BESIDES KINGS, NOBLES, MASHAIKH AND SUFI GAVE
VIKALATNAMAS AND LETTERS TO KHADIMS AND MUJAWIRS ON THE OCCASIONS OF
THEIR VISITS TO THE HOLY DARGAH SHARIF. THESE VIKALATANAMA AND
LETTERS THROW CONSIDERABLE LIGHT ON THE OLD AND INTIMATE CONNECTIONS
OF THE KHADIM COMMUNITY WITH THE HOLY SHRINE OF KHWAJA BABA.
IN THESE VIKALATNAMA AND LETTERS THE MEDIUM OF THE KHADIMS HAS
BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE A NECESSARY ITEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE
CEREMONY OF PAYING HOMAGE TO THE HOLY SAINT AND THE KHADIMS HAVE
BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY TO SPEND THE AMOUNTS OF OFFERINGS TO THE DARGAH
SHARIF IN WHATEVER MANNER THEY CHOOSE TO SPEND THEM.
THESE VIKALATNAMA AND LETTERS ARE THEREFORE AN
ELOQUENT TESTIMONY TO THE TIME HONOURED AND UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF THIS COMMUNITY.OF
THE INNUMERABLE VIKALATNAMAS OF THE MASHAIKH (ASCETICS), IT WOULD
SUFFICE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS TREATIES TO REPRODUCE THE
VIKALATNAMA OF SHAIKH HAZRAT KHWAJA
SULAIMAN TONSVI , ONE OF THE RENOWNED ASCETICS OF THE CHISHTIA
SCHOOL .
THIS
VIKALATNAMA RAN AS FOLLOWS-
The Saint of Saints Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ul-Haq Waddin (helper
of truth and faith)
Chishty may God sanctify his words and deeds.
Whereas we have entrusted the vikalat of the
Dargah Sharif of the Chief of ascetics,
the Head of those who acquainted with spiritual secrets,
namely the Dargah Sharif of Hazart Khwaja
where angles take rest, to the Refuge of Nobility and
Greatness Syed Imam Ali Shah and Syed Nizam Ali Shah.
All offerings
in cash and kind sheet, covers for the tomb, lightning materials,
Deg (Cauldrons) elephants, camels, horses and all other articles
shall be entrusted to the custody of the said Syed. If any other
person will make a claim, it will be false. Of all our relation and
family members who come for the purpose of kissing the hallowed feet
of Hazrat Khwaja, should perform the
ceremonies of pilgrimage of the blessed tomb through the media of
the Syedzadgan and should thus derive happiness of both the world.
No other person is entitled to make a claim.
CONSEQUENTLY THESE FEW WORDS HAVE
BEEN CAUSED TO BE WRITTEN
AND HANDED OVER BY WAY OF VIKALATNAM.
DATED THE 25TH MUHARRAM 1265 A.H.
FOR THE VERIFICATION AND RECOGNITION
OF THE SAID VIKALATNAMA,
HAZRAT KHWAJA ALLAH BAKSH WHO WAS THE DISCIPLE
AND SPIRITUAL SUCCESSOR OF
KHWAJA SULAIMAN, THE ORIGINAL EXECUTANT OF THE VIKALATNAMA ALSO PUT
HIS SEAL THEREON.
A VIKALATNAMA OF THE SAME TYPE WAS
GIVEN BY THE SPIRITUAL TEACHER OF
HAZRAT KHWAJA SULAIMAN TONSVI, NAMELY BY QIBLA-E-ALAM HAZRAT KHWAJA
NOOR
MOHAMMED MAHARVI, TO SYED MASOOM ALO SHAH PRINCIPAL CALIPAH ON THE
11TH RABIUL
AWWAL, 1202 A.H. ANOTHER VIKALATNAMA WAS EXECUTED IN FAVOUR OF SYED
BADRUDDIN,
A KHADIM OF KHWAJA SAHIB,
ON THE 9TH SHAWWAL 1202 A.H.
LIKEWISE, OF THE INNMERBLE
VIKALATNAMA OF KINGS AND NOBLES IT WOULD SUFFICE TO
REPRODUCE THE VIKALATNAMA GRANTED BY BAHADUR SHAH, EMPEROR OF
DELHI, ORIGINALLY
EXECUTED IN THE PERIOD WHEN HE WAS THE HEIR APPARENT TO THE THRONE.
