Islamabad (Digital Post) Words of a Dervish Written by Sufi Abid Chishti Nizami Niazi Urs-e-Muqaddas of Sultan-ul-Mashaikh Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ

Islamabad (Digital Post) Sultan-ul-Mashaikhؒ, Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ, Mehfil Shikanؒ, Dhari Zarr Bakhshؒ, Hazrat Khwaja Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ was a great Sufi saint who lit such a lamp of love, service, generosity, patience, and seeking the pleasure of Allah on the land of Delhi that, even after centuries, it continues to shine throughout the world.

His blessed Urs is observed every year on 17th Rabi-ul-Thani at his sacred shrine in Delhi Sharif with great grandeur and spiritual devotion, where devotees from all over the world come to pay their tribute of love and devotion.

His spiritual lineage reaches Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeriؒ, Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kakiؒ, and Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakarؒ, and from them continues to Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ. This Chishti tradition made love, humanity, and service to creation the fundamental spirit of Sufism.

The center of the teachings of Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ was love. He connected people with Allah, connected hearts, and considered feeding the hungry a great blessing. The door of his Khanqah was never closed to anyone who came; whether rich or poor, king or beggar, there was love and compassion for everyone. At his Khanqah, Langar was not merely the distribution of food; rather, it was the practical expression of the belief that serving the creation of Allah is a path to the pleasure of Allah. It is narrated that food was distributed on a large scale at the Khanqah, while Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ himself lived a simple life and endured hunger and hardship with patience and contentment.

This was his true message: that a person should live less for himself and more for the creation of Allah.

Sultan-ul-Mashaikhؒ and Freedom from Worldly Power

He was called Sultan-ul-Mashaikhؒ, but his kingdom was not one of thrones and crowns; it was the kingdom of hearts. The kings of Delhi kept changing, governments came and went, but the door of love of Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ remained open.

“Hanoz Dilli Door Ast”

The famous saying attributed to Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ, “Hanoz Dilli Door Ast”, has remained alive in people’s minds for centuries. The details of the historical tradition are narrated in different ways, but this phrase has acquired a deep spiritual meaning. “Hanoz Dilli Door Ast” is no longer merely a sentence; it has become a symbol of the reality that a dervish of Allah cannot be intimidated by worldly power.

When worldly power attempted to create an obstacle in the path of a dervish of Allah, on one side was the power of the throne, and on the other was the faith, patience, and trust in Allah of the Wali of Allah.

Dhari Zarr Bakhshؒ

“Dhari Zarr Bakhshؒ” is also described as one of the beautiful titles of Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ, meaning that his door was one from which treasures rained down. Whoever came to his door empty-handed would often return with the wealth of hope, courage, and love, and there were also treasures of the path leading toward Allah.

His Khanqah taught people that true greatness does not lie in wealth, position, or power, but in humility, piety, love, and service. Centuries have passed since the passing of Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ, but his Khanqah, his message, his spiritual association, and his memory remain alive even today.

It is the glory of Allah that He does not allow the remembrance of His righteous servants to be erased. The body departs from this world, but the fragrance of love, character, teachings, and spiritual grace remains.

Allama Iqbal’s Devotion

Allama Muhammad Iqbalؒ also paid tribute to the greatness of Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ in his poem “Ilteja-e-Musafir.” Addressing Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ, Iqbalؒ says:

“The name that the angels recite is yours,
Great is your station, and your grace is universal.”

And further he says:

“The visitation of your grave is life for the heart,
Your rank is higher than that of Masih and Khizr.”

These verses represent the love and devotion that has existed in the hearts of the great people of spiritual insight of the subcontinent for Hazrat Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ.

My Own Spiritual Association

As much as I thank Allah Almighty, it is not enough. By the grace of Allah Almighty, through the blessings of Mustafa ﷺ, the Panjtan Pakؓ, and the benevolence of the Khwajgan-e-Chisht, my spiritual association is connected with Sultan-ul-Mashaikh Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, Mehboob-e-Ilahi, may Allah have mercy upon him.

Within this blessed spiritual lineage, my Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Syed Mukhtar Nizami Chishti Niazi Mian, Sajjadah Nashin of Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, may Allah have mercy upon him, is the means of my spiritual guidance.

The spiritual links of this lineage, progressing through the love and spiritual grace of the saints, reach Hazrat Shah Niaz Ahmad Barelvi, may Allah have mercy upon him, and then Hazrat Syed Muqtaza Niazi Achhan Mian Sarkar, may Allah have mercy upon him. Through this grace and spiritual association, I was blessed with the servitude and love of my Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Syed Mukhtar Nizami Chishti Niazi Mian.

My prayer is that this spiritual association remains established until the Day of Judgment and becomes a source of goodness, blessings, and spiritual grace for my loved ones, friends, and those associated with me as well.

May Allah Almighty keep me firm on the path of love for Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliyaؒ, humility, generosity, service to creation, patience, contentment, and obedience to Allah. May He strengthen my steps upon the straight path and grant me such character that my spiritual association is not merely in name, but is also visible in my actions, conduct, and service.

O Allah, for the sake of Mehboob-e-Ilahiؒ, may the love of the Messenger ﷺ, the grace of the Panjtan Pakؓ, and the blessings of the Khwajgan-e-Chisht remain attached to our hearts and with us until our final breath.

Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.