Real face of Sufism

 

Real face of Sufism

Dr.Vivek Arya

A news is coming about the grave of Baba Haji Rozbih — believed to be one of the first Sufi saints in Delhi — located inside Sanjay Van, a dense reserved forest in Mehrauli, was razed to the ground by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Administration is saying that the demolition was done due to encroachment.  

Who was Haji Rozbih?

 Historians and activists raise questions over “encroachment” by an edifice that has existed for 900 years. According to them the grave, which was at the entrance of Qila Lal Kot, finds mention in the definitive “List of Muhammadan and Hindu Monuments, Volume III- Mahrauli Zila” published in 1922 by Maulvi Zafar Hasan, assistant superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). According to the list: “Baba Haji Rozbih is revered as one of the oldest saints of Delhi. He is said to have come during the time of Rai Pithura (PrithviRaj Chauhan, the last Hindu emperor of Delhi) and took up his abode in a cave near the ditch of the fort. The 20th century text also mentions that “many of the Hindus embraced Islam by his advice, and the astrologers regarded this as an ill omen, and told the Raja that the coming of Baba Haji foreboded the advent of the Muhammadan rule into Delhi. It is also alleged by local tradition that a daughter of Rai Pithura also embraced Islam through him, and the other plaster grave which lies in the enclosure is assigned to her."

We can easily infer that Haji Rozbih was an associate of Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti of Ajmer, the Sufism branch of Chisti Sect. The obsession of Hindus with Ajmer, Chishtiya Silsila and Sufis in general is a product of marketing done by Pseudo-historians like Romila Thaper and co. Popular media (Bollywood movies, music) promotes Sufism as a spiritual, peaceful, mystical brand of Islam.

When Islamic invaders like Gori and Gazni were not able to convert Hindu masses to Islam, the task was assigned to Sufis. 

Sufis were spy to Islamic invaders

Sufis started imitating and mimicking Hindu sadhus. Muslim fakirs and Sufis started imitating the guru parampara of Hindus and copied Vedantic philosophy, imitating it in songs and popular literature. However, the core of Islamic fundamentalism was never changed. Sufism was a cover for military Islam. Nothing else. This can be traced from their ideology and their practice. They existed to fool Hindus about a spiritual core in Islam and thus convert them. All eminent Sufis were accompanied by Islamic invaders.  Muinuddin Chisti was accompanied to Ajmer and Khwaja Qutubuddin to Delhi by Muḥammad Ghori.  Baba Fareed came to Pakpattan (now in Pakistan) and  Nizamuddin Auliya of  Nizamuddin came to Delhi accompanying a contingent of the Muslim invaders. First they helped in winning over the Hindus Kings and later they help is conversion of Hindus to Islam. We will take few examples from his life which will expose Chisti intentions and real motives.

Chisti believed in conversion of Hindus to Islam

The fawaidu’l –fu’ad says that when Khwaja arrived in Delhi from Lahore seven hundred people (Hindus), besides hamidu’din – din dihlawi, embrace Islam (ref- page 117 vol. 1 a history of Sufism in India –Saiyid Athar Abbas Rizvi).

A critical review of miracles done by Chisti-

Khwaja Ajmer visit is mentioned as full of miracles (exaggerated stories). Since, Khwaja arrived in Ajmer lot of disputes occurred with PrithviRaj, then ruler of Kannauj with capital in Ajmer.

Reaching there he (Chisti) decided to sit under a tree. The camel keepers of PrithviRaj ordered him to leave away from that area as it belonged to the King and restricted area. The truth was that camels keeping area was PrithviRaj army area in which locals were not allowed. A story is imagined that the Khwaja in interfacing the servants of PrithviRaj wished that none of the camels would be able to stand on their legs and so happened. When none of the Camels were able to stand the news reached to the officials of Raj. His officials came to Chisti pleading for guilty. It was than only Khwaja made them well. Any laymen can easily even interpret this whole episode as a fairy tale. Another option is the camels were drugged with some herb which caused paralysis in them provided 

Chisti was smart enough for that act.

