burnt and paralysed and he craved for mercy and begged forgiveness. Hazarat Khwaja Sahib forgave the man as usual and prayed to Allah to restore his hands to normal. The creditor went away, a much humble and honest man.