The very First Creation of Allah
was the light of Sayyidina Muhammad (SAW). The soul of the Holy Prophet
(SAW) is the essence of all being. There is no disputing that he is the
noblest of mankind, the master of the children of Adam (AS), the person with
the highest position in the Vision of Allah, the highest in rank, and the
nearest to Him. He was sent as a mercy to all creation. He is the final, and
the leader, of all the Prophets. Allah and His Angels continually send
salutations upon him. Love for him, and belief in him, is a condition of
Imaan. He was born in Holy City of Makkah Mukarramah on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal.
The first verses of the Holy Qur'an were revealed to him at the age of 40.
His migration to Medina Munawarrah marks the beginning of the Islamic
calendar. He departed from this physical world at the age of 63 on the 12th
of Rabi al-Awwal, and lies buried in the Holy City of Medina Munawwarah
beneath the legendary Green Dome.
Hazrat Ali ibn Abu Talib R.A.
He is the cousin and son in law
of the Holy Prophet (SAW). He was born inside the Kaaba. Rasulallah (SAW)
said about him, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is the gate". He was the
last of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen. Through him flows most of the Sufi Tariqas,
including the Qadiriya and Chishtiya Orders. He is regarded as "Bab al-Wilayah".
He was martyred on the 21st of Ramadaan 40 AH and many are of the opinion
that his mazaar is in Najaf, Iraq.
He was raised in the household
of Zaid ibn Thabit who was a jurist amongst the Sahaba. He was nursed by
Umme Salamah, the wife of the Holy Prophet (SAW). He passed away on the 4th
of Muharram 110 AH and his mazaar is in Basra, Iraq.
He was a student of Imam Abu
Hanifa (RA). He used to fast the entire year round except the two days of
Eid and his nights were spent awake in worship. He passed away on the 27th
Safar 170 AH and his mazaar is in Basra, Iraq.
His early life was spent as the
chief of a group of bandits. He repented sincerely upon hearing the
following verse from the Quran, "Has the time not come for the hearts of
those who believe to be humbled in the remembrance of Allah?" He became the
mureed of Abde Wahid ibne Zayd (RA) and became the greatest mureed of his
murshid. He passed away on the 3rd Rabi-ul-Awwal 187 AH and he is buried in
Jannat ul Mala, Makkah Mukkarama.
He was the King of Balkh
and renounced his kingdom to join the spiritual path. He settled in Makkah
working as a cleaner of the Kaaba for 50 years. He was greatly admired by
Imam Abu Hanifa (RA). He passed away in Damascus on the 26th Jamad-ul-Awwal
AH.
He was directed by Hazrat Khizr
(AS) to become the mureed of Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham (RA). In his childhood
he memorized the seven different types of recitation of the Holy Quran. He
was a man of great humility and always feared Allah. He passed away oft the
14th Shawwal 207 AH. His mazaar is in Basra, Iraq.
He was a renowned scholar of
Basra. He used to accomplish four complete recitations of the Holy Quran
daily. He was divinely inspired to become the mureed of Khwaja Huzaifa
Marashi (RA). He passed away on the 7th of Shawwal 279 AH and he lies buried
in Basra, Iraq.
He was one of the greatest
saints of his era. Due to his generosity he was give the title Karam Ad Din
(The kindness of religion). He became the mureed of Khwaja Aminuddeen
Hubaira (RA) of Basra, and received khilafat immediately. His murshid cast a
single glance upon him causing him to lose consciousness 40 times in
succession. Only after his murshid put some of his saliva to his murids
mouth, did he recover. When he was asked what he had seen, he replied, In 50
years of study I did not receive what I gained from that one glance. He
passed away on the 14th of Muharram 299 AH and lies buried in Damascus,
Syria.