We will take another example which is far from Truth. The Khwaja and his followers moved to a place near the Anasagar Lake. His servants killed a cow and cooked kebabs for him. Some members of the Khwaja’s party went to Anasagar and the others to Pansela Lake for ablutions. There were one thousand temples on the shores of two lakes. The Brahmans stopped the ablutions and the party complained to the Khwaja. He sent his servant to bring water for his ewer(Pot). As soon as the ewer touched the Pansela Lake, all the lakes, tanks and wells around became dry. Now, Khwaja went to the Anasagar lake temple and asked the name of the idol. He was told it was called Sawi Deva. The Khwaja asked whether the idol had talked to them. On receiving a negative reply he made the idol recite kalma and converted it into a human being, naming it Sa’di. This caused a sensation in the town. PrithviRaj ordered his Prime Minister Jaipal who was also a magician, to avert the evil influence of the Khwaja. Jaipal proceeded to fight the Khwaja with 700 magical dragons, 1500 magical discs and 700 disciples. The Khwaja drew a circle bringing his party within it under his protection and succeeded in killing all the dragons and disciples. Pithaura and Jaipal begged the Khwaja for forgiveness. The Khwaja prayer restored water to the lakes, tanks and wells. A large number of people accepted Islam. Pithaura refused to accept Islam and the Khwaja prophesied he would be handed over to the Islamic army.

(Ref- Ali asghar chisti- jawahir-I faridi , Lahore 1884, pp.155-160 )

The truth was that the area around the two lakes was decorated with many Temples and was considered sacred by the Hindus. Killing of cow again sacred for Hindus was considered as a heinous crime. It is still considered sacred even today. Everyone is aware that a cow eater is strictly forbidden to visit the shrines and temples among Hindus. The same rule was applicable for the visit of Khwaja to Anasagar lake temple. So, its natural for the Hindus to resist Chisti stay near Temples being a meat eater.

Regardiang the fairy tale story of discs and dragons its easy to reach the conclusion that they are exaggerated and hyperbolic statements. They can amuse blind followers and disciples of Chisti. They do not even fulfill the criteria for proper analysis.

One doubt arrives in my mind that if Khawaja was so powerful then why Muhammad Gori was defeated in first war against PrithviRaj? Why didn’t the Khwaja changed his conquest into victory by his miracles? Why did Gori waited till the second war? That also when King Jaichand/Jaipal, the father in law of PrithviRaj helped Mohammad Gori against PrithviRaj. It means that forces of Jaipal lead to victory in war and not the miracles of Chisti. So, we easily reach this conclusion that the stories of miracles of Chisti are myths and only myths. No wise person will believe in these falsified and exaggerated Myths. PrithviRaj died as a hero fighting for his country after taking revenge of his loss. The famous incident is mentioned by Chand Bardai, the accompaniment poet of PrithviRaj.

The case of Nizamuddin-din Auliya

 Sheikh Nizamuddin-din Auliya was a disciple of Chisti. He mentions that when Khwaja Muinuddin reached Ajmer, India was ruled by Pithaura rai’s and his capital was Ajmer. Pithaura and his high officials resented the sheik’s presence in their city, but the latter’s eminence and his apparent power to perform miracles, prompted them to refrain from taking action against him. A disciple of the Khwaja’s was in the service of Prithviraj Raj’s. After the disciple began o receive hostile treatment from the Rajas, the Khwaja sent a message to Pithaura in favor of the Muslim. Pithaura refused to accept the recommendation, thus indicating his resentment of, the khwaja’s alleged claims to understand the secrets of the unseen. When Khwaja Muinuddin heard of this reply he prophesied: “We have seized Pithaura alive and handed him over to the army of Islam.” about the same time Sultan Muhammad Gori arrived from Ghazna, attacked the forces of Pithaura and defeated them. Pithaura was taken alive and thus the khwaja’s prophesy was fulfilled. (Ref- Amir khwurd, siyaru’l – auliya, delhi,1885,pp.45-47)

Kashmir and Sufi Hamdani 

Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (1314–1384) was a Persian Sūfī of the Kubrawiya order, a poet and a prominent Muslim scholar. He was born in Hamadan, and was buried in Khatlan Tajikistan. Hamdani came to India and settled in Kashmir. His Dargah in Srinagar, Kashmir is located in Babdem- Kahan Kah Road, Shamswari. Many Hindus visits his Dargah seeking Blessings of Hamadani. But very few knows the reality about him. 