THE FIRST SEAL
WHICH THE VIKALATNAMA BEARS IS OF THAT PERIOD, AND THE SECOND SEAL
THEREON WAS PUT
BY BAHADUR SHAH AS EMPEROR. AT HIS INSTANCE, HIS HEIR APPARENT ALSO
PUT HIS SEAL THEREON.
THE VIKALATNAMA OF BAHADUR SHAH RAN
AS FOLLOWS-
Hazrat
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty may Allah sanctify his words and deeds.
This
vikalatnama is in the name of the Refuge of Greatness and Nobility,
Syed Fateh Ali and Rajjab Ali,
son of Syed Jan Mohammed,
Khadims of the Holy Dargah
of the Chief of ascetics and Head of those who
have attained nearness to Allah and are initiated into spiritual
secrets,
and the saints of saints (namely Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty).
Where
the Syed have been permanently appointed as vakils
in the Holy Dargah Sharif, they should be
engaged day and night, in praying for the long life,
prosperity and increase of prestige and greatness
(of us)
at the sacred shrine and whatever offerings will be made (by us) at
the dignified
Dargah Sharif will be entrusted to the Syeds. Whosoever of our sons
and relation may visit the holy
Dargah Sharif for the sake of paying homage to it, should pay
homage through the Syedzadgaans
and should entrust the offerings and perquisites to them.
Nobody is partner or share holder in this vikalat.
These few words have been written by way of vikalatnama so that they
may be useful.
Dated- 19th MUHARRAM 1227
A.H.
BE IT KNOWN TO ALL MEN BY THESE
PRESENTS THAT HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY,
THE QUEEN EMPRESS OF INDIA HAS BEEN GRACIOULY PLEASED TO APPOINT
SYED HAFIZ MARDAN ALI SON OF SYED KHWAJA BAKSHA AS HER MAJESTY’S
VAKIL
ON BEHALF OF THE DARGAH KHWAJA SAHIB, AJMER, ON THE OCASSION OF HER
IMPERIAL
MAJESTY’S VISIT TO THE DARGAH SHARIF ON THE 22ND DECEMBER
1911.
BY COMMAND
SD. E.G. COLVIN
CHIEF COMMISSIONER AND AGENT TO THE
GOVERNOR GENERAL FOR RAJPUTANA CAMP, AJMER
22ND DECEMBER 1911.
AS REGARDS THE VIKALAT OF THE RULING
PRINCES OF INDIA IN THE DARGAH SHARIF IT WILL
SUFFICE HERE TO GIVE AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE LETTER OF THE
CHIEF SECRETARY
TO HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS THE NIZAM OF HYDERABAD-DECCAN , IN WHICH IT
IS EXPRESSED
THAT ALL THE KHADIMS OF THE KHWAJA SAHIB ARE HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS’
VAKIL IN THE DARGAH, THE LETTER RAN AS FOLLOWS-
“HAZRAT KUTUBUL AKTAB (SAINT OF
SAINTS) KHWAJA GHARIB NAWAZ
WHOSE INNER SELF HAS BEEN SANCTIFIED.
MONOGRAM OF HIS
EXALTED HIGHNESS
THE NAZIM.
CAMP AJMER
THURSDARY, 12TH ZI-KAAD 1330 A.H.
FROM MOULVI AHMED HUSSAIN (SIR AMIN
JANG) C.S. I., M.A., B.L., MOTAMAD AND
CHIEF SECRETARY TO HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS THE NIZAM OF HYDERABAD –
DECCAN.
TO,
THE SECRETAY,
COMMITTEE OF THE HOLY DARGAH
AJMER SHARIF.
BY COMMAND OF HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS
IT IS WRITTEN THAT HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS
WAS MUCH PLEASED WITH THE GOOD WORK OF ALL THE SAHIBZADAS (KHADIMS)
WHO ARE THE INTERMEDIARIES AND VAKILS IN THE HOLY DARGAH SHARIF ON
BEHALF
OF HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS AND SPECIALLY WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
NECESSARY
MANAGEMENT OT THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY SYED MOHAMMED
HANEEF
SAHIB ON THE OCASSION OF HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS VISIT TO AJMER SHARIF,
AND HIS EXALTED HIGHNESS EXPRESSED HIS HEART FELT SATISFACTION.
KINDLY COMMUNITCATE THIS TO ALL THE AFORESAID PERSONS.
SD. AHMED HUSSAIN MOHAMMAD.