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Gharib Nawaz was an
embodiment of plain living and high thinking. His noble
disposition, his marvelous service, his patience,
perseverance, fortitude and courage earned for him, not
only respect and secured for him admirers and devotees,
but also put on his head the crown of immortality.
He
passed his days in reverential remembrance of Allah,
contemplation and meditation.
He
was free from avarice and greed. He had no lust for power,
no wish for name or fame, and no desire for wealth. He
sought nothing but the pleasure of Allah. He was deeply loved by his spiritual guide and teacher, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni R.A. As a matter of fact, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni R.A. used to feel proud of him. He used to say;
“Our
Moinuddin is a beloved of Allah, and I feel proud of the
fact that he is my disciple.” Of the distinguishing traits of his character, which marked him out for spiritual greatness may be mentioned the following;
He
was deeply devoted to prayers. The Holy Prophet Mohammed
S.A.W. said, “Should I not become a thankful man,” and
Gharib Nawaz fully and faithfully acted upon it. He
passed his life in prayers and asceticism. For long
seventy years, it is surprising to note that Gharib Nawaz
was took no rest or respite. He did not take rest even in
the night. During this time he lived with ablutions,
expect that for the cell of nature. Generally, he used to
offer morning prayers with the ablutions of the mid-night
prayer. He was very fond of reading the Holy Quran. He
used to finish two Qurans, one in the day and the other
during the night. Hazrat
Qutub Sahib says that Gharib Nawaz used to go on a
pilgrimage to Mecca every year from Ajmer, by dint of his
high spiritual powers. But, on attaining even higher
perfection it so happened that he was present, sitting in
his tenement, where as the pilgrims in Mecca would see him
going round the Kaaba. At last, it came to be known that he was present in Kaaba every night and returning, before daybreak, he used to offer morning prayers in his mosque. CONCERN FOR DISCIPLES One
day, he was present in the Kaaba, when a voice was heard
saying, “O Moinuddin, we are pleased with thee. We have
forgiven thee. We have granted thee salvation. Ask of Us,
whatever thou may’st desire.” He submitted thus: “O
Allah! Grant salvation to the spiritual disciple of the
line of Moinuddin.” There
upon he received the reply thus: “O
Moinuddin, thou art Our dear one. I will certainly shower
blessings on thy spiritual disciple and also on those who
will enlist themselves in thy line till the Day of
Resurrection.” LOVE OF GOD His
face always appeared to be sorry and sad. Hazrat Qutub
Sahib says:
“
I passed twenty years in his service, but I never heard
that he ever prayed for his heatlh. But, instead, he used
to say, “O Allah! wherever there be pain (of love) grant
it to thy servant-Moinuddin.” INTEREST IN MUSIC He
was very fond of music. Sometimes, he became unconscious
in a state of rapture. The ulema and the saints used to
join him in music concerts. One who ever had the
opportunity of attending his music concerts used to derive
spiritual ecstasy and ultimately became a perfect mystic.
