Imamus Salekeen Mehboob e Haq Hazrat Shah Mohammed Taqi- Aziz Mian Sahib (RA)

Hazrat Shah Mohiuddin Ahmad (RA) had only a daughter. His wife passed away at a very young age. Sarkar did not marry after that. He had a premonition that only a daughter will be born to him and the lineage would be carried through his daughter’s son. Sarkar’s daughter was a pious lady herself adorned with all the qualities of perfection. She was married into a respectable family of Bachraon. Sarkar loved his daughter very much. He got a haveli constructed adjacent to his place of stay where she lived throughout her life 

When she did not bear a child after four years of marriage, in laws became anxious and requested Sarkar to be kind to them and bless them with a child. Sarkar paused for a while and then said that the girl and her husband should lawfully agree to give their first child to Hazrat Mohiuddin Ahmad and he will be the future Sajjada Nashin. When Sarkar Sirajus Salekeen’s daughter and son-in-law agreed to this, a year later a son was born on 20th December 1899 (16/17th Rabiulawwal, 1317 A.H).

Hazrat Tajul Aulia had desired that when the baby was born his face should be covered by a cloth and he should be the first person to see him. Hence, the new born baby was first of all placed in Huzoor Tajul Aulia’s lap. The new born opened his eyes. Sarkar had a privileged gaze at the child. The child got unconscious but Sarkar told that he was alright and the mantle of Niazia message will be carried forward by him. His birth was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur and he was named as – Mohammad Taqi alias Aziz Mian (RA).

Education:

Hazrat Aziz Mian Sahib as an infant was mostly in the company of Hazrat Tajul Aulia and Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA). When he was only 2½ year old Hazrat Tajul Aulia taught him ‘SHAGHAL’. So he was brought up in such a pious environment. He got trained by various Khalifas. The prominent among them were – Moulvi Ismail Sahib Punjabi, Moulvi Bashir Ahmad Sahib Barelvi, Moulvi Ibne Ali Sahib Barelvi, Moulvi Mohd Faiq Sahib Fatehpuri, Syed Fakhruddin Sahib, Yusuf Hussain Sahib Lakhnavi, Maulana Syed Ameer Hussain Sahib, Mohiuddin Dehlvi Sahib.

In Niazia order a person adorns the seat of excellence or becomes Sajjada Nashin when he excels in all spheres of spiritual and worldly faculties. Since childhood Sarkar Imamus Salekeen was imparted training and education in all the faculties which are requisite for a person to be a Sajjada Nashin.

Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) had brought up Sarkar Imamus Salekeen with all care and full attention. They were very much emotionally attached to each other. At a time when Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) was not keeping well and was thinking in terms of departure from this world, he once asked Imamus Salekeen to bring Shamsul Aain Sharief (a book written by Huzoor Qibla Niaz-be-Niaz (RA)) so that he could finally finish the teaching of that book. Hazrat Imamus Salekeen (RA) deliberately avoided bringing the book at that time and said that he could not think in terms of leaving this world unless teaching of all the lessons was completed. Subsequently, however, Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) did complete his teaching and training assignments in a manner that Hazrat Imamus Salekeen (RA) could not even understand that the time had come for his departure.

On 6th Jamadiussani 1342 at the time of Urs of Huzoor Qibla Niaz-be-Niaz (RA) Sarkar Sirajus Salekeen addressed a huge gathering of Khalifas and bestowed the seat of excellence (Sajjada Nashini) on Hazrat Imamus Salekeen (RA). He spoke very high of him and asked his disciples to obey him. He, however, formally sat on the ‘masnad’ after the departure of Sarkar Sirajus Salekeen (RA) in 1924 and adorned the mantle for nearly forty four years. This period was marked by notable expansion not only in spiritual sphere but also in terms of construction activities in Khanqah premises. For nearly twenty five years the labour involved in construction activities worked almost as employees. The marble domes, addition in sama khana (space where Qawwali gathering used to sit) the Khanqah kitchen and the Guest House for outstation disciples were the major construction activities undertaken in Khanqah premises.

