Syed Mustafa Ahmad
The real name of Nizam-Ud-Din Aulliya was Syed Muhammad. He was the son of Syed Ahmad. His ancestors emigrated from Bukhara to Lahore and finally settled in Badayuun in the United Provinces of India. Nizam-Ud-Din was born in Badayuun in 1255 CE. His father died when he was five years old. He was brought up under the fostering care of his mother. His mother was a very pious lady. She gave her son the best education available. After learning the holy Qur’an by heart, he began his studies in Arabic and Persian languages and Fiqh( Islamic jurisprudence) with great diligence and labour. In his student Life, he exhibited his great devotion to studies and learning. He was intelligent and hard working and he had a great aptitude for knowledge. When he finished the study of “ Qudduri”, the famous text book on Muslim Shari’a or jurisprudence, it is said that the God- fearing mother invited all the leading Ulama to her house and requested them to wrap the academic turban round her son’s head according to the custom. His mother took him to Delhi then capital of the Indian Muslim empire for higher studies in theology. He was taught theology by Maulana Shamsuddin and Maulana Kamal-Ud-Din, who were the most celebrated scholars of their time and he acquired vast knowledge in theology. He mastered logic wonderfully and acquired the most uncommon ability for debate and discussion. For his vast erudition and great learning, he was called Mulla Nizam-Ud-Din Bahhas (The great debater). From this time, he spent most of his time in service of Islam, propagating Islam in India. He wants to Pak Pattan to meet Khwajs Farid-Ud-Din Ganje Shakar, the greatest saint and preacher of Islam of his time. Ganje Shakar warmly received him and embraced him and placed his own cap on his head as a token of formal initiation in Chistia order of Sufis. When Nizam-Ud-Din Aulliya Chistia completed the period of his training with Ganje Shakar, he directed his beloved disciple Nizam-Ud-Din to go to Delhi to set up a Khanqah (hospice) to train preachers to preach Islam.
Every year thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims visit his shrine to show respect to the memory of this great man who lived and died for service to Islam and to humanity at large. May Allah bestow his blessings on us!
He had a charming and captivating personality. The people from all parts of India, Muslims and non- Muslims, began to come to his Khanqah in Ghayaspur- a suburb in Delhi. All classes of people, nobles, princes, common people, etc., heard his speeches and sermons with great attention every morning and evening. His sermons were the symbol of peak of eloquence. His bounty and hospitality knew no bounds. Whatever he received by way of presents or gifts in cash and kind, he gave the same to the poor and needy, keeping nothing for himself. Many dervishes (the Islamic Mystics) and mendicants were fed by him daily. He was a true Muslim Sufi and fully devoted to Islam and wholly relied on Allah. He never cared for wealth, power, position and never feared anyone except Allah. Even he had no hankering to attend on kings and emperors of his time. The poet Amir Khusrau (the parrot of India) was his favorite disciple.Once Sultan Jalal-Ud-Din Khilji, emperor of Delhi asked Amit Khusrau to take him to Nizam-Ud-Din Auliya. According to promise, Amir Khusrau promised to do so. He informed his master of the coming visit of the Sultan to him. The great Nizam-Ud-Din at once left for Pak Pattan to pay a visit to his Pir, Ganje Shakar. The following day the emperor came to know about the sudden departure of Nizam-Ud-Din Auliya and took Amit Khusrau to task. Such was the spirit of this great saint. He even did not care to meet the great Sultan, a symbol of great power. The great saint left the ephemeral world on Wednesday, the 28thRabi up Awwal 725 AH( 1325 CE) at the ripe age of 91. Seven kings sat on the throne of Delhi during his life time but he never gave audience to any one of them, though all eagerly desired to meet him. A few hours before his death, he appointed Nasir-Ud-Din surnamed Chirage Delhi( the light of the city) his Khalifa or vicegerent or successor and exhorted him to keep aloft the torch of divine faith. A long time has passed since he left this world but his name is still alive and today every year thousands of Muslims and non-Muslims visit his shrine to show respect to the memory of this great man who lived and died for service to Islam and to humanity at large. May Allah bestow his blessings on us!
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