This world of multiplicity has an adverse effect,
Whereas in reality my origin is unity;
These days the garden of my heart is slowly withering.
Salutations to you Oh beauty of Aurang-e-Chisht,
O Nizam Uddin! May my garden be refreshed.
Hazrat Shah Nizam Uddin Aurangabadi was a leading saint of southern India. As the Khalifa al-Azam of Harzrat Shaha Kaliullah r.a the responsibility of propagating Islam and reforming the Muslim community at large fell on to his shoulders. The Mughal empire, the safeguard of order and civilization in India for three centuries and more was on the wane; an political instability and created a tremendous decline in both morale and morals. In these trying times, it was Shah Nizam Uddin who became the light- bearer for a struggling society.
Khwaja Nizam Uddin Aurangabadi birth and early history are somewhat vague; through it is known that he –like his murshid-was a decendant of Hazrat Abu Bakar As-Sadiq. His birthplace is thought to be Kakor, India and it was there that he received his early education. To further his studies he travelled to Delhi, the center of the learning at the time, and sought out a university. Word of the popularity of Hazrat Shah Kalimullah Jahanabadi reached his ears. And he decided to meet the great saint. When he arrived at the seminary of Shah Kalimullah, he found the door locked, as Shaykh was engaged in the spiritual musical assembly of Sama; to which outsiders were not permitted. Unaware of this, he knocked at the door and, to the amazement of other disciples, was welcomed in by Shah Kalimullah and shown great love.
Soon after, he enrolled in the great saints’ university. Initially, his primary aim was to obtain religious external knowledge only; but after a time the intense spiritual atmosphere that surrounded Shah Kalimullah r,a drew him closer to the path of tasawwuf. One day as his Shaykh prepared to leave Hazrat Nizam Uddin came forward, dusted his murshids shoes, and placed them before him. Upon seeing this, Shah Kalimullah enquired
“O Nizamuddin! Have you come to acquire knowledge, or do you seek the path to Allah?” To this the saint humbly replied, “You know better what is for me; you know better, for us, for me.”
Upom hearing these lines Shah Kalimullah recalled the prophecy of Hazrat Saykh Yahya Madni who stated that the one who would utter these words would be responsible for the spread and propagation of the Chishtiya Silsilah. Hazrat Nizamuddin’s spiritual instructions began immediately.
After a period of strict spiritual training, Shah Nizamuddin was made the foremost khalifa of Shah Kalimullah r.a and was instructed to spread Islam and serve the needs of the community in southern India. He travelled extensively through out the whole of southern Indian Plateau teaching and catering for the needs of the community, before settling down and establishing a seminary in Aurangabad. The seminary had ten doors, and none for forbidden entrance or education. At each door stood a scribe, and whenever anyone came with financial problems they would write the following lines
“The remembrance of Allah is the greatest; on this my heart is fully concentrated. To this world Nizam Uddin is oblivious”.
The poor would than take this to the rich members of the community who, because of their respect and deep love for the great saint would regard it as the highest honor to fulfill their brothers needs.
Shah Nizam Uddin Aurangabad was actively involved in the propagating of Islam; and along with this he gave special attention to the spiritual training of his muridin. Historian have quoted the number of those disciples as being over 100,000 , many of whom were the people elevated spiritual state( ahl-e-Haal) and perfection ( Sahib al-Kamal). After each of the five daily Salah upto five hundred people would gather in his masjid to make the dhikr of Allah. Hazrat Nizam Uddin was strict in his observance of the Sunnah of Rasulullah swm. His concern for the welfare of the community, as exemplified by his care of the poor, was sincere and very great. He would always ensure that, in whatever way possible, he would fulfill the need of anyone who asked him for assistance.
Hazrat Nizam Uddin also wrote several books. The most important of these Nizam al-Qalub, a collection of his sayings. IN it he stresses the importance of spiritual upliftment (Islah) prior to one commencing the propagation of Islam. He states that in order to be a true representative of Islam, one necessarily must possess those qualities of spiritual perfection that would allow the person to spread the religion, not only by word, but also by practice and principle. In addition, this book describes the silent dhikr of the breath known as Pas Anfas. He states,
“ If you have any common sense, then continue the dhikr of pas anfas. Instantly, both the world will be yours. Immersion in Pas Anfas is the sword of the people of Allah, by which they cut the throat of the devil. This one advice alone will suffice you in this world; let no breath leave your chest without the mention of Allah’s name.”
Hazrat Nizam Uddin had thirteen khulafa continued his work after his demise, foremost of whom was his son, Moulana Fakhr Uddin MOuhib un-Nabi. His last few days on this earth were passed in a state of complete absorption in the rememberance of Allah (Istaghrak) he left this world on the 12 Zilqadah 1142 AH, and lies buried in his Mazar in Aurangabad. Ample testimony to his great services to Islam both during his life and posthumously can be found in the title afforded to him, Qutab-e-Deccan, or, ‘the axis around which revolves the south.’