Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Trust
Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, revered as the Sultan of Saints (Sultan-ul-Mashaikh) and the Beloved of God (Mehboob-e-Ilahi), stands as one of the most influential Sufi saints of medieval India. Born in 1238 CE in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, he embarked on his spiritual journey at age twenty, becoming a distinguished disciple of Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar in Pakpattan. After his master's passing, he established his khanqah in Delhi around 1270 CE, where his teachings of love, tolerance, and philanthropy attracted followers from all strata of society. His philosophy emphasized that the path to Allah lay through service to humanity. As the fourth spiritual successor in the Chishti order in the Indian subcontinent, he nurtured disciples including the legendary poet Amir Khusrau. For over six decades, his hospice served as a sanctuary for spiritual seekers, the oppressed, and the marginalized. Following his death in 1324 CE during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Dargah Sharif became a timeless beacon of faith. Today, this sacred shrine in Delhi's Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin area continues to draw millions of devoted pilgrims annually from around the World.
Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, revered as the Sultan of Saints (Sultan-ul-Mashaikh) and the Beloved of God (Mehboob-e-Ilahi), stands as one of the most influential Sufi saints of medieval India. Born in 1238 CE in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh, he embarked on his spiritual journey at age twenty, becoming a distinguished disciple of Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar in Pakpattan. After his master's passing, he established his khanqah in Delhi around 1270 CE, where his teachings of love, tolerance, and philanthropy attracted followers from all strata of society. His philosophy emphasized that the path to Allah lay through service to humanity. As the fourth spiritual successor in the Chishti order in the Indian subcontinent, he nurtured disciples including the legendary poet Amir Khusrau. For over six decades, his hospice served as a sanctuary for spiritual seekers, the oppressed, and the marginalized. Following his death in 1324 CE during the reign of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Dargah Sharif became a timeless beacon of faith. Today, this sacred shrine in Delhi's Basti Hazrat Nizamuddin area continues to draw millions of devoted pilgrims annually from around the World.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was born in Badaun in 1238 CE, the only son of Khwaja Ahmad Bukhari and Bibi Zulaykha, both of whose parents had migrated to India from Bukhara, escaping the Mongol invasions which had devastated Central Asia, Hazrat Nizamuddin's father served as judge of Badaun but died when his son was only five years old, leaving the family with no worldly wealth. Although Hazrat Nizamuddin seemed to draw spiritual strength from these difficult childhood experiences. Whenever there would be no food in the House, Bibi Zulaykha would say to Hazrat Nizamuddin and his sister "Today we are the guests of Allah." If food happened to be available for several days in a row, the young boy would gently ask his mother, "When will we be the guests of Allah again?" Somehow Bibi Zulaykha managed to educate her Son, and Hazrat Nizamuddin studied Arabic and the Quran Sharif as well as meeting many Darveshes and Sufis, who impressed the boy deeply. One day a wandering qawwal or devotional singer came to Badaun and told Hazrat Nizamuddin about Baba Farid Ganjshakar and the deeply spiritual atmosphere of his khanqah or Sufi convent at Ajodhan. At the mere mention of the name of Baba Farid, Hazrat Nizamuddin's life was transformed and he knew that some day he would sit at the feet of this great Sufi master. After completing his basic education, Hazrat Nizamudding at the age of eighteen, left Badaun & came with his mother and sister to Delhi, the magnificent capital of the Muslim Empire, to continue his studies.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was born in Badaun in 1238 CE, the only son of Khwaja Ahmad Bukhari and Bibi Zulaykha, both of whose parents had migrated to India from Bukhara, escaping the Mongol invasions which had devastated Central Asia, Hazrat Nizamuddin's father served as judge of Badaun but died when his son was only five years old, leaving the family with no worldly wealth. Although Hazrat Nizamuddin seemed to draw spiritual strength from these difficult childhood experiences. Whenever there would be no food in the House, Bibi Zulaykha would say to Hazrat Nizamuddin and his sister "Today we are the guests of Allah." If food happened to be available for several days in a row, the young boy would gently ask his mother, "When will we be the guests of Allah again?" Somehow Bibi Zulaykha managed to educate her Son, and Hazrat Nizamuddin studied Arabic and the Quran Sharif as well as meeting many Darveshes and Sufis, who impressed the boy deeply. One day a wandering qawwal or devotional singer came to Badaun and told Hazrat Nizamuddin about Baba Farid Ganjshakar and the deeply spiritual atmosphere of his khanqah or Sufi convent at Ajodhan. At the mere mention of the name of Baba Farid, Hazrat Nizamuddin's life was transformed and he knew that some day he would sit at the feet of this great Sufi master. After completing his basic education, Hazrat Nizamudding at the age of eighteen, left Badaun & came with his mother and sister to Delhi, the magnificent capital of the Muslim Empire, to continue his studies.
During his formative years in Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin distinguished himself among the city's most elite academic circles, yet despite his scholarly achievements, he experienced profound spiritual restlessness, finding that intellectual knowledge alone failed to quench his thirst for divine connection. This existential yearning ultimately compelled him to abandon his prestigious position after four years in the capital. On July 25, 1257, he embarked on a transformative pilgrimage to Ajodhan, traversing nearly 500 kilometers to seek guidance at the khangqah of the venerable Sufi Master Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar. Upon their first meeting, Baba Farid immediately recognized the young seeker's exceptional spiritual potential and radiant inner light, accepting him as a disciple without hesitation. Hazrat Nizamuddin remained at Ajodhan for several intensive months, immersing himself in the Chishti order's mystical practices - mastering dhikr (remembrance of God), perfecting contemplative meditation techniques, and internalizing the core Sufi principles of divine love, humility, and selfless service to humanity. Throughout his life, he maintained a deep connection with his Master, making multiple return journeys to Ajodhan for spiritual renewal and guidance. When Baba Farid passed in 1265 AD, he designated Hazrat Nizamuddin as his spiritual successor, bestowing upon him his personal robe, his staff, and his prayer rug.