Several hundred new disciples were enrolled in Indian sub-continent, Nepal and Afghanistan. In addition to that he had disciples in England, France, Australia and USA. Prominent among his disciples were Hazrat Pir Ibrahim Sahib (RA) of Baghdad and Syed Inayat Hussain Ain Khan Sahib, then Dewan (Chief) of Ajmer Sharief – belonging to the two most important centers in spiritualism.

Sarkar Imamus Salekeen strictly adhered to speak less, eat lesser and sleep least. He rarely spent anything on his person and all ‘nazar’ received in cash and kind was deposited in Khanqah account. He was so generous and kind that no one was allowed to leave unattended. It was observed that many a times when nazar money order was received, he would add the money order fee from his side and send the amount to some needy person. He also used to bear the marriage expenses of poor girls, and all that he did so quietly that this did not get into the knowledge of even his sons. He was hospitable to the guests and loved to feed the poor. When he was twelve year old, he had stopped taking dinner and avoided sleep. In lunch also he took very little diet.

He was endowed with so much supernatural energy that despite very light diet, he used to bend the silver coin with his thumb. He sometimes used to detach the two horns of hunted deer with his hands in a manner that one horn remained in one hand and the second one in the other in a single stroke. He had obtained special training in martial art and sword fighting. In order to encourage his sons and disciples, he demonstrated this occasionally. People were given wooden sticks in their hands and were asked to display various forms of martial art of attack and defence. Once, when such an exercise was going on Sarkar observed that a Pathan disciple was not performing with proper strength. On encouragement from Sarkar’s side, he attacked with full force. Sarkar defended himself in a manner that the attacker fell down flat. Sarkar smiled and said that if right form of art is applied then physical strength does not work.

He was fond of hunting and rarely missed his target. He used to shoot the flying birds and running animals while himself travelling in a speeding car. As an expert in fish hunting, he could predict the type of the fish inside the water and tell about its weight just by seeing the level of the water.

He was an expert in sword fighting. A big fish weighing twelve kilogram was hung by a rope and with single stroke of sword he cut it into two equal pieces. Once a silken scarf was got thrown from the roof top and he targetted it in a manner that the scarf got cut into two pieces.

A twelve inch paper piping was put on the floor and he with great expertise cut the upper part of the piping in a manner that the lower part remained intact and undisturbed. He was also a very good horse rider and could easily control the naughty horses.

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Calligraphy:

He was an excellent calligrapher – an art which he inherited from his ancestors. He had disciples throughout India and Munshi Ram Chander of Jaipur earned a name in calligraphy by his training and blessings. Various forms of calligraphic material is still available in Khanqah and speaks a lot about his artistic excellence.

Music:

He had a great ear for music. He specially trained Khanqah’s musician-qawwal, Mubarak Hussain with self composed tunes and made him practice in his presence. He composed a special ‘Qaul’ and also set its tune. This is presented on the final day of Urs just before Amir Khusro’s (RA) famous ‘Aaj Rang Hai’. Various famous musicians throughout the country were his disciples. Prominent among them included Ahmad Jan Thirakwa, Padma Bhushan Mushtaq Hussain Khan, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Lachchu Maharaj, Pt. Shambhu Maharaj, Pt. VG Jog, Uma Sharma, Ustad Nasir Hussain, Ustad Zaheer Uddin Dagar and Maharani Kapoorthala – Naina Devi. These musicians used to display their art and whenever they faltered a glance of Sarkar made them alert and make necessary amends.

Medicine:

Sarkar Qibla excelled in the field of medicine which he had learnt from Hazrat Sarkar Sirajus Salekeen (RA) and Hakim Aziz Ahmad Sahib Fatehpuri and Hakim Mohammad Ahmad Khan Sahib of Delhi. These Hakims were renowned physicians of their time. Sarkar had in store a number of medicines for free of cost distribution among the poor and the needy.