He is the founder of the Chistia
spiritual order. After performing Salami Istikarah for 40 days seeking
Allah's guidance for a murshid he received instructions to go to Hazrat
Mamshad Uloowe Dinwar (RA). Hazrat Mamshad Dinwari asked him his name to
which he replied, My name is Abu Ishaaq Shaami". Hazrat Mamshad then told
him, "From today you will be called Abu Ishaaq Chishti, you should go to
Chisht (a village in Afghanistan) and spread the Spiritual Order and all
those who will join the Order after you until the Day of Qiyamah will be
called Chishti. He passed away on the 14th of Rabi-ul-Akhir 329 AH and lies
buried in Chisht, Afghanistan.
He is a direct descendant of the
Holy Prophet (SAW). After his birth whenever Khwaja Ishaaq Chishti (RA)
visited their house he used to remark that he could smell the fragrance of
Sainthood in their home. At a very young age whatever he foretold came to
pass. After years of spiritual training he became a great sufi of his time.
He passed away on the 1st Jamad-ul-Akhir and lies buried in Chisht,
Afghanistan.
Hazrat Khwaja Abu Ahmed Chishti
(RA) foretold his birth by saying to the mother of Khwaja Abu Muhammad
Chishti, "I have seen the name of your son written on Louh-e-Mahfuz. He will
be among the greatest Awliya of his time. His name shall be Abu Muhammad and
he will be my mureed and khalifah". The power of his vision was such that if
he looked at a non-believer he would accept ¡slam. He passed away on the 4th
of Rabi-ul-Awwal 411 AH and is buried in Chisht.
He is the nephew of Khwaja Abu
Muhammad Chishti (RA). He remained in the company of his murshid for a
period of 40 years before attaining khilaafat. He passed away on the 13th of
Rajab 459 AH and is buried in Chisht.
He is the son of Khwaja Abu
Yusuf Chishti (RA). He memorized the Holy Quran at the age of 7 and
thereafter immersed himself in seclusion and meditation for 20 years. When
he passed away his janaza rose into the air and floated to the grave wherein
it was to be buried. Thousands accepted Islam, witnessing this miracle. He
passed away on the 1st of Rajab 527 AH and is buried in Chisht, Afghanistan.
When he received the cloak of
succession a divine voice said, "O Haji Sharif! We have accepted you and
made you a beloved in our court. A king who was going to be punished in his
grave was forgiven due to the fact that the king once showed respect to
Khwaja Haji Sharif (RA). He passed away on the 3rd of Rajab 612 AH and lies
buried in Syria.
He was born in the village of
Haroon, Hirwani in Khurasan. His greatness can be measured by a simple fact
that he is the spiritual guide of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (RA). He
underwent strenuous spiritual training to attain great spiritual heights. He
passed away on the 5th of Shawwal 617 AH and in buried in Makkah Shareef in
Jannatul Mu'ala.
He is the spiritual axis of the
eastern Islamic world and I regarded as the Sovereign King of the Ïndo-Pak
sub continent. His character was a true picture of Islam. He was instructed
by the Holy Prophet (SAW) to go to India to spread the message of truth. It
is estimated that about 9.5 million people accepted islam at his hand, many
by just looking at his face. He headed the Chishtiya Silsila from Ajmer for
45 years. He passed away on the 6th of Rajab 633 AH and is buried in Ajmer,
India. When he had passed away on his forehead was seen written the
following words "He was a lover of Allah and died in the Love of Allah!" He
is popularly known by his titles of respect, "Sultan al-Hind", the King of
India, and "Ghareeb Nawaz," the Benefactor of the Poor.
He was born in the city of Awesh.
At the age of 17, he became the mureed of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti (RA).
After receiving khilaafat, he headed the Chishtiya order from Delhi. He
passed away in a state of wajd (spiritual ecstasy) whilst listening to sama
on the 14th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. His mazaar is in Delhi, India.
He is a direct descendant of
Hazrat Umar (RA), the 2nd khalifah of Islam. He undertook many strenuous
spiritual strivings which earned him the tide of Zohod-ul-Ambiya (one whose
piety reached the level of the Prophets). During his 37 years as head of the
Chishtiya Silsila, the Spiritual Order spread far and wide. He also received
khilaafat in the Qadiriya Spiritual Order from the son of Hazrat Shaikh
Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) in Baghdad. With regard to him Khwaja Muinuddin
Chishti said to Khwaja Qutbuddin Kaki, "You have captured a Hawk whose
resting place is not lower than below the throne of Allah". He passed away
on the 5th of Muharram 673 AH. He is buried in Paak Partan Shareef,
Pakistan.
