Hundred Great Muslims

135
NIZAMUDDIN AULIA
Sultan Alauddin Khilji, one of the greatest Muslim rulers of India, was a
great admirer of Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia. On several occasions, he
sought the Saint's blessings for his difficult military campaigns in Southern India
and every time his armies came out with flying colours.
On the conquest of Warrangal, the Sultan sent a purse of500 gold sovereigns
to Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia, which the Ic.ter forthwith gave to a Khorasani
'dervish', who happened to be with him at the moment.
The Sultan detailed his two sons, Khizr Khan and Shadi Khan to serve the
Saint and be always at his beck and call.
The Sultan was very anxious to see the Saint personally and once sought
his permission to present himself to him. But Hazrat Nizamuddin, who shunned
the society of monarchs, declined to oblige him and sent him a message: "I have
two doors in my house. If the Sultan enters the house through the front door,
I shall leave it by the back door".
Syed Muhammad ibn Syed Ahmad, later known as Nizamuddin Aulia
Mahboob Elahi (the beloved of God), Sultan-ul-Mashaikh (King of Saints) was
born in Badayun (D.P.) in 634 A.H. Migrating from Bukhara, his ancestors
arrived at Lahore and later settled down at Badayun. His father died, when he
was only five years old. He was brought up by his illustrious and saintly mother.
He received his early education from Maulana Alauddin. Later he went to Delhi
along with his mother and received a thorough education from Maulana
Shamsuddin and Maulana Kamaluddin Zahid.
Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia arrived in the presence of his spiritual teacher,
Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar on 15 Rajab,655 A.H. and remained with
him till 3 Rabiul-Awwal 656 A.H. He, along with his other companions, passed
an extremely rigorous life at the 'Khanqan' (monastery) of Hazrat Ganj Shakar
at Ajodhan (Pakpattan). The inmates of the Khanqah helped to prepare their
daily meal. Maulana Badruddin Ishaq brought firewood. Another dervish, Shaikh
Jamaluddin Hanswi brought a wild fruit, 'Vela', from the forest which was
boiled into water and taken as a drink by the inmates of the monastery. One day,
no salt was available. Nizamuddin bought one piece of salt from a grocer's shop