Khanqah Niazia is quite famous for the cure of snake bitten people. It has been observed that no person brought alive has ever died. Hazrat Tajul Aulia (RA) had studied deeply about the various forms of snakes and the intensity of their poison. A special system of cure is there. Some lines are recited in the ear in order to make the person conscious. If a person does not get consciousness, he gets consciousness just by taking the name of Hazrat Tajul Aulia (RA). All sorts of snake bites were treated and Sarkar Qibla had an expertise in treating diseases like neuro disorders, carbuncle, paralysis and intestinal tuberculosis.

Scholar, Orator and Poet:

Hazrat Qibla was a scholar par excellence. He wrote nearly 37 books, the main being – Raz-e-Takhleeq, Raz-e-Mohabbat, Tarana-e-Chisht, Risala-e-Ainul Wajud.

He addressed on various aspects of Wehdatul Wujood. At the same time he was a great poet who wrote in Urdu, Persian and Hindi and had full command on these languages. His collection of poems “Raz-e-Haqiqat” and “Raz-e-Niaz” are excellent examples of Urdu poetry. It is an extract of Tasawwuf (Sufism). His poems include Hamd (in praise of the Almighty), Naat (in praise of the Holy Prophet), Manqibat (in praise of Ahle Bait and Sufi Saints), Qasida, Marsia, Nazms, Khams and Ghazals. Sarkar Qibla’s poems have become very famous and are recited/sung in various Khanqahs and Durgahs across the country – just for example:

PARDA-E-SHAUQ HAI YEHI SURAT-E-RAZ HAI YEHI

TUM HO NAZAR KE SAMNE MERI NAMAZ HAI YEHI

His love and regard for his Pir, Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) was unmitigated and is reflected in all his poems. To cite only one example:

SHEH MOHIUDDIN AHMAD BADBANE BAHARE DEEN

RAZ MISKEENE TURA HAJAT RAWAI DEEGAR AST

It may not be out of place here to cite an example of his love and regard for his pir.

His wife, Bibi Sahiba, was seriously ill and the Urs of his Pir, Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) got in progress. The whole Khanqah was full of disciples. Sarkar, as usual, was busy and everything was being done as per routine. Nobody was aware of happenings inside the Haveli. In the meantime, his wife breathed her last. Sarkar strictly asked his sons and others not to disturb the schedule and let anyone know about it till Urs ceremonies were over. The whole family was grief stricken but only, when all people had finished meals (Langar) and Urs was over, people were informed about Bibi Sahiba having left on her heavenly abode and burial took place after namaz-e-janaza.

Sarkar Qibla’s love and admiration for his pir was to such an extent that just the mention of the name of Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA) brought a special glow and effect on his face. Each and everything, however, small that belonged to his Pir was dear to him. Once one of his brothers took out a knife and at the first sight he could say that it belonged to ‘Abba’ (Sarkar). Of course, he allowed it to be retained by his younger brother.

Sarkar had great respect for Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA). He used to visit his shrine twice a year. He was always present in the Urs ceremony of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) during the month of Rajab and the Urs ceremony of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA) in the month of Shawwal and his favourite couplet on the occasion is cited here as an example of his poetry and his extreme regard for the great saint. 

‘SAKHI DATA BHIKARAN AAGAI HAI

PHATI JHOLI BAIRAGAN AAGAI HAl

SHARAM AEGI DASI HOON TUMHARI

SHARAM RAKH LO KE ANGAN AAGAI HAl

BADA HAl RAZ KE DATA KA DWARA

UTARA VA KA MANGAN AAGAI HAl’

(Oh generous giver, the beggar has come with a torn bag. I am your slave and I have come to your door. The door of Raz’s giver is great, and I have come to beg for your sadqa).

In Hindi, he composed poems on Holi and Basant, two major festivals observed in India and in continuation of lines quoted above, he thus addresses Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA):

KHAWJA JI THARI ANKHIYAN SE BARSE GULAL

SIGRI CHISHT NAGAR KE HO LAL

RAZ KI BIPTA SUNLO KHAWJA

TUM HO KIS KI AAL; KHAWJA JI –

And his personification with his Pir is reflected in these few lines on Basant Panchami.