He is the founder of the
Nizamiya branch of the Chishti order. Under him the Chishtiya order reached
its zenith. Upon him was conferred the tide of Mehboob-e-Elahi (beloved of
Allah). Just before he passed away the Holy Prophet (SAW) visited him in a
dream and said to him, "I am eager to meet you". He passed away on the 18th
of Rabi-ul-Akhir 725 AH and is buried in Delhi, India.
He is the son of Sheikh Yahya
Mahmud (RA) and a direct descendant of the Holy Prophet (SAW). At the age of
33 he became the murid of Khwaja Nizamuddeen Awliya. He was given the title
of Chiragh (lamp) by Khwaja Nizamuddeen (RA). He passed away on the 18th of
Ramadaan 757 AH. All the relics that were passed down from the Holy Prophet
(SAW) to the Mashaaikh-e-Chisht were buried with Khwaja Nasiruddeen (RA).
His mazaar is in Delhi, India.
Hazrath Khwaja Kamalluddin Alama
RA was the paternal nephew of Hazrath Khwaja Nasiruddeen Chiragh RA and the
grandson of Hazrath Baba Farid Ganje Shakar RA He was a great scholar of his
time and an expert in the field of tafsir, fiqh and ulum al hadith. He
passed away on the 27th Zil Qadh 756 AH and lies buried at the foot side of
the maiaar of Hazrath Khwaja Nasiruddeen Chiragh RA in Delhi.
He is the son of Hazrath Khwaja
Kamalluddin Allama R.A. Much of his early life was spent in seclusion,
meditation and
spiritual strivings. He was blessed with Khilafaat by Hazrath Khwaja
Nasiruddeen Chiragh RA at the age of 4. He became known as Alim al Dahr
(scholar of the continent.) He passed away on the 21st Jamad ul Awwal 817 AH
and his mazaar is in Piran Patán, India.
He is the son of Hazrath Khwaja
Sirajuddeen RA He received Khilafaat from his father as well as Hazrath
Khwaja Gesù Daruz Banda Nawaz ILA. He led the Chishtiya Silsila in Gujrat
for nearly sixty years. He passed away on the 26th Safar and his mazaar is
in Piran Paran, Gujrat, India.
He is the son of Hazrath Khwaja
Ilmuddeen RA. He was known as Nasir ad deen Thani (the second Khwaja
Nasiruddeen) because of his close similarity in appearance and habits to
Hazrath Khwaja Nasiruddeen Chiragh RA He was also known as Shaykh Raja (The
Prince of the Mashaikh). He passed away on the 22nd of Safar 900 AH and he
is buried next to his father in Piran Paran, Gujrat, India.
He is the successor of Hazrath
Khwaja Mahmud Rajan RA His murideen were known for completeing their
spiritual training in a very short time under his instruction due to his
intense tawajjah. He passed away on the 20th Zil Haj and his mazaar is in
Ahmadabaad, Gujarat, India.
He is the nephew and successor
of Hazrath Khwaja Jamaluddin RA. His father Shaykh Ahmed Mian Ju RA was a
great wali of his time. In addition to the Chisti Nizami Silsila Khilafaat,
he also received Khilafaat in other sufi orders. He passed away on the 27th
Zil Qadah 982AH and his mazaar is in Ahmadabaad, Gujarat, India.
He is the son of Hazrath Khwaja
Hasan Muhammad RA He was well known for his kindness and compassion and was
often compared to Hazrath Khwaja Nizamuddeen RA He wrote over 40 works on
Islam. He passed away on the 25th Rabi ul Awwal 1040 AH.
