6. IMPORTANT SUFI SAINTS

Moinuddin Chishti – He is the most famous saint of the Chishti order. He he id in was born in 1141 AD and died in 1236 AD. He became a disciple of the Chishti Saint Usman Harooni. He reached Ajmer Mu’izz ad-Din: along Mohammad with settled down. It was during the reign of Akbar that Ajmer emerged as one and of the most important centre of pilgrimage. Moinuddin Chishti written several books including Anis al-Arwah and Dalil al-Arifin, both of which deal with the Islamic law of living.

Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki – He was a renowned Muslim Sufi mystic, saint and scholar of the Chishti order. He was a disciple of Moinuddin Chishti. He played a major role in establishing the order securely in Delhi, which was earlier confined to Ajmer and Nagaur. He was followed by the first Delhi Sultan, Qutubuddin Aibak, who started the construction of Qutub Minar.

Khwaja Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar – He was a Sufi saint belonging to the Chishti order. He was born in 1173 AD at Dhade Kothewal village, Punjab, Pakistan. Baba Farid, has his poetry included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the most sacred scripture of Sikhism.

Nizamuddin Auliya – He was a famous Sufi saint of Chishti order. He was born in 1238 AD in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh. His biography finds mention in Ain-i-Akbari, a 16th century document written by Mughal emperor Akbar’s Wazir, Abul Fazl. One of the kings of the Delhi sultanate during Nizamuddin Auliya lifetime was Qutub-ud-din Mubarak Shah, the last ruler of Khilji dynasty.

Baha-ud-din Zakariya – He was a Sufi of Suhrawardiyya order (Tariqa). He was born at Kot Keror, a town of the Layyah district near Multan, Punjab, (Pakistan) around 1170 AD. He was contemporary of Sultan Iltutmish.

Abdul-Qadir Al-Jilani – He was born in Baghdad in 1077 AD. He was a Persian Hanbali jurist and Sufi based in Baghdad Qadirtyya was his patronym. Books written by Abdul. Qadir Jailani includes Futuh Al Ghaib, Al-Fath al-Rabbani, Jala’al Malfuzat, Al-Ghunya Khawatir Talibi and Tariq Al-Hagg.

Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari – He was born in 1318 and was the founder of what would become one of the largest and most influential Sufi Muslim order, the Naqshbandi.

Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri – He was a Sufi saint belonging to the Firdausi order and was the son of Sheikh Yahya of Maneri (in Bihar) and the disciple of Sheikh Sharfuddin Abu Tawwama. He, in his later life, earned a great fame in the world of sufism. His Maktubat (letters) have come to light, they are full of advice and criticism regarding spiritual matters. The contemporary rulers of Delhi Sultans were eager to receive his advice.

Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh (1251-1335 AD) – He was commonly known by the title Rukn-e-Alam (pillar of the world) or Shah Rukne Alam and was among the important Sufi saint from Multan. He was the grandson and successor of Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zakariya.

Khwaja Baqi Billah (1563-1603 AD) – He was a Sufi saint from Kabul and the originator and explorer of the Naqshbandi order in the sub-continent. He strengthened the Naqshbandi order in India. His contacts with the nobility of the Mughal empire proved useful for the reformation of the Muslims of India. He took bold steps and played a heroic role to stop the succeeding error known as Din-i-Ilahi. His writings and counsels encouraged the people to conflict. this innovation. The nobility also favoured him and he used their power for the betterment of the Muslims.

Baba Sain Mir Muhammed Sahib (1550-11th August, 1635 AD) – He was popularly known as Mian Mir and was a famous Sufi saint, who resided in Lahore, specifically in the town of Dharampura (in present day Pakistan). He belonged to the Qadiri order of Sufism. He is famous for being a spiritual instructor of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shahjahan. He is identified as the founder of the Mian Khail branch of the Qadiri order.

Mullah Shah Badakhshi – He was popularly known as Mullah Shah. He was a 17th century Muslim Sufi and spiritual successor of the famous Sufi saint Mian Mir (1550-1635 AD). He belonged to the Qadiri order of sufism. He was the spiritual mentor of the Mughal prince Dara Shikoh Qadri (1615-1659 AD) and his sister princess Jahanara Begum.

Burhanuddin ‘Gharib’ – He studied under Nizamuddin Auliya. Burhanuddin succeeded the Sultan- ul-mashaikh as caliph. He allowed music and joy in the religious exercises at his convent. He remained for sometime at Daulatabad and then left for Roza (Khuldabad), where he died.

Nasir-ud-din Nasir Khan Faruki – Faruki dynasty of Kandesh captured Asigarh and the town of Burhanpur on the bank of Tapti was founded in the honour of Burhanuddin.

Mujad-ud-din, in his book Bakiat-el- Gharib, gives a biography of Burhanuddin.