Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>Why These Miracles?
According to the natural principle of “seeing is believing”, man appreciates and believes quickly a practical demonstration if he sees it with his own eyes instead of being convinced by any other kind of mere theoretical education or appeal for any good cause. There has been no greater and more sacred cause than the cause of religion in the history of mankind. Religious belief has always been a question of strong conviction with humanity, and there can be no perfect or unshakable religious belief without perfect and solemn conviction in the establishment of which nothing but miracles have played a most convincing part. Miracles, as a rule, are rare phenomena emanating from, or performed by, only those superhuman beings who are entrusted with, the sublime service of God and His creation. When man is woefully steeped in sin, he refuses to return to the path of righteousness easily, and ignores all ordinary human appeals for abstinence. He needs something more powerful i.e. some ‘supernatural’ power to convince him that sinful life was contrary to the “Divine Law” and would lead him only to an ignominious disaster and severe penalties in both the worlds if he did not return to virtue. Only divine personalities like the Prophets, Saints and Auvtaars, who have no selfish axe to grind, are capable of performing by the grace of God to uphold the cause of eternal TRUTH for the emancipation of mankind. The votaries of modern science do not believe in miracles. They take them as mere myths. But, in Islam, miracles have the authority of the Holy Quran. They must be believed because, firstly, they actually happen; secondly, because they are incontestable historical facts; and thirdly, because science is only a weapon of sceptics and unbelievers against thing ‘supernatural’. Scientists maintain that except the priest craft and some credulous victims, no intelligent person living in 20th century believers in miracles, which are looked upon as mere fables invented by wily priests maddened by superstition and medieval moonshine. This tempest of mere verbal camouflage is, however, a poor instrument to thrash out the truth about miracles.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>Khawaja Sahib’s Pilgrimage To Mecca Every Year
As is evident from his life history Khawaja Moinuddin is reported to have performed two Haj pilgrimages to Mecca before coming out to India. But the Hajis (pilgrims who visit Mecca during the Haj) who undertook pilgrimage to Mecca during Khawaja Sahib’s stay in Ajmer bore evidence to the fact on their return to Indian that they saw the great saint in Mecca personally during the Haj every year. It was indeed one of his marvellous miracles. How could he do this feat in the absence of any modern means of transport 700 years ago, is a mystery beyond human perception and yet it is a fact corroborated by eye witness and history. During the Haj period, he was seen both in Ajmer and Mecca.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>Murderer Becomes A Devotee
Once a person appeared before Hazrat Khawaja Sahib and pretended to say that he was eager to pay his homage to the great saint on that particular day. The Khawaja Sahib replied “Here I am, but first fulfil your promise that brings you here”. The man began to tremble with the idea that his secret was out before he could act and, admitting his guilt, he at once offered his profound apologies. As a matter of fact, this man was a hireling of some of the enemies of Hazrat Khawaja and had come with theprecise intention of murdering the holy saint, a fact which the great saint came to know by his intuitive powers. The man prayed for the pardon of the saint who forgave him magnanimously. The men then embraced Islam and became one of the devoted `mureeds’ of Khawaja Moinuddin for the rest of his life.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>Milk From An Immature Cow?