MORE MUKH MALDEENO RANG BASANTI

KAHE SIRAJ PIA YEH KIYA KEENO

KARDEENO MORA RANG BASANTI

SARSON PHOOLI MORI AANKHAN MEI

CHOKHA LAGAT MOHE DHANG BASANTI

RAZ KE TERE AAO PARBHU

PEHNOON CHOLA TUM SANG BASANTI

Sarkar Qibla was a great orator also. Jalsa-e-Seerat-un-Nabi is a regular feature in Khanqah-i-Niazia. Occasionally Sarkar himself went to the podium and spoke very forcefully on any aspect of Seerat-un-Nabi. When he was addressing the audience his face reflected his emotional/spiritual involvement and his talk had a great impact on all those present.

In other gatherings also Sarkar on special invitation delivered religious discourses which were very different from what others generally spoke. He dealt with general problems of human being and established its relationship to the God. In an address to a gathering comprising people of all faiths, held in Bombay he once emphasized that one should always remember the creator and convince oneself that he is present in everyone and everywhere. Religion, he emphasized, meant adherence to a set of principles. There could be difference in methods but not in basic principles which were common to all religions. No one among his creations should be ridiculed and even if the apparently looking worst possible person suggests something good, one should accept it on face value and follow it.

Once on the occasion of Urs of Hazrat Gharib Nawaz (RA) he presided over one of the sessions of All India Sufi Conference held at Ajmer on 6-7 February 1957. He talked in detail about ‘Tasawwuf’ and the Sufi mission in the light of Quran and Hadith and emphasized that for the service of the humanity, Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz taught us to leave one’s own place, undergo all sorts of inconveniences and bear with opposition and he thus set an example for the rest of the people to follow.

Daily routine of Hazrat Qibla (RA):

Sarkar adhered to the same routine programme which was the tradition of his Pir. After the death of his wife he usually slept in Khanqah. When he was staying in the Khanqah he used to perform morning prayers there only. It was his routine to pay his tributes to Hazrat Sirajus Salekeen (RA), then to Hazrat Tajul Aulia (RA) and then to Hazrat Niaz-be-Niaz (RA) and finally he used to kiss the grave of his father Mehdi Mian Sahib (RA).

During the summers he used to sit in the front portion of Khanqah where a couple of chairs were placed. He used to meet people there, listen to their woes and problems of his disciples. At 10 in the morning he used to have food in the Haveli. And that was the only one meal he took during 24 hours.

At 11 in the morning he was again in the Khanqah. Many people from the city and from outside came to meet him. He heard their problems and did his best to help them. He used to offer his Zohar prayers sometimes in the Haveli and sometimes in the Khanqah. After Maghrib prayers he was engrossed in his routine meditations. He used to remain in the Khanqah till 2 am. His disciples were made to practice ZIKR (recitation of the names of god).

Sarkar Qibla was very fond of Sama. Whenever Qawwal Mubarak Hussain was present in the Khanqah, mehfil e SAMA was organized. When the poets were present, he used to listen to their poems and encourage them. After paying respects to the Mazars he used to leave for Haveli for Tahajjud prayers.

Lot of ‘Fatehas’ were organized in the Khanqah. The main purpose of these ‘fatehas’ was to feed the people in large numbers. Lot of food was cooked in the Khanqah kitchen and people from all over the city and other nearby places used to come and eat there.

Sarkar was always engrossed in prayers. With deep insight into human character, he assuaged the wounds of his visitors and strengthened their unshakable faith in God and moral values. He laid stress on service to humanity, love and universal brotherhood in true tradition of his predecessors. He worked for human welfare at large and never made any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed or religion. Large number of non-muslims were amongst his disciples. 

