Nizamuddin Auliya
- Nizamuddin Auliya was born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, in 1238, to Hazrat Syed Ahmed Bokhari and Bibi Zuleikha. Both of his parents were highly religious and pious people. His father was reported to have recited the Islamic kalima immediately after his birth while it was said that his mother’s prayers had the reputation of never remaining unfulfilled.
- Nizamuddin Auliya succeeded Baba Farid upon his death to become the fourth Spiritual Successor (Khalifa) of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. As a Sufi dervish he lived a life based upon the essential teachings of Islam and principles of Sufism. His life was an embodiment of the principle of “simple living and high thinking”.
- After living at various places in Delhi, he finally settled down in Ghiyaspur, a village near the city. There he built his Khanqah which attracted people from far and near, hailing from all walks of life.
- He was passionately committed to helping the needy, feeding the hungry and being sympathetic to the oppressed. His kitchen was always open and thousands of hungry and needy people used to eat there daily. He personally supervised the Khanqah to ensure that all the visitors arriving at the Khanqah were treated most hospitably irrespective of their religion, caste, creed or social status.
- He was very generous towards the poor though he personally maintained a very austere lifestyle. He wore very simple clothes and fasted daily, eating only a small piece of barley bread with some vegetable soup.
- Auliya was also very generous in accepting disciples. He had over 600 khalifas who continued his lineage all over the world. A khalifa is a disciple who is given the authority to take his own disciples and thus propagate the spiritual lineage. Some of his most famous disciples were Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi who became his spiritual successor and poet Amir Khusro who was Auliya’s most loved disciple.
Students
- He had more than 600 khalifas (a khalifa is a disciple who is given the authority to take his own disciples and thus propagate the spiritual lineage) who continued his lineage all over the world. Some of his most famous disciples are:
- Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi
- Amir Khusrow
- Qazi Qawam-Udeen Siddiqui
- Akhi Siraj Aainae Hind
- Burhanuddin Gharib
- Jalaluddin Peer Manik Bhandari
Major Work
- Nizamuddin Auliya was the founder of the Chisti Nizami order.
- Many of his disciples became renowned Sufis of the Chisti Nizami order who went on to spread the message of Sufism all over the world.
- His descendents and disciples include Muhammad Hussaini Gisudaraz Bandanawaz, Gulbarga, Shah Niyaz Ahmad Barelvi, Muhiuddin Yousuf Yahya Madani Chishti, and Shah Mohammad Shah.
Source: Live Mint
