URS OF KHAWAJA SHAH BAHAUDDIN NAQSHBAND (QSA)

URS OF KHAWAJA SHAH BAHAUDDIN NAQSHBAND (QSA)

We are wishing everyone a blessed URS (annual commemoration of passing) of the great Sufi saint, Hazrat Muhammad Bahauddin Shah Naqshband (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu). He is the founder of one of the largest spiritual paths (silsila) in the world, which is the Naqshbandi Silsila.

Shaykh Bahauddin Naqshband (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) was born in a village near Bukhara (Uzbekistan) in 717 A.H. At the age of 18 years old, he was already waking up 3 hours before Fajr (dawn prayer) and would pray, “O my Lord, give me the power to carry the difficulties and the pain of Your love.” Another shaykh, Hazrat As-Samasi (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) later told him to change this method of supplication (dua), and advised him to pray instead “O God, grant Your pleasure to this weak servant.” Hazrat As-Samasi (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) advised him that although Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala may give His servants some difficulties to test them, He does not like His servants to be in difficulties. However, this practice shows the intense love and determination of Hazrat Shah Naqshband (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) at such an early age.

Hazrat Bahauddin Shah Naqshband (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) became an exceptional Islamic scholar by the age of only 20 years old. He was a rare scholar of both the outward Islamic sciences (Shari’ah) and the inward Islamic sciences (Sufism) such that one of his titles were “Dhu-Janahayn” which is the possessor of two wings.

He passed ahead on the 3rd of Rabi al-Awwal in 791 A.H. after a lifetime of significant contribution to Islam and spirituality. He was buried in his garden as he requested.

We remember the awliya (holy saints) because Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala’s mercy comes down on us when we mention them. One of the masters of the Naqshbandi Silsila, Hazrat Sharafuddin Daghestani (Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu) said, “When the stories of the saints and details of their lives are mentioned, the sins of the listeners will be shattered away as the shattering of glass.”

Dua:

O my Lord, for the sake of all your beloved prophets and saints,
please fulfill all my needs and remove my pains

Ya Mere Allah Jumla Ambiya ke Wastey,
Hajathe Barla Meri Kul Awliya ke Wastey

Silsila-E-Aliya Khushhaliya !!

(Ref: 101 Great Mystics of Islam - Muhammad Riaz Qadiri)

Syed Afzal Ali Shah.
Lucknow.