Sarkar Qibla was endowed with supernatural powers. With such powers, he could ameliorate the difficulties and problems of mankind. Only a few examples are being cited here. An Afghan Chieftain, Bahlol Khan who was residing in Mirji Ka Bagh, Jaipur was upset with his brother, Jang Bahadur Khan’s serious illness. Who had been diagnosed an enlarged heart. In those times such operations were done only in Germany. Since he could not bear expenses he was depressed. It was Sarkar Qibla’s routine to stay in Jaipur on return from Urs of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA) in Ajmer. When Sarkar Qibla came the person suffering was brought on the cot in front of him. Bahlol Khan started crying. Sarkar enquired as to what was the matter. He, then, told that his brother had been diagnosed with an enlarged heart and its cure was not possible here. Jung Bahadur Khan was confined to bed for a long time. Sarkar just touched his heart with his hand and told that the doctor’s diagnosis was wrong, he was alright. Then he asked the bedridden person to stand and walk. The person stood up and started walking slowly. Behlol Khan was amazed and was extremely happy. Then Sarkar prescribed certain medicines for the person’s satisfaction. The doctors were astonished as to how this person got well. Jung Bahadur remained alive for ten years after that. Everyone thought this to be a miracle but Sarkar who always underplayed miracles replied that it was only a case of psychosis.

Once, Sarkar Qibla was staying in the Seth Osman Chottani’s residence at Bombay. Various businessmen and a person named Pran Lal who had just completed studies after getting a degree in Chemistry from some University in USA were discussing that silver could never turn into gold chemically. Copper could wrap golden colour but it cannot become pure gold. Sarkar was busy in meditation. When one of the participants drew his attention towards the assertion that chemically the silver could not be transformed into gold, Sarkar asked for his betel case which was made of silver. There were two small spoons made of silver in this betel case. Sarkar took out one spoon, cut it with a scissor and gave the small portion of it to Pran Lal Ji. Then he asked his servant to bring his shoe and put the dust of it on the spoon. As Sarkar was inhaling ‘hookah’ at that time he therafter asked the servant to put the spoon in it and take it out after sometime. When the spoon was taken out and cleaned it had turned into gold. Sarkar gave it to Pran Lal Ji to test whether it was gold or not. Many people present there became his disciples. This part of spoon remained with Lalbhai Patel, who later became the Khalifa and propagated the message of peace and brotherhood in Germany and America.

A relation of Dr Badri Prasad who was bitten by a poisonous snake was taken to a hospital and given some injection but to no avail. Somebody advised him to take the person to Khanqah where any person with snake bite was cured. The mother of the concerned person insisted on taking him to the Khanqah. And hence the person was brought to the Khanqah accompanied by many doctors who were his relatives. Those persons came to Sarkar and said that they had lost all hope but had come because of his mother who was insisting. The disciples started the cure. Sarkar seated on a chair alongwith the doctors, occasionally enquired about the patient. Since the patient was not responding Sarkar went close to him and had a sharp gaze at the patient. The person started shivering. Sarkar said that now his work was over. And he may be given routine treatment. The person regained consciousness and started recognizing the people around him. The doctors and other relatives were astonished and fell on Sarkar’s feet.

Sarkar Qibla was very kind and affectionate to Janab Anwar-ur-Rahman Sahib (RA) his caliph in Jaipur and used to stay at his place on return from Ajmer after attending Urs of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA). His son Amin-ur-Rahman Niazi who was posted as Deputy Tehsildar in a town in Rajasthan, suddenly lost eyesight sitting in his Office. He just washed his eyes with water but nothing happened. He got deeply worried and rushed to his house where all the family members were shocked to learn that he had lost his eyesight. Immediately he was taken to an eye specialist. After a detailed examination the doctor diagnosed that the eyes may not regain sight, unless a brain operation was done. He was taken to Khanqah in Barielly Sharief. Sarkar Qibla was seated in the room behind the Astana Sharief. As he approached him Sarkar said that Amin Mian used to attend the Urs ceremony alongwith his father but he stopped after he got into a job. Now he has come with this excuse that he has lost sight. Sarkar was smiling as he uttered this sentence. Then he called Amin-ur-Rahman near him, applied his saliva in both the eyes and told him to open his eyes. In the first application of saliva he could see the dim pictures of people around. In the second application he could feel light and in the third application everything was visible to him. Then Sarkar asked his servant to bring water from the well, recited something and instructed the patient to put it in his eyes daily.

