Qalandar Baba Auliya

Qalandar Baba Auliya (Urdu: قلندر با با اولیا‎) is the title of the Sufi mystic Muhammad Azeem Barkhiyya (1898 – 27 January 1979), the founder of the Azeemiyya order of Sufis. He was given the honorifics Abdal-i-Haq and Hasn-e-Ukhra.[1]

Syed Muhammad Azeem Barkhiyya
Born1898
Uttar Pradesh, India
Died27 January 1979
Karachi, Pakistan
NationalityPakistan
EraModern era
RegionIslamic philosophy
SchoolSufism
Main interests
Sufism, Islamic studies
Notable ideas
Silsila-i-Azeemiyya, evolution of Sufism

Early life and education

Qalandar Baba Auliya was born in Khorja, Bulandshahr, which is in the U.P. province of India in 1898.

Qalandar Baba Auliya received his primary and religious education in a local school. He went to high school in Bulandshahr. After completing his education in high school, he went to Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, now in India.

During his stay in Aligarh, Qalandar Baba Auliya became inclined towards learning spirituality. He spent a lot of time at the tomb of the Sufi Maulana Kabuli. It was in those times, when he went to visit his maternal grand father, Tajuddin Muhammad Badruddin. Teacher of the teachers, Knower of Divine Secrets, Baba Tajuddin instructed his grand son to stay with him in Nagpur for Spiritual training. Upon learning his son's intention to learn spiritual knowledge, Qalandar Baba's father came to Nagpur to persuade his sister on to complete his academic education. Baba Tajuddin replied to his father that if he would receive academic education any more, he would not be useful to him. His father left his son to his own liking.

Qalandar Baba Auliya stayed with Tajuddin Baba Auliya, whom he called grandfather (Nana), for nine years. During this time, he received his spiritual training from him in an arduous manner.

Family

When Qalandar Baba's mother died, she left behind six children- of whom he was the second oldest, only to his elder sister. Tajuddin Baba advised him to get married. He married the daughter of one of the followers of Tajuddin Baba Auliya in Delhi. In 1947, independence of Pakistan, Qalandar Baba Auliya migrated to Karachi in Pakistan with his father, siblings and his family. He rented an old house near Lee Market. The Commissioner for Rehabilitation, who was also one of the followers of Tajuddin Baba, requested him to lodge an application with him so that he could be allocate a house to him. He did not take any notice of his suggestion and continued to reside in a rented premise.

Qalandar Baba seldom washed his hands with soap. He washed his hands with lukewarm water until all traces of grease were removed. He was very meticulous and organised in his day-to-day life. He did not sleep for more than two to three hours. He went through phases of silence and spiritual ecstasy and selflessness.

Occupation

After marriage, Qalander Baba settled in Delhi. He became a freelance journalist for different newspapers and magazines. He also proofread and corrected the works of the contemporary poets. People who were interested in Tassuvuf (spiritual knowledge or Sufism) approached him and held discussions with him on the subject.

After migrating to Karachi he opted repairing of domestic electrical appliances till he had the job as the sub editor of the daily newspaper Dawn. He also worked for the monthly Naqqad for some time. He edited many magazines, and also published many stories in serial form.

Initiation

In 1956 the then master of the Suhrawardiyya Order, Abul Faiz Qalandar Ali Suhrawardi visited Karachi. Qalander Baba Auliya went for an audience with him and requested to be initiated. Abul Faiz asked him to come at 3 O' clock in the morning. In the bitter cold of the early morning, he sat on the steps of the Grand Hotel on McLeod Road, Karachi; exactly at 3 O' clock Abul Faiz opened the door and asked him to come inside. He instructed Qalandar Baba to sit in front of him and then he blew on Qalandar Baba's forehead 3 times. With the first breath the realm of spirits was revealed. With the second blowing of the breath, angels and the Divine Attributes was revealed and with the third breath the highest realm was revealed to him. Abul Faiz Qalandar Ali Soharwardi imparted spiritual training to him in three weeks time.

After that Qalandar Baba's spiritual training was taken over by the soul of Sheikh Najmuddin Kubra. When the training was completed He transferred the spiritual knowledge to him and presented him to the Divine Presence of God.

During this period Qalander Baba Aulia did not sleep for ten days and nights. He prayed and chanted the holy verses all the time.

To spread the teachings of Qalandar Baba Auliya, three books have been written by Silsela-e-Azeemia.

  • Loh-o-Qalum (Pen and the Scripturum), A treasure of divine knowledge of mysteries and secrets of nature.
  • Rubaiyat-e-Qalander Baba Auliya, a collection of mystic verses.
  • Tazkira-e-Tajuddin Baba (Blessed be he), A work of metaphysical sciences and scientific interpretations of divinations and wonder-workings performed by spiritual people.

Additionally, Qalandar Baba Auliya left maps and diagrams of the visible and invisible realms. He started the publication of the monthly magazine called Roohani Digest, and formed a trust called The Azeemiyya Trust. The trust acquired land and constructed a mausoleum over his resting place in Shadman Town, North Karachi.

Death

Qalandar Baba Auliya died on 27 January 1979 in Karachi. Every year on this date his Urs is celebrated which is attended by thousands of people from all over the country and abroad. During Urs many seminars and workshops are held. There are organised sessions of meditation under the instruction of the present Master of Silsila Azeemiyya; Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi.

Qalandar Baba Auliya left a widow, two sons and two daughters.

One week before his death he told his disciples and friends; "I am a guest here for a maximum of one week". He appointed Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi head of the order of the Azeemia and died, on 27 January 1979. His tomb is in the Shadman Town subdivision of Karachi.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Qalandar Baba Auliya". Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. sufi Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
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