URS OF KHAWAJA MAWLANA MOHAMMAD KHUSHHAL SHAH (QSA)

We are wishing everyone a very blessed URS (annual commemoration of passing) of the great Sufi Saint Hazrat Khawaja Mawlana Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu).
 
Hazrat Khawaja Mawlana Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was born in 1931.  From an early age, he was attracted to studying Islam, and had great love for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la and the Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ.  The signs of piousness in him were so strong, that his early Qur’an teacher told him that one day, he would be a very spiritually powerful man of God, and to remember his teacher in his prayers. 

In the 1940’s, the Hazrat Khawaja Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) left his hometown and travelled to a renowned madrasa to attain higher level of Islamic studies in the Dars-e Nizami program.  He completed his studies much earlier than the rest of the students in his class.  He was known to beautifully recite the Holy Qur’an.  His classmates related that he was very independent and never asked anyone for anything.  He soon attained the degree of an Alim (Scholar of Islamic Law) with the title of a Mawlana and was authorized to teach the different Islamic sciences. 

After completing his studies, he began serving the Muslim community at a masjid in Mohammadpur near Khatauli in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.  He did not take any money for his services and lived a humble life of seclusion focused on worship.  He would lead each prayer in the masjid, and then go back to his room (hujra) to continue his worship. The effect of such extreme worship from an early age resulted in his face being bright like a moon.  This would cause people to be attracted to him just by looking at him so much so that he would have to cover his face with a rumal (handkerchief) when he would go out. 

Around this time, he would visit his older brother in Bombay, India.  He would also visit a Sufi Saint known as Syed Saheb in Bombay, India.  Syed Sahab was very unique as he would be dressed in a shirt and pant, but there would be a long line just to meet him.  But Syed Sahab also recognized the traits in Khawaja Mohmmad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) and granted him special permission to meet him directly.  The talks and meetings with Syed Sahab ignited an intense fire and longing in the heart of the Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) of finding a perfect and complete shaykh (Murshid e Kamil). 

In the 1950’s, he learned that the holy person he was searching for all his life was in Bhainsori Sharif, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh.  He then immediately presented himself for service in front of the great Sultan Al-Awliya Hazrat Mohammad Hasan Shah (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu), and gave his bay’ah (allegiance).  

It did not take long for Hazrat Khawaja Mohammad Hasan Shah (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) to grow very fond of Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) as he knew that this young man had already attained a high spiritual degree and was destined for a very high spiritual station with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’la.  After six months, Hazrat Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was granted Khilafat and Ijazat at only 22 years old in 1953.  He then quickly became one of Hazrat Khawaja Mohammad Hasan Shah’s (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) most favorite and beloved Khalifas. 

After attaining Khilafat, the Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) embarked on a journey and life of so much fasting, meditations (chillah) and worship that there is no match for his ascetism (zuhd) in the recent era of Sufism in the world. He undertook countless spiritual seclusions of 40, 60, 90 and 120 days.  He fasted continuously for 17 long years (faqa-kashi) with only the water of lentils (moong ki daal) and black tea.  He would spend his day reciting 10,000 Darood Sharif (Salawat) and his nights in the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala as he slept only 30 minutes per day.  He was also known to complete the Holy Qu’ran once a day in his early days, and has always been dressed from head to toe according to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ.  This practice of consuming less food, worship, staying up all night and reciting abundant Darood Sharif (Salawat) continued for his entire life. 

He undertook spiritual seclusions (chillahs) in Mohammedpur (Khatouli), Afghanpur (Meerut), Madikeri (Karnataka) and many other places in India.  But the majority of his spiritual seclusions took place in Chillagah e Sharif located in Bihargarh, Morna, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.  His mureeds (disciples) are over 100,000 and reside all over the world. 

In the year 2017 and on the 18th date of the Islamic month of Rajab, he passed ahead after a lifetime of worship spent to gain the love of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.  His resting place is in Chillagah e Sharif, and thousands of people continue to visit him to this day to receive his spiritual blessings. 

The present Sajjada Nashin Sahib (Successor) is Hazrat Sufi Jawwad Ahmed Khushhali.  He was chosen by Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) from an early age and the indications are too many to list.  Some of them are that Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) named him before  he was even born, gave him Khilafat and Ijazat at the same age of 22 years old, and married him to his second eldest daughter.  The current affairs of Darbar E Aaliya Kushhaliya operate under the spiritual guidance of Hazrat Sufi Jawwad Ahmed Khushhali as he continues to walk in the footsteps of Khawaja Mohammad Khushhal (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu).

Dua: 

Sabr o Istiqlal Se Hamare Dil Ko Mazbooth Rakh,
Ya Ilahi Haath Se Choote Na Damaan E Khushhal

O’ my Lord, strengthen my heart with patience and perseverance,
And never let my hands slip from my connection to Khawaja Khushhal

Silsila - E - Aliya Khushhaliya 

Syed afzal Ali shah Maududi. 

Editor cum Bureau chief. 

Lucknow