One day Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty was sitting on the bank of the Ana-sagar lake at Ajmer. A shepherd-boy happened to pass before him with a herd of young cows who had not yet acquired their maturity. The Khawaja Sahib asked the boy for some milk from his herd. The boy took it to be a joke and said, “Baba they are all young calf of immature age; they do not yield any milk at this age.” The Khawaja Sahib smiled and, pointing towards a young cow, said, “I would like to drink the milk of that cow, go and milk her.” The boy obeyed rather hesitatingly. When he went to milk this particular cow, he was simply astonished to find her teats fully developed and over-flowing with milk. The boy filled several receptacles with milk which 40 persons drank to their full satisfaction. He was so much impressed by this strange miracle that he became great devotee of Khawaja Sahib.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>Restoration Of Murdered Man
One day a waiting old woman came to Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin who was busy with his ‘wazoo’ (ablution). The woman complained that the governor of the city had murdered her son without any fault and that she had come to him to beg for justice. The Khawaja Sahib, after finishing with his ‘wazoo’ picked up his ‘asa-e-mubarak’ (holy staff) and went out with the old lady to go to the place where the murdered corpse of her son was lying. His close devotees also followed him in attendance. The Khawaja Sahib placed the severed heard in its proper position on the body of the murdered young man and prayed to the Almighty God, “O Allah, if this man was murdered with any fault, then grant him his life”. After this prayer, the Khawaja Sahib put his staff on the corpse and said, “Get up by the command of Allah if you are innocent.” The young man got up, hale and hearty, and the next moment both he and his old mother fell down at the feet of the great saint of Ajmer in solemn gratitude.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Karamat (Miracles)>To The Rescue Of Sheikh Ali
One day Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin was passing through a street of Ajmer with his attendant Sheikh Ali. Suddenly a creditor of Sheikh Ali appeared on the scene and, holding him by his garment insisted upon the payment of his debt in a very insolent manner. Pleading on behalf of his attendant, the Great Khawaja assured the creditor that his debt would now be paid soon and requested him to let Sheikh Ali go for the time being. But the creditor would not allow the attendant to move until his money was paid on the spot. This obduracy at last invoked Khawaja Sahib’s proverbial sympathy for human shortcomings. In a state of ‘jazba’ (intense feeling) he took off his ‘Chadar’ (the wrapper which he wore) and flung the same on to the ground. And as soon as the ‘Chadar’ was flung, it was covered with a big heap of precious silver and gold coins. The Khawaja Sahib then asked the creditor, “Please take away your debt, counting honestly as much as it is due to you, from this heap but be careful not to pick up even a single coin more than what is your legitimate due.” Overpowered by greed at the sight of such a vast wealth, the creditor mischievously thought of picking up more than what was actually due to him. But as soon as he stretched his hand towards the money with this evil intention, it dried up and his arm became as stiff as an iron rod. The creditor and the onlookers were wonder-struck at this awful experience. Realising his guilt, the creditor fell at the feet of the great saint and begged for mercy. The Khawaja Sahib accepted the man’s apology with his characteristic benevolence and prayed to God for the restoration of his arm to its normal condition.
Gharibnawaz(R.A) >Sama’ (Qawwali)
Origin And Conception >>> The root of the word Qawwali is Qa’ol which is an Arabic word meaning an axiom or dictum based upon the religious subjects which help purification of thoughts. From the word Qawwali we also get another word Qawwali which means a musician or singer who sings the hymns or praises of God and dictums of the prophets, saints and other holy personages in Arabic, Persian, Urdu and even Hindustani composed by reputed Sufi saints and poets. These Qawwali concerts are magnetic in nature and touch the delicate cord of human heart which, being ethereal, is the main centre of spiritual awakening in man. The Khawaja Sahib not only introduced but also patronised these concerts to capture and mould the hearts of his audience for accepting the Divine Message gracefully.Music has always played a prominent part in the religious and social life of India from time immemorial and therefore singing or recital of the devotional songs called bhajans etc. has been one of the important ceremonials at Hindu temples and religious congregations. The Khawaja Sahib was the inventor of the fascinating blending of sweet songs in Sufistic style preaching the gospel of Truth. This medium suited Indian culture, temperament, customs and traditions most admirably with the result that his Sama or Qawwali mahfils (congregations) became very popular with good results and they continue to be so even to this day. Language Of Qawwali >>> While the devotional songs offered at Hindu shrine are composed in Sanskrit, Hindi or other regional languages of India, the compositions sung at the Qawwali mahfils are generally a choice selection of inspiring religious poetry in Persian by various reputed Sufi poets and dervishes. To soften and capture a human heart, possessing even the slightest spark of piety and devotion, the appeal of such Qawwali concerts has been amazingly irresistible. They have sort of hypnotic influence upon spiritual-minded audience inspiring a kind of uncontrollable jazba (intense feeling) culminating in wajd or ecstasy. Qualification of a Qawwal >>> A perfect Qawwal is one who is the master of classical Indian music gifted with a sweet and fascinating voice on the one hand, and is thoroughly conversant with the variety of selective poetical compositions on Sufism by distinguished Persian, Urdu and Hindi poets on the other. In addition to many years’ hard practice consistent with the varied knowledge of the said poetry, a really good Qawwal still needs the “spiritual blessings” of any great Sufi saint for his ultimate perfection and general recognition. There are many instances of excellent Qawwals who have risen to frame and fortune under the blessings of one or the other Sufi saint in India.
