Repentance of the ruler of Sabzwaar

During the journey to India, when Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz       رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه passed by an area called Sabzwaar (presently called province Khurasan Razavi Iran), he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stayed in an orchard in the centre of which was a pond of crystal clear water. It was the orchard of the cruel ruler of Sabzwaar. He would come to his orchard, consume wine and after being intoxicated he would create great disturbances.

When Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz Sayyid Mu’eenuddin Hasan Sanjari Chishti Ajmayri عَـلَيْهِ رَحْـمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ الۡـقَـوِی started performing Wudu from the pond of this orchard in order to perform Nawafil (supererogatory prayers), the guards informed him of the cruelty of their ruler and requested that he leave this place lest the ruler might harm him. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه stated, ‘Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is my Protector and Helper.’ In the meantime, the ruler of Sabzwaar entered the orchard and headed towards the pond. When he saw a mystic stranger (Sufi) at his place of luxury and pleasure, he flew into a rage, and before he could utter anything, the Eminent Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه just glanced towards him, causing his life to instantly change. The ruler could not endure the awe-inspiring presence of Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and fell over unconscious. The servants sprinkled water on the ruler’s face. The moment he regained consciousness, he immediately fell at the feet of Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه and repented of his corrupt beliefs and sins and took the oath of spiritual allegiance on the blessed hand of Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه.

By virtue of Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz’s individual efforts, the ruler of Sabzwaar returned the entire wealth, which he accumulated unjustly and forcefully, to their real owners and stayed in the blessed company of Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه. After some time, having enriched him with spiritual blessings, Sayyiduna Khuwajah Ghareeb Nawaz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه granted him his Khilafat (spiritual succession) and then left that place. (Allah kay Khaas Banday, pp. 511)