Blessed Sayings of Khawājah Gharīb Nawāz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه
Among the great personalities who spread the light of Islam in the Indian subcontinent, the name of Sayyidunā Khwājah MuꜤīn al-Dīn Ḥasan al-Chishtī al-Ajmērī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه shines foremost, and he is lovingly remembered by the title Khawājah Gharīb Nawāz. Through his preaching, character, and spiritual teachings, he illuminated millions of hearts with the love of Allah Almighty and the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. His Chishtī spiritual order remains a source of spiritual guidance and enlightenment across the world even today. In the teachings of Khwājah Ṣāḥib رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, prayer, obedience to the spiritual guide, and servitude to Allah Almighty hold central importance.
Here are a few of his invaluable sayings:
1. "Prayer alone is the means of attaining the station of honour, because prayer is the MiꜤrāj (ascension) of the believer. As mentioned in a noble Ḥadīth: اَلصَّلٰوةُ مِعْرَاجُ الْمُؤْمِنِ (Prayer is the MiꜤrāj of the believer). Prayer is superior to all stations, for it is the primary means of meeting Allah."[1]
2. "Prayer is a secret that the servant confides in his Lord."[2]
3. "Whoever attained anything, attained it through the service of his spiritual guide. Thus, the disciple must not deviate even slightly from the command of his spiritual guide. Whatever the spiritual guide instructs regarding prayer, tasbīḥ (glorification), awrād (litanies), etc., he should listen attentively and act upon it, so that he may attain a rank."[3]
4. "Undoubtedly, the spiritual guide refines the disciple. Therefore, whatever guidance and training the shaykh imparts is solely to lead the disciple toward the rank of perfection."[4]
5. "Prayer is a trust assigned to the servants by the Lord of the Worlds. So, it is obligatory upon the servants to preserve this trust and fulfil its right in such a way that no form of betrayal occurs therein."[5]
6. "When one performs prayer, he should perform the bowing and prostration as they truly ought to be in the prescribed manner, observing the pillars of prayer properly."[6]
7. "What can be said of those Muslims who do not perform prayer on time, delaying it until the appointed time has passed! Countless regrets upon those Muslims who show negligence and shortcomings in serving the Generous Lord."[7]
8. "Whoever wishes to remain safe from the torment of that day (i.e., the Day of Judgement) must live in obedience and submission."[8]
9. "Obedience brings sweetness and delight to the disciple. This sweetness and delight are experienced when the disciple finds joy in obedience itself."[9]
10. "In the view of the people of the spiritual path and the people of devotion, love means to remain obedient and submissive, and remain fearful of being cast away."[10]
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