The Preaching of Islam in India! Part 2 (KHAWAJA NIZAMUDDIN AWLIYA part-2)
Sultan -ul- Masha'ikh Khawaja Nizamuddin Awliya:-
The pith and marrow of Khawaja Nizamuddin's life and character, which illuminated his inner self and inspired his moral zeal, was the fervor of spiritual love arising from the harmony of his soul. the flame of this love which he carried in his self from the very beginning burst into a radiant glow in the practice of spiritual austerities under the paternal guidance of his shaykh and guide Farid Uddin Ganjshakar and illuminated the environs of Delhi for more than half a century. The Khawaja's elevated soul which had reached the highest degree of sanctity, diffused the message of divine love to the four corners of the country and comforted innumerable roving spirits.
As related in Fawaid-ul-fawaid, once the deathbed accounts of different shaykhs were being narrated before the Khawaja. Someone told the story of a shaykh who had the name of God on his lips while sinking in the jaws of death. on the edge of tears, the Khawaja recited the verse which ment:
"Washing my cheeks with streaming tears;
I set my foot to draw near;
Union with thee I ardently aspire,
Humming thy name I go to deathly slumber." (Fawaid-ul-fawaid p80)
Khawaja disliked instrumental music:
The Khawaja not only disliked instrumental music but also forbade its use by his disciples. nor did he accept any excuse if any follower ever indulge in the unauthorized practice. The Khawaja was once informed that a few friars had attended and whirled in an audition employing instrumental music. the Khawaja said, "They did not do well. whatsoever transgresses the limits of the Sharia is unlawful." When the Khawaja was given the excuse that they became completely oblivious of the musical instruments, he observed: "There is no excuse. this plea can be advanced for indulging in every vice." (Siar-ul-Aulia p.520-521)
The Khawaja once told his disciples: "The use of musical instruments being a means of amusement is strictly prohibited."
How can it be lawful when women in congregational prayer are prohibited even to clap their hands in order to remind the Imam, if he commits a mistake in the recitation of the Qur'an? (Siar-ul-Aulia p.522)
Watchful attention to religious observances:
No matter how weak, indisposed or tired owing to strenuous exercises the Khawaja was, he was always extremely careful to perform obligatory prayers along with the congregation. it has been related in Siar-ul-Auliya that "even when he had crossed his eightieth year he regularly came down from his apartment on the first storey for all the five congregation prayers along with the mendicants and disciples who happened to be present there. inspite of his old age and feeble body he fasted daily and ate very little." (Siar-ul-Aulia p.125)
The Khawaja attached great importance to the sunnah and always enjoined upon his companions and disciples to observe the practices of the Prophet with utmost care. Mir Khurd has recorded the Khawaja's instructions to his disciples wherein he told them: "One should follow the prophets Sunnah steadfastly and staunchly and should never let go even the practices occasionally followed by the holy Prophet." (Siar-ul-Aulia p.318)
The Khawaja considered it essential for every spiritual guide to be thoroughly well up in traditions and the juristic laws so that he may neither act nor cause others to act against the practices of the Prophet. (Fawaid-ul-fawaid p.147)
A misconceived but popular notion about Tasawwuf is that it requires renunciation of the world. Khawaja Sayyad Muhammad Gesu Daraz who had quoted the observation of the Khawaja Nizamuddin on this subject that "Nothing Made lawful by the Sharia is a hinderance in the way of God nor cuts off the path of an attracted traveler, else it would not have been permissible by God." (Jawame-ul-Kalam, p.160)
Another time the Khawaja Said, "You should be pure of heart and conscious of God in every action. After that you may engage yourself in whatever lawful occupation you desire for nothing will harm you." (Siar-ul-Aulia p.160)
Comments
Post a Comment