HADHRAT QUTBUD DEEN BAKHTIYAR KAAKI
Rahmatullah Alayh
Hadhrat Shaikh is among the Akaabir Auliya. He was Mustajaabud Da’waat (i.e. one whose duas are readily accepted). His lineage links up with Hadhrat Imaam Ja’far Sadiq (rahmatullah alayh). He was born in the town of Aush in the year 582 Hijri. This town is situated in Tajikstan. He was born during the middle of the night. However, on account of an abundance of anwaar (celestial light) accompanying his birth, people thought day had commenced.
When he was one and a half years old, his father Sayyid Kamaluddin Ahmad Bin Sayyid Mْsa passed away. When he was five years, his mother sent him with a neighbour to a Muallim (Deeni teacher).
When he was in the way they met a buzrug who asked: “Where are you taking this lad?” When he was told that the boy was being taken to the maktab, he said:
“Leave him with me. I shall entrust him to a Muallim.”
The neighbour left the child with the buzrug who took him to Khwajah Abu Hafs Aushi. The buzrug said to Khwajah Abu Hafs:
“It is the command of Ahkamul Haakimeen that you teach this lad with great care.”
The buzrug then left. Hadhrat Ustad putting a hand of affection on the lad’s head said:
“You are most fortunate. Hadhrat Khidhr (alayhis salaam) has entrusted you to me.”
It is said that when Khwajah Qutbud Deen reached Aush he was 4 years and 4 months old. He was brought to Hadhrat Shaikh for Deeni Ta’leem. As Hadhrat took the slate to write something, he was informed by a voice that the academic knowledge of Khwajah Qutbud Deen has been entrusted to Qadhi Hamidud Deen Nagori. Hadhrat Shaikh therefore put down the slate. He then completed the Qur’aan Majeed under Qadhi Hamidud Deen.
This episode is briefly referred to in Ta’limuddin. It is written that a voice of an unseen being (Haatif) instructed Qadhi Hamidud Deen to close his eyes. Within moments he reached the place where the boy Qutbud Deen was. Taking the slate he said:
“O Qutbud Deen! What should I write?”
The four year old boy said:
“Write ...
Qadhi Sahib in astonishment asked him about his knowledge of the Qur’aan. The boy replied: “I have memorised 15 Paras by my mother.”
Within four days he learnt the other 15 Paras under Qadhi Hamidud Deen. Furthermore, he accomplished the acquisition of his academic knowledge in a very short period of time.
As he approached buloogh (maturity), he developed an intense desire for Uloom-e-Baatiniyyah. He therefore entered into the company of Khwajah Muinud Deen. On the 5th Rajab he took bay’t in Musjid Abul Laith. At the age of 17, the mantle of khilaafate was conferred to him. He is the very first khalifah of Hadhrat Khwajah Muinud Deen. On the instruction of his Shaikh, he took up residence in Delhi.
When Hadhrat Qutbud Deen Bakhtiyar Kaki took up residence in Delhi he would not accept any gift from anyone. He remained mustaghraq (completely absorbed in divine contemplation which made him oblivious of his surroundings). During these days he had no servant to tend to the needs of the house. Sharfud Deen, a Muslim shop-owner was his neighbour. Sometimes Sharfud Deen’s wife visited Hadhrat Shaikh’s wife.
At times there was absolutely nothing to eat in the house. On one such occasion, Hadhrat’s wife acquired a very small loan from the neighbour’s wife – just sufficient for some food. One day this woman said to Hadhrat’s wife:
“If I had not given you the loan, you would have starved to death.”
This statement hurt Hadhrat’s wife who resolved never again to ask for a loan.
Sometime thereafter she informed Hadhrat Shaikh of this incident. After a brief pause, Hadhrat said:
“You should not borrow anything from this woman.”
Pointing to a shelf, Hadhrat Shaikh said:
“When in need, recite Bismillah and take cake from it and distribute it to whomever you wish.”