Mir Saiyid Ali Hamadani (founder of Kubrawiyya Sufi order of Kashmir) emphasized a covenant to sultan of Kashmir on his relation with Hindus. Covenant is as follows:

1.      They (the hindus) will not bid new idol temples.

2.      They will not rebuild any existing temple which may have fallen into disrepair.

3.      Muslim travelers will not be prevented from staying in temples.

4.      Muslim travelers will be provided hospitality by Zimmis in their own houses for three days.

5.      Zimmis will neither act as spies nor give spies shelter in their houses.

6.      If any relation of a Zimmi is inclined towards Islam, he should not be prevented from doing so.

7.      Zimmis will respect Muslims.

8.      Zimmis will courteously receive a Muslim wishing to attend their meetings.

9.      Zimmis will not dress like Muslims.

10.  They will not take Muslim names.

11.  They will not ride horses with saddle and bridle.

12.  They will not possess swords, bows or arrows.

13.  They will not wear signet rings.

14.  They will not openly sell or drink intoxicating liquor.

15.  They will not abandon their traditional dress, which is a sign of their ignorance, in order that they may be distinguished from Muslims.

16.  They will not openly practice their traditional customs amongst Muslims.

17.  They will not build their houses in the neighborhood of Muslims.

18.  They will not carry or bury their dead near Muslim graveyards.

19.  They will not mourn their dead loudly.

20.  They will not buy Muslim slaves.

Hamadani considered all Hindus as Zimmis.S.A.A. Rizvi in History of Sufism in India writes Hamadani was talking like a Alim instead of Sufi in this Covenant. The Dargah of Hamdani was built by destroying Kali Temple. 

Shah Walullah invited Abdali to establish Islamic Rule over India

Shah Waliullah’s letters to Islamic rulers and nobles show that he was very keen in rejuvenating Islamic supremacy in Delhi, which had started to loosen it’s grip over the sub-continent immediately after Aurangzeb’s death.  In his letter to Abdali mentioned in S.A.A. Rizvi's book  he writes -

"After prayers and wishes to God (Allah) I am writing these few words, may He carry them to the blessed ears (of Ahmadshah Abdali). Existence of an Islamic Emperor is a favour (of Allah). It should be understood that Hindustan (region north of Narmada river) is a vast country. Earlier Emperors have toiled very hard for a long time and through multiple attempts have managed to win over this country."....In short, apart from key areas of Delhi and Deccan, the Marathas have overall control. It is not difficult to defeat the Marathas if the Ghazis of Islam make a strong resolve.

Thus, it wasSufi Walullah letter which invited Abdali to attack India and thus he was responsible for mass killing, abduction , slavery and destruction of Hindus. 

Ahmad Sirhindi urged Muslims to help him in annihilation of Sikhs from northern India.

11 January 1827 he (Saiyid Ahmad Shahid) officiated at a ceremony of bay’a in which several thousand theologians, Sufis, leading citizens and common people in the northwest frontier pledged him their allegiance, after which they recited the khutba in his name. At the time Saiyid protested that as an Imam he was not commissioned to deprive the various sultans between Kabul and Bukhara of their states. They could continue to flourish in peace, he said, and would assert only his leadership in the question of bid’a (sinful innovations). However they were urged to offer him their military assistance in a jihad against the Sikhs. He was killed in war against Sikhs in Balakot ( now in Pakistan) and his grave is still present there. 

 Today, Sufism is celebrated as an ethos of diversity as Hindus also revere the saint. I am not against the social cohesion but understanding the history is a must. We must not ignore the context of the arrival of Sufism in India and how it was a channel of conversion by force and persuasion. Conversion, be coercive or sublime, attacks the core value of diversity by trying to thrust people to one singular identity of faith – Islamism.