HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN

Hazrat Nizamuddin is very popular even today, died at the age of 82 in April 1325 CE and witnessed ruling of thirteen rulers ascend the throne of Delhi. The shaikh's ancestors were migrated from Bukhara in Uzbekistan to Badayun in UP following the troubles from the Mongols. Thus a privileged family became in total poverty. The Shaikh's father died early and the widowed mother used to say"Nizamuddin, today we are the guests of God," which meant there was nothing to eat in the house.

Nizamuddin travelled to Delhi and made his asram at now known as Nizamuddin. His many devotees included the rich, poor, learned, illiterate, villagers, soldiers, Hindus and Muslims. His kitchen supplied food to thousands of people every day.Provisions for the kitchen were not kept for than a week. The Shaikh ate rarely, tearfully confessing the trouble he had swallowing food when there were countless people starving in Delhi.

One hot day in summer, some houses in the neighbourhood caught fire. Barefooted, the Shaikh rushed to the site, standing there until the fire was completely doused. He personally counted the houses that had been burnt and appointed his deputy to compensate the affected families with two silver coins, food and water.

Nizamuddin believed that although many ways to lead to the God, none was more effective than bringing happiness to the human heart. The shaikh also taught that happiness was not in amazing wealth but distributing it. The Shaikh also preached that revenge is the law of jungle."If a man puts a thorn in your way and you also put thorn in his way, there will be thorns everywhere."

Nizamuddin desired to be buried under the open sky.But Sultan Mohammad Bin Tughlaq built a dome over his grave. Hearing the loss of his mentor on returning from Bengal, his devotee, the poet Amir Khusrau, tore his clothes, blackened his face and re- cited his last verse,


"Gori sove sej per much par dhar khes
chal Khusrau ghar aapne, rain bhare sab des"