He was a born wali. He became
the murid of Hazrath Khwaja Muhammad Chisti RA and was given Khilafaat at a
very young age, His intense love for the Holy Ptophet Salallahu Alayhi
Wasalam prompted him to migrate to Madina Munawara. He settled in this
blessed city until his demise on the 28th Safat 1122 AH. He was buried in
Janatul Baqi near the grave of Sayiduna Uthman Ghani RA
He hails from a family of
renowned engineers and architects. He is a direct descendant of Sayiduna Abu
Bakr Siddiq RA. Emperor Shah Jahan invited his father to oversee the
construction of the Taj Mahal. Khwaja Kalimullah once said "my family's task
was to build palaces and my task is to build a nation and the hearts of the
people." It was at his hands the Chishtiya Order was revitalised and
restored to its former glory. He passed away on the 24th Rabi ul Awwal 1139
AH and his mazaar is in Shah Jahan Abad, India.
He is the direct descendant of
Sayiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq RA. Hazrath Kalimullah RA sent him to spread Islam
and serve the needs of the community in Southern India. After each of the
five daily salaah, approximately 500 people would gather in the musjid to
make zikr. He passed away on the 12th Zil Qadah 1142 AH and his mazaar is in
Aurangabad, India.
He is the son of Hazrath Khwaja
Nizamuddeen RA. When he was born Hazrath Shah Kalimullah RA named him Fakhr
ad din and blessed him with a piece of his own khirqa. His influence has
been compared to that Hazrath Khwaja Moinuddeen Chisti RA. He passed away on
the 27th Jamad ul Akir 1199 AH and his mazaar is in Delhi.
His orignal name was Babalbut He
was renamed Noor Muhammad by his murshid. He used to say "If a murid does
not follow his murshids teaching punctually and completely then no matter
how much he sits in his company, the murshid will not recognize him." He had
46 Khulafa who were sent to all parts of India and the Middle East. He
passed away on the 3rd Zil Hajj 1204 AH and his mazaar is in Mahar Sharief.
He was a born wali. Hazrath
Khwaja Fakruddeen Chisti RA foretold to his Khalifa Hazrath Khwaja Noor
Muhammad that one of his Khulafah will be an eagle whose nest is no lower
the seventh heaven. He spread the Chishtiya Silsila in India, Iran,
Afghanistan and Khurasan. He advised that salaah should be performed whole
heartedly and with full consciousness and one should always remain in the
company of the pious. He passed away on the 7th Safar l267 AH and his mazaar
is in Tawsa, Pakistan.
He was the son of a respected
alim. Hazrath Khwaja Hafiz Paak RA studied hadith and he was also an
authority on the the Mathnawi of Maulana Rumi RA, He used to spend much of
his time meditating and doing service at the mazaar of Hazrath Qutb Paak RA
When Hazrath Khwaja Hafiz Paak RA refused taking on mureeds, Hazrath Khwaja
Suleiman Tawsawi R.A said to him, "Accept those who come to you, good or
bad, they are all mine and I am behind you." He passed away one year before
his murshid on the 19th Zil Qadah 1266 AH and his mazaar is in Khairabad,
India.
He is a direct descendant of
Sayiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq RA. His father was Nawaab Ahmad Yar Khan who was
also a murid of Hazrath Khwaja Hafiz Paak RA At the age of 16, Hazrath
Khwaja Habib Paak RA renounced freely a multi billion rupee estate for a
life of material poverty, service to the poor and spiritual strivings. His
murshid declared him the Qutb of Kokan. He passed away on the 6th Zil Hajj
1325 AH. His mazaar is in Ahmad Bagh, Hyderabad, India.
He is a direct descendant of
Sayiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq RA He became the murid of Hazrath Ghulam Mustafa
Effendi RA in the Qaderia Silsila in Baghdad Sharief. After a few months of
spiritual exercise in the mazaar of Sayiduna Gouse Azam R.A, Hazrath Ghulam
Muhammad Effendi RA instructed him to return to India and become the murid
of Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah RA in the Chishtiya order. Hazrath Khwaja
Nasiruddeen Chiragh R.A of Delhi appeared to Hazrath Khwaja Habib Paak RA
and instructed him to send Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA to South Africa to spread
Islam. He arrived in South Africa in 1895 and within a period of 12 years,
he established 12 masjids, orphanages, clinics, feeding centers, madressa
from the east coast to the west coast of South Africa. He was also
responsible for locating the grave of Hazrath Shaykh Ahmad Badsha Peer RA in
Durban. He passed away on the 2nd of Rajab and his mazaar is in Riverside,
Durban, South Africa.