Thereafter, she would always do so – taking from the shelf and distributing it. Whenever she placed her hand on the shelf, cake would be present miraculously.
It is for this reason that his title, Kaki became so famous.
In Aalam-e-Arwah, Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) said to Khwajah Muinud Deen that Qutbud Deen is Allah’s friend and the mantle of khilaafate should be conferred to him. The spiritual kingdom (wilaayat) of Delhi was also assigned to Hadhrat Qutbud Deen by the command of Allah Ta’ala.
Once during his stay in Delhi he went to Ajmer (to stay at his Shaikh’s khaanqah). The people of Delhi were grieved considerably by this separation. After appealing to Hadhrat Muinud Deen, he was sent back.
Beside his other ma’mulaat (acts of ibaadat), he would every night recite 3000 times Durood Shareef. When he married, he was unable to keep up this ma’mool (of Durood) for about two or three nights. His servant, Anees Ahmad, saw in a dream a beautiful palace. A huge gathering was outside the palace, but no one was entering. However, there was a buzrug of short physical stature who was going in and out. It transpired that Rasulullah (صلى الله عايه وسالم) was inside the palace. This buzrug was Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Mas’ْd (radhiyallahu anhu). He would carry the messages of the outsiders into the palace. Anees Ahmad (the servant) expressed a desire for ziyaarat, hence he sought permission to enter. From the palace it was said:
“You are not yet worthy of ziyaarat. However convey Salaams to Qutbud Deen and inform him that for three days his gift had not arrived.”
Another ma’mool of Hadhrat was 100 raka’ts Nafl Salaat daily. He was generally in the state of Istighraaq (absorbed in divine love). When someone came to visit him, he would only become aware of the person’s presence after some time. He had performed many karaamaat.
His Demise
Once when he heard a man reciting the following couplet
*****************
he lapsed into the state of Sukr for four days and on the fifth day he died.
TRANSLATION:
Those slain by the dagger of Ridha and tasleem are granted a new life everytime.
(Ridha is to be pleased and happy with the decrees of Allah Ta’ala. Tasleem is complete submission to the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala.)
Khwajah Shamsud Deen Altamush, the Sultan of Delhi gave the ghusl. Thereafter, Hadhrat’s khalifah, Khwajah Abu Saeed Tabrezi read out Hadhrat’s wasiyyat. In his wasiyyat was written:
“My Janaazah Salaat should be performed by the person who never committed a haraam act (with a female), who never missed the Sunnat raka’ts of Asr and who never missed Takbeer-e-عla of Jamaat Salaat.”
Hearing these conditions, a silence fell on the crowd. After some time, the Sultan stepped forward and said:
“I desired my condition to remain concealed, but Hadhrat Shaikh has exposed it.”
Hadhrat Aqdas Thanwi has narrated this episode in the following way:
“Hadhrat Shaikh had made a wasiyyat stating that his Janaazah Salaat should be performed by a man who never cast a gaze on a ghair mahram in his entire life. Great people (Ulama, Masha-ikh, etc.) were present, but all were bewildered. Where can such a person be found? Finally, when the people lost hope, Sultan Altamush was constrained to reveal himself. He said: ‘If Hadhrat had not instructed, I would never have exposed myself. However, since the Shaikh, himself has revealed this secret, I have to say that Allah Ta’ala has bestowed this ni’mat to me.’ He then conducted the Shaikh’s Janaazah Salaat.” (Al-Qoulul Jaleel)
Hadhrat Shaikh passed away on the 14th or 24th Rabiul Awwal in the year 633 or 634 Hijri on a Saturday. His grave is in the town of Mahroli.
He had many khulafaa. The names of 22 appear in books. However the Silsilah continued with only three, namely, Khwajah Faridud Deen Shakar Ganj, Shaikh Badrud Deen Ghaznawi and Shah Khidr Qalandarawi. Khwajah Shamsud Deen Altamush, the Sultan of Delhi was also among his famous Khulafaa