Hundred Great Muslims

130 Hundred Great Muslims
the strongest citadel of autocracy in India. At first no notice was taken of the
great Muslim Saint, but, soon his piety and love of mankind began to attract
large number of people who vied with each other in embracing Islam. This was
an alarm signal for the Hindu Raja.
Khwaja Sahib paid a deaf ear to the temptations and threats of the autocratic
Hindu ruler designed to deflect him from the righteous path. He was not
made of ordinary human metal. At last the celebrated Hindu magician, Jogi Jai
Pal was sent to combat him. But his magical acrobats were of no avail before t.he
spiritual power of Khwaja Sahib, and these only recoiled upon his own head.
Overawed, he embraced Islam and became a well-known disciple of the Saint.
Alarmed at the success of Khwaja Sahib and his growing popularity among
the masses, the autocratic Ruler of Ajmer ordered him to leave his territory. His
reply was: "Give us time and we will see", and when questioned by his anxious
companions he said: "We are going to hand over this arrogant ruler as a prisoner
to a neighbouring King." It is said that Shahabuddin Ghauri, who, a year before,
had sustained a crushing defeat at the hands of Prithvi Raj Rathore, the ruler of
Ajmer, saw Khwaja Sahib in a dream who ordered him to invade India and
assured him of victory.
Accordingly, Shahabuddin Ghauri made preparations, invaded India,
defeated Prithvi Raj and captured him alive.
Khwaja Sahib carried on his proselytising activities from Ajmer for about
half a century. During his lifetime, the Slave Dynasty had established its rule in
Northern India which also included Ajmer and the celebrated Slave Kings, Sultan
Qutbuddin and Sultan fltimush who were devotees of Khwaja Sahib held him in
great esteem.
The great Muslim Saint breathed his last on the 6th of Rajab, 633 A.H.
(March 1236 A.D.) at the ripe age of 97. He was buried at Ajmer and mourned
by the Muslims and Hindus alike. His sacred tomb, since that time, forms the
popular place of pilgrimage of kings and commoners alike.
Khwaja Sahib was acclaimed as the spiritual head of the sub-continent,
loved and adored by all. The glory of Islam in India, was to a large extent, due
to the spiritual teachings of Khwaja Mueenuddin and his disciples.
Khwaja Sahib was known for his piety, simplicity and humanitarianism.
Once a non-Muslim came with the intention of killing him. Khwaja Sahib got
fore-knowledge of it through his mystic power. As soon as the intending assassin
stepped in, he asked him to take out his dagger and kill him. Utterly non-plussed,
the man threw off the dagger and implored Khwaja Sahib to punish him for his
evil intentions. Khwaja Sahib told him that it was customary with sufis to return
evil with good. Thereupon, Khwaja Sahib prayed for him and he lived and died
as a good pious Muslim.