No one ever objected to his music concerts, but, on the
contrary, used to join him in order to gain the inner
vision. Khwaja
Qutub Sahib says; in the music concerts of our Gharib
Nawaz, eminent saints and mystics used to join it. Some of
those who joined him thus are Hazrat Shaikh Shahabuddin
Soharwardi, Hazrat Shaih Mohammed of Kirman, Shaikh
Mohammed of Isfahan, Shaikh Burhanuddin of Bukhara,
Moulana Mohammed of Baghdad, Kheaja Ajal of Sangar, Shaikh
Saifuddin Bakheri, Shaikh Ahmed s/o Mohammed of Isfahan,
Shaikh Jalaluddin of Tabrez, disciple of Shaikh Abu Saeed,
Shaikh Ohaduddin of Kirman, Shaikh Ahmed Wahid, Shaikh
Burhanuddin of Ghazni, Khwaja Sulaiman and Shaikh Abdul
Rehman. Besides
those mentioned above there were many others who come to
pay Gharib Nawaz their respect from far off. They came
from Baghdad and other neighboring cities. Everybody
who came in contact with him got benefited. They all had
faith in him and were prepared to do anything at his
bidding. RESPECT FOR SPIRITUAL PRECEPTOR He
had the deepest respect for his spiritual teacher and
guide. One day, when he was sitting with some friends, he
was talking about spiritual matters. During the course of
conversation, when he look towards the right, he would at
once stand up. Those present, not knowing as to whom he
was paying respect, were simply puzzled. When at last,
Gharib Nawaz was asked about it, he replied: “The tomb
of my spiritual teacher and guide is situated that side,
and when I saw that side, invariably, I caught a glimpse
of it. Therefore, out of respect, I stood up each time I
saw that side.” ABSORPTION When he was absorbed, or lost in contemplation, he used to keep his eyes closed for hours together. He would open his eyes only at the time of prayer. When he was thus absorbed, on whomsoever he cast his glance he, indeed, became a perfect saint. And the one who stayed for three days in his company found himself endowed with mystical powers. VARYING CONDITIONS He
would undergo two different moods. Sometimes, he would be
in an elevated mood, and when in an elevated mood he was
so much absorbed in contemplation that he would be
heedless of all around him. S Hazrat Qutub Sahib and Shaikh Hamiduddin Nagori would erect stones to serve as a curtain before the door of the Tenement. They both used to sit behind it. STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE PROPHET He
followed very strictly the commands, the mandates and the
behests of the Holy Prophet Mohammed S.A.W. He followed
the Holy Prophet S.A.W. very faithfully in his day-to-day
life. FEAR OF ALLAH The
fear of Allah ever and anon dominated his mind. He would
tremble and weep. He also feared the last
resting-place----the grave. He used to say that if people
may come to know even a little of the condition of those
sleeping underneath the ground they would, undoubtedly,
become motionless and would become water like salt. GENEROUS DISPOSITION He
was generous and kind hearted. He would help the poor and
the needy. He had a word of comfort and cheer for the
needy. He had a word of comfort and cheer for the
oppressed, the depressed, the helpless and the
downtrodden. In an instant he showered his spiritual
blessings on people and thus enabled them to reach great
spiritual heights. One day a person implored him to give
him this world, and another the same day sought from him
the world hereafter. They both got what they asked for.
Afterwards, he honored Hazrat Qutub Sahib by conferring on
him the title of “Qutub-ul-Aqtab” and also Sufi
Hamiduddin Nagori was likewise, honored and he received
the title of “Sultan-ut-Tarekeen”. His generosity knew no bounds. Never did a beggar or the needy go from his door without getting something. Hazrat Qutub Sahib says: “I stayed in his service for a considerable period of time, but I never saw a beggar or any needy going from his door without taking something.” HOSPITALITY He
was humble and very hospitable. He was first to make
salaams. He greeted every visitor with a broad smile and
extended him utmost hospitality. He shared the sorrows and
misfortunes of others. His sympathy extended to all.
The
poor and the destitute of the city depended upon his
kitchen for their subsistence. People used to flock to his
kitchen and take the food to their heart’s content.
Every day a huge quantity of food was cooked. The
superintendent of the kitchen would approach him for the
expenses and Gharib Nawaz would lift up the edge of the
praying carpet and say to him, “Whatever you need for
today’s expenses take from here.” More ever he also used to pay allowances to the Derweshes. Whenever any invalid came to him he would inquire about him, console him, pray for him and give him something. ASCETICISM His
diet was frugal. He lived not to eat ate for living and
for praying. He kept fasts for all the twelve months of
the year. During the period of asceticism he lived
continuously for seven days together without taking
anything, and after that he would take a piece of barley,
the piece not exceeding five tolas in weight and soaking
it in water would take it up. When in travel, very often
he took the roasted meat of whatever he shot by arrow. His dress too was shorn of all splendors. It consisted of one wrapper, which was sewn up. Whenever it was torn off, he would put a patch of any other cloth that he had with him. His clothes had always patches. HATRED FOR PUBLICITY He would not allow, generally, more than one dervish to accompany him in travels. He would stay in desolate and deserted places. Sometimes he would stay in a graveyard. The moment he came to be known he would stay there no longer. He hated publicity. |
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