Once during the Urs ceremony of Hazrat Niaz-be-Niaz (RA), ‘Mehfil e Sama’ was in full swing. A famous qawwal named Abdur Rahman Kanchwala was singing. A curious thing about him was that he used to sing in a standing position. Whole of Khanqah was packed with people. Even the roof top was crowded with ladies.

The Qawwal was reciting the couplet…

“ACHCHA YEH MOHABBAT ME ASAR DEKH RAHA HOON”

“TUM HEE NAZAR AATE HO JIDHAR DEKH RAHA HOON”

(I am feeling effect of love and seeing you wherever I see)

Soon the sound of wailing of ladies came from the outside lane. When enquired it was known that a girl of six years had fallen from the roof. Sarkar too enquired and again got lost in the Sama. The Qawwali continued. The girl who had fallen from the roof did not get even a scratch and she stood on her own. Everybody was astonished as it was a real 

miracle.

Sarkar was staying in ‘AMEER MANZIL’ for treatment of his wife in Agra. Some chairs were lying in front of the gate. Sarkar used to sit in one of those chairs. Sagar who was posted as Ticket Collector in Railways was passing on a cycle through this lane. As he saw Sarkar Qibla, he got struck down and started staring at him. Sarkar also looked at him and smiled. He got down from the cycle and fell on Sarkar’s feet and sat on a chair near him. Then he expressed desire to be his disciple. Sarkar smiled and asked him to bring some sweets (batashaas) from the nearby shop. Sarkar took him to the room and made him his disciple. When one of those present asked as to what he had seen he first said that it was a secret known to him or the Almighty. Then he narrated that once he had gone to take the dip in holy Ganges. While he was taking bath he slipped and started drowning. Suddenly he saw a saintly person who came and rescued him and brought him to the shore. That saintly person was none other than Sarkar and once he saw him sitting, he could immediately recognize him. He brought pure ghee for Sarkar which Sarkar desired may be used at the time of Urs as per the practice that whatever was brought as a gift was kept for use at the time of Urs ceremonies. 

During the British period communal riots broke out in ANWLA a small town near Bareilly. Many people were arrested in aftermath. Manzoor Hussain Sahib who was a disciple of Sarkar was also arrested. When he was released on bail he came straight to see Sarkar. Sarkar was in Haveli at that time. When Sarkar was informed about Manzoor Hussain Sahib arrival he came out and told Manzoor Hussain, not to worry as Sarkar Sirajus Salekeen may never allow him to be punished. Manzoor Sahib got relieved. When the time came for judgment in this case everybody was sure that he will get severe punishment since he was involved in the riots. When Manzoor Sahib reached the Court he was quite relaxed. While the other persons were punished, he got absolved and set free.

Sarkar had a captivating personality. He was a true apostle of love and his heart was full of kindness and generosity. Whoever came in contact with him was impressed. Whenever he used to go by train, people of all castes and creed used to gather at the platform and touched his feet without knowing who he was. When Queen Elizabeth of England alongwith Duke of Edinburgh visited Jaipur in late 1959, they were taken to the place of stay from the airport in open vehicle. Sarkar Qibla was seated on a chair in a house enroute. As the Duke saw, he got the vehicle stopped and paid respects to him.

Many foreigners used to flock around him and some of them became his disciples. As Sarkar did not know English they were astonished to see Sarkar taking these foreigners inside and preach them in isolation. These people came out contented and satisfied after the meeting. They were much impressed by Sarkar’s character, hospitality, generosity and kindness.

Many of the non-muslims also were his disciples. In addition to Lal Bhai Patel and his brother Pran Lal from Bombay, Ram Kishan, VV Pai, advocate, DK Shah, Harmazjee, Ram Kishan Chandi Wale, a politician from Delhi Madan Mohan Chaturvedi were some of the other disciples. Pt. Achleshwar Nath Sharma popularly known as Achchlu, an Indian Army Officer has been an ardent follower of Sarkar Qibla. He became Sarkar Qibla’s mureed (disciple) in 1948. Similarly, Nawal Rai Kapoor a known figure of Bareilly feels proud on being a disciple of Sarkar Qibla for the last sixty three years.