He is the eldest son of Hazrat
Soofie Saheb (RA). He was born in 1880 at Ibrahim Patan, India. He is a
mureed and khalifa of Hazrat Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (RA). In 1903, Khwaja
Habib Ali Shah (RA) nominated him to be the "Sajjada Nasheen", successor, of
Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA). He had extreme love for Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti
(RA). His brilliant countenance and simple, practical way of life won the
hearts of the people and he was able to spiritually transform them. He
passed away at the age of 75 on the 12th June 1955 /13th Ramadaan 1375 in
Ajmer, India. His blessed mazaar is situated on the hilltop of TaraGar,
overlooking the mazaar of Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (RA).
He is the second son of Hazrat
Soofie Saheb (RA), and a mureed of Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (RA). At all times,
he was at the side of his rather in South Africa, assisting him with the
managing of affairs of the various khanqahs. Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA)
blessed him with khilafat. Upon the passing away of Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA)
in 1911, Hazrat Shah Ibrahim Soofie (RA) came from India and nominated his
brother, Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie (RA) as the deputy Sajjada Nasheen and
trustee of the mazaars of Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA), Hazrat Badshah Peer
(RA), and all the various institutions that were established by Hazrat
Soofie Saheb (RA). In 1935 he placed his younger brothers at the khanqahs to
assist in continuing the mission of the Khwajegaan. He passed away on the
25'h of the May 1947/2th Rajab 1367. His blessed grave lies in the cemetery
behind the mazaar of Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA) in Durban, South Africa.
He was the eldest son of Hazrat
Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie (RA). His birth was predicted by Hazrat Soofie Saheb
(RA) a few days before Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA) passed away, he called his
son Hazrat Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie (RA) and told him that a son will be born
to him, whom he should name "Goolam Mohammed." He grew up at the khanqah in
Riverside under the guidance of his parents. He also remained in the company
of his illustrious uncles. After the demise of his father in 1947, he took
over the administration of the khanqah in Riverside, as well as the mazaar
of Hazrat Badshah Peer (RA). In 1950, Hazrat Shah Ibrahim Soofie (RA),
during his last visit to South Africa, conferred khilafat in Qadiria, and
Chishtiya Nizamiya Habibiya Silsilas upon his nephew and mureed, Hazrat Shah
Goolam Mohammed Soofie Sani (RA). He was also appointed as Sajjada Nasheen
of the mazaars of Hazrat Soofie Saheb (RA) and Hazrat Badshsah Peer (RA).
When part of the Soofie Darbaar was destroyed in 1968 under the Group Areas
Act of the then White Government, Hazrat Shah Goolam Mohammed Soofie Sani
(RA) remained undaunted and built a mosque, madressa, an orphanage and
residence on trust land in Kenville, enabling the mission of his illustrious
grandfather to continue. He passed away on 13lh January 1978/3rd Safar 1398,
and lies buried in the cemetery behind the mazaar of his grandfather Hazrat
Soofie Saheb (RA), in Riverside, Durban. Hazrat Shah Goolam Mohammed Soofie
Sani (RA), via the office of Hazrat Habib Ali Shah Sani [grandson of the
then Sajjada Nasheen of Khwaja Habib Ali Shah (RA)], appointed his son
Hazrat Shah Mohammed Saeid Soofie as Sajjada Nasheen and khalifa of the
Soofie Saheb and Badshah Peer Darbaars, and his younger son Hazrat Shah
Abdul Aîiz Soofle as deputy Sajjada Nasheen.