During his formative years in Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin distinguished himself among the city's most elite academic circles, yet despite his scholarly achievements, he experienced profound spiritual restlessness, finding that intellectual knowledge alone failed to quench his thirst for divine connection. This existential yearning ultimately compelled him to abandon his prestigious position after four years in the capital. On July 25, 1257, he embarked on a transformative pilgrimage to Ajodhan, traversing nearly 500 kilometers to seek guidance at the khangqah of the venerable Sufi Master Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar. Upon their first meeting, Baba Farid immediately recognized the young seeker's exceptional spiritual potential and radiant inner light, accepting him as a disciple without hesitation. Hazrat Nizamuddin remained at Ajodhan for several intensive months, immersing himself in the Chishti order's mystical practices - mastering dhikr (remembrance of God), perfecting contemplative meditation techniques, and internalizing the core Sufi principles of divine love, humility, and selfless service to humanity. Throughout his life, he maintained a deep connection with his Master, making multiple return journeys to Ajodhan for spiritual renewal and guidance. When Baba Farid passed in 1265 AD, he designated Hazrat Nizamuddin as his spiritual successor, bestowing upon him his personal robe, his staff, and his prayer rug.
Hazrat Nizamuddin lived near the Qutab Minar until sometime about 1280 when he heard a mysterious voice telling him to go to Ghayaspur, a small village located several kilometers form the capital. Following this advice, Hazrat Nizamuddin settled in Ghayaspur with a few of his devoted disciples living in a simple khanqah on the bank of the Yamuna River. As his fame spread, thousands of people began to visit the khangah to receive instruction and blessing from the Saint. His disciples and followers covered all levels of Indian society numbering among them princes, nobles, merchants, ordinary workers and masses of the poor. Hazrat Nizamuddin's daily life radiated love, tolerance and service to mankind. By midnight the huge donations of food and money that daily poured into the khangah were redistributed to the poor and each day began afresh trusting in the bounty of Allah. No one who came, left empty handed, and for centuries the Dargah Sharif has maintained its original reputation as a refuge for the hungry, sick and spiritually searching. During his long life which spanned the reigns of Seven Successive Kings of Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin warned his followers to keep aloof from the Court and affairs of state. Many of the sultans wished to visit the saint, but Hazrat Nizamuddin would quietly say, "Tell the sultan that there are two doors in my Khanqah, and if he enters through the front door, I will leave by the back door."
Hazrat Nizamuddin lived near the Qutab Minar until sometime about 1280 when he heard a mysterious voice telling him to go to Ghayaspur, a small village located several kilometers form the capital. Following this advice, Hazrat Nizamuddin settled in Ghayaspur with a few of his devoted disciples living in a simple khanqah on the bank of the Yamuna River. As his fame spread, thousands of people began to visit the khangah to receive instruction and blessing from the Saint. His disciples and followers covered all levels of Indian society numbering among them princes, nobles, merchants, ordinary workers and masses of the poor. Hazrat Nizamuddin's daily life radiated love, tolerance and service to mankind. By midnight the huge donations of food and money that daily poured into the khangah were redistributed to the poor and each day began afresh trusting in the bounty of Allah. No one who came, left empty handed, and for centuries the Dargah Sharif has maintained its original reputation as a refuge for the hungry, sick and spiritually searching. During his long life which spanned the reigns of Seven Successive Kings of Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin warned his followers to keep aloof from the Court and affairs of state. Many of the sultans wished to visit the saint, but Hazrat Nizamuddin would quietly say, "Tell the sultan that there are two doors in my Khanqah, and if he enters through the front door, I will leave by the back door."
Surrounding the Dargah Sharif stand a rich concent of Indo Islamic architecture. These striking tombs, mosques, fortifications and private dwellings from the mid-thirteenth century to the present day and themselves monuments to the unceasing veneration of both rich and poor for the saint over the last seven hundred years. Many of the buildings still serve their original purposes as places for congregational prayers, distribution of food to the poor, ritual bathing and meditative retreat. Inside the Dargah Sharif, pilgrims offer baskets of red roses and burn incense. Today men, women and children of all religions and faiths come and pray together at the rose-covered tombs of Hazrat Amir Khusro, a gifted poet of persian and Urdu languages and beloved disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin, who was asked by his master to write verses in the colloquial language in order to bring people closer, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya - a moving testimony to the words of the Saint who said, "Come to the path of truth, come whichever way you choose, you will finally reach the same goal."
Surrounding the Dargah Sharif stand a rich concent of Indo Islamic architecture. These striking tombs, mosques, fortifications and private dwellings from the mid-thirteenth century to the present day and themselves monuments to the unceasing veneration of both rich and poor for the saint over the last seven hundred years. Many of the buildings still serve their original purposes as places for congregational prayers, distribution of food to the poor, ritual bathing and meditative retreat. Inside the Dargah Sharif, pilgrims offer baskets of red roses and burn incense. Today men, women and children of all religions and faiths come and pray together at the rose-covered tombs of Hazrat Amir Khusro, a gifted poet of persian and Urdu languages and beloved disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin, who was asked by his master to write verses in the colloquial language in order to bring people closer, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya - a moving testimony to the words of the Saint who said, "Come to the path of truth, come whichever way you choose, you will finally reach the same goal."