The Last Phase:

For nearly two years preceding his departure from this world, Sarkar Qibla had stopped taking interest in material things. He avoided listening to unnecessary conversation and felt more comfortable in meditation. He showed interest only in three things, viz., to clarify doubt of a person lost in search of righteous path, offer treatment to the diseases of dejected ones and the poor lot, and pray for welfare of humanity in general. He expressed regret over people coming to him for only the worldly gains and none for help in remembering God.

The Urs of Hazrat Qibla Niaz-be-Niaz (RA) is held in the month preceding the Urs of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA). The observers felt that Sarkar Qibla was offering special prayers in this Urs – the last one before his departure from this world.

As has already been mentioned elsewhere, he was a great admirer of Khwaja Sahib and went to Ajmer twice in Rajab and Shawwal to attend Urs ceremonies of Hazrat Khwaja Sahib and his Pir Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA) respectively. He used to say that Khwaja Gharib Nawaz is very generous at the time of Urs of his Pir and one should always benefit by his generosity by attending the Urs of his Pir. As usual he made preparations to attend Shawwal Urs in 1968. Before that he went to Bachraon, his ancestral house and met every one there. Then he went to Agra to meet his daughter and also met Hazrat Maikash Akbarabadi (RA) caliph of his Pir. He devoted considerable time in prayers in isolation at the Durgah of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (RA) and when he came out, he said – ‘I have got the permission to leave’. Those present thought that this permission was to leave Ajmer. Enroute to Bareilly Sharief, as per his usual practice, he stayed at Jaipur and on 15th Shawwal 1968, arranged lunch for Nawab of Tonk and other disciples. No one had any idea of what was in store since on the fateful evening he got busy in a session of Zikr and Shaghal which continued almost till midnight. A strange thing which people subsequently realized was that he looked at the watch twice during the period and then went inside saying that he was in a hurry. He was slowly humming:

BALAJABNA NAJARIA LAGERI

DHEEMI DHEEMI BASURIA BAJERI

He briefly talked to his younger son and daughter who were with him and then went for Tahajjud (midnight) prayers. He finally took a sip from a glass of water and retired to bed saying Khuda Hafiz. A sound HU was heard and it was then known that he had already left this world at 2.30 am on 16th Shawwal of 1968. It was a matter of minutes, difficult for people around to believe. The news was shocking and left all and sundary in gloom. Arrangements were made to transport him to Bareilly Sharief – a distance of more than 500 kilometers and when the carriage came to Khanqah Sharief, the scene there was beyond words to describe. Almost the entire town and people from other parts of the country were there to take part in the burial. He was laid to rest next to Hazrat Niaz-be-Niaz (RA) late on 17th Shawwal. It may be pointed out here that Sarkar Qibla’s affection and devotion to his Pir was total and matched only to the love and affection of Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) towards his Pir, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia (RA). Hazrat Qibla got the same date on which Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) had left for his heavenly abode. The annual Urs of both of them is held on the same dates every year.

List of Khulfa-e-Karaam (Spiritual Successors):

Hazrat Hazrat Imam us salekeen Shah Muhammad Taqi urf Aziz Miyan ‘Raaz’ Niyazi Sahab R.A. appointed Hazrat Shah Mohammed Hasan Sajjad Sahib (RA) as His Sajjada Nasheen

Some of Hazrat Imam us salekeen Shah R.A.’s other Khulfa are as following:

1. Hazrat Shah Muhammad Zafar Miyan Sahab Niyazi R.A. – Bareilly
2. Hazrat Shah Muhammad Jainul Abedeen Sahab Niyazi R.A. – Bareilly
3. Hazrat Shah Muhammad Naqi (Mahboob Miyan) Sahab Niyazi R.A. – Bareilly
4. Hazrat Maulvi Syed Anwar-ur-Rahman Niyazi Sahab ‘Bismil’ R.A. - Bareilly
5. Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Rauuf Sahab R.A. – Allahabad
6. Hazrat Shaikh Ahmed Hussain Sahab R.A. – Aanwala
7. Hazrat Shaukat Yaar Khan Sahab R.A. – Jahanabad
8. Hazrat Maulwi Naseer Aalam Sahab R.A. – Bachdayun
9. Hazrat Maulwi Abdul Rahman Sahab R.A. - Bachdayun
10. Hazrat Maulwi Muhammad Ghul Sahab R.A. – Pehsawar
11. Hazrat Muhammad Hussain Sahab R.A.- Dehli
12. Hazrat Qudratullah Sahab R.A. – Allahabad
13. Hazrat Maulwi Mahmood Ali Sahab R.A.- Bachdayun
14. Hazrat Hakeem Waliuddin Sahab R.A. – Ghajipur
15. Hazrat Mashooqullah Khan urf Mangoo Khan Sahab R.A. – Shahjahanpur
16. Hazrat Sadiqullah Khan Sahab urf Jumma Khan Sahab R.A.- Shahjahanpur
17. Hazrat Malik Abdul Hakeem Khan Sahab R.A. – Hyderabad
18. Hazrat Syed Moinuddin Urf Khwaja Nawab Sahab R.A. - Hyderabad
19. Hazrat Ghulam Ali Shah Sahab – Badakshaan
20. Hazrat Majnoon Khan Sahab – Qabul
21. Hazrat Syed Nizamuddin Sahab R.A. – Qabul
22. Hazrat Mukarrab Khan Sahab R.A. – Hazaara (Pakistan)
23. Hazrat Sahabjaada Chshti Hussain Sahab - Ajmer Shareef
24. Hazrat Sahabjaada Aaftaab Ahmed Sahab – Ajmer Shareef
25. Hazrat Sahabjaada Mazhar Ali Sahab – Ajmer Shareef
26. Hazrat Sahabjaada Khursheed Ali Sahab - Ajmer Shareef
27. Hazrat Ajeem Baksh Sahab – Allahabad
28. Hazrat Shaikh Manzoor Hussain Sahab – Aanwla
29. Hazrat Shaikh Asgar Hussain Sahab – Aanwla
30. Hazrat Salim Baksh Sahab – Allahabad
31. Hazrat Muhammad Mazhar Sahab – Fatehpur
32. Hazrat Asghar Ali Sahab – Gwalior
33. Hazrat Maulwi Muhammad Umar Sahab R.A. – Rohrtaas
34. Hazrat Syed Zainul Abedeen Sahab Shaik-ul-Hadees – Makka Shareef
35. Hazrat Syed Abraar-ul-Rahman Sahab R.A. – Jaipur
36. Hazrat Sahabjada Syed Zahoor Hassan Sahab Niyazi – Dargah Hazrat Mahboob-e-Elahi R.A. Dehli
37. Hazrat Sahabjada Ghulam Mahboob Subhani Sahab R.A. – Dargah Hazrat Qutub Sahab R.A. Dehli
38. Hazrat Hakeem Syed Hassan Shah Sahab – Nepal
39. Hazrat Mastullah Khan Sahab R.A. – Jahanabad
40. Hazrat Banne Miyan Sahab R.A. – Bareilly
41. Hazrat Nawab Hassan Khan R.A. – Bareilly
42. Hazrat Syed Ejaaz Hassan Khan Sahab R.A. – Bareilly
43. Hazrat Syed Mahboon Hassan Sahab R.A.- Bareilly
44. Hazrat Abdullah Khan Sahab urf Nanhe Miyan Sahab – Jahanabad
45. Hazrat Azeem Baksh Sahab – Allahabad
46. Hazrat Sambaji Rao Bhonsle – Army Minister Sindhia Estate
47. Hazrat Sardar Khem Singh Sahab – Gwalior
48. Hazrat Ram Singh Sahab – Bombay
49. Hazrat Mir Ahmed Sahab – Garh Saleempur Jila Sahaaranpur
50. Hazart peer Ji Shah Muhammad Sultan Sahab – Bhith Jila Sahaaranpur