Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh

Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Ghaffari Naqshbandi (May Allah be Pleased with Him) also known as Sohna Saeen (A person with loving, caring and beautiful personality) is noble Naqshbandi saint in Pakistan. It has been a tradition in Islamic societies where people had been giving special titles to their benefactors, one of the example is Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan 1 (May Allah be Pleased with Him) known as Ghani.

He was great father, husband, learner , landlord, scholar, teacher and poet. He spent all of his life for the will of Allah the only God. He is considered to be one of the great example of a person whose life is dedicated to teach love of Allah. He was born on March 10, 1910 in the small town of Khanwahan, Tehsil Kandyaro, Sindh, Pakistan. His father name was Hazrat Muhammad Mithal who died when he was just 5 months old.

Religious Education

His education started from Nazra Quran and completion of primary education. Later he cleared his final in Sindhi. Since he was more interested in religious education therefore he left his home for one of the well known religious educational center Madarsah Islamia, Gairelo currently within district Larkana, Pakistan. Name of his teacher was Hazrat Allama Alhajj Raza Muhammad Sahib who was very popular for his command in religious subjects. Allama Sahib later moved to Bhirya, Tehsil Kandyaro and started teaching at madersah which was under supervision of Hazrat Noor Muhammad Shah. Sohna Saeen also moved to the same madersah to continue his education. .

Step in Tariqat

In 1933 he met with Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz Hadhrat Fazal Ali Shah Qureshi and took oath of allegiance. This was his first step in Tariqat. During same year Khwaja Ghareeb Nazaw died and than he took oath on the hand of Hazrat Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar also known as Pir Mitha. He devoted his life for 30 years, till the death of Pir Mitha in 1963, under the teachings of his sheikh. During that particular period of time he got divine bounties and gift which his sheikh received from his sheikh thus he reached a peak which none reached among the follower of Hazrat Pir Mitha.

It is said that Hazrat Pir Mitha asked his caliphs to select leader to follow after him (Pir Mitha). At that time most of followers did take oath of allegiance on the hand of Sohna Saeen except few. Some started their own lineage but some came back and did take the oath.

A GLIMPSE of His Contribution

Keeping in view the advantages towards the cause of Islam he organized everyone from scholar to an ill-literate. He established quite a few organizations for different segments of the community.

:* Tabligh-e-Roohania wa Jamaat Islahul Muslimeen (Preaching of Spirituality and Organization for Corrections of Muslims) for all followers and caliphs.

:* Jamiat-e-Ulema e Ghaffaria for religious scholars to perform religious activities.

:* Jamait Tulaba Roohania Ghaffaria for students of Islamic educational institutions.

:* Jamiat Asatza Rroohania for the teachers of schools, colleges and universities.

:* Roohani Talaba Jamaat for the students of General & Scientific educational institutions.

:* Nonihal Roohani Talaba Jamaat for kids.

:* Islah-e-Noojwanan for those youngsters who were not going to any educational institution.

He also established various centers, also called as Khanqah or Dargahs in local language, across Pakistan and also overseas where weekly and monthly religious gatherings are being organized. Beside these, celebration of Islamic events such as Eid Milad-un-Nabi and URS, a day to pay tribute to someone’s efforts, of religious personalities etc are being also organized. Some of the well known centers are following:

:* Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan (1963).

:* Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando Allahyar, Pakistan (1969).

:* Dargah Allahabad Shareef, Kandiaro, Naushahro Feroze District, Pakistan (1973).

He also established a network of religious educational institution, known as Madaris, where every year hundreds of kids and youngsters are getting quality education. In order to increase the knowledge of the teachers, he would send them to other religious institutions across country. Following is list of key institutions which were established during his life .

:* Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Allahabad Shareef, Kandiaro, Naushahro Feroze District, Pakistan.

:* Madirsah Jamiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan.

:* Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Tahiria, Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando Allahyar, Pakistan.

:* Madirsah Jamiya Muhammadia, Shah pur Jahaniya, District Moro, Pakistan.

:* Madirsah Jamiya Bakhshia, Naudero, District Larkana, Pakistan.

:* Madirsah Kanzal Uloom Bakhshia, Dadu City, District Dadu, Pakistan.

:* Dar-ulFuooz, Muhajir Camp, Karachi, Pakistan.

Books and Publications

Following are some of the books which he wrote:

:* Dawaiya Pharsi (30 pages)

:* Decent Suiting and Beard (43 pages)

:* Selected Verses of Quran and their Arabic Explanation (37)

:* Good Manners and Habits (70 pages)

:* Obedience of Sunnah and Tasawwuf (54 pages)

:* Selected Poetry (54 pages)

Books Written About Him

A number of books have been published on his personality, his message and his teachings. Following are a few of them:

:* Sawaneh-Hayat Sohna Saeen Vol-1 & 2 : Written by Bedar Morai.

:* Maktoobat-e-Bakhshia : Written by Bedar Morai.

His Message

He taught way of heart, way of the pure love ,which helps human being to understand Allah, the only God and His creatures. So one can understand the relationship between Allah and his creation. His teachings mainly rotate around ,how to purify inner soul and he also made people realize that without its purification (heart and soul) prayers to Allah is incomplete and purification can only be achieved if there is only love in the human heart. As Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi has said in his Masnavi:

"A soul which is not clothed with the inner garment of Love should be ashamed of its existence. Be drunk with Love, for love is all that exists. Where is intimacy found if not in the give and take of love? If they ask what love is, say: the sacrifice of will. If you have not left your will behind, you have no will at all.”

Sohna Saeen came into view when most part of Sind was not aware of the true meaning of Islam and in particular about Sufism. There were many misconceptions around Islam and Sufism. He created an environment where people started learning Islam from Naqshbandi order which is one of the greatest ways of Tasawuf. His message was to love and be in service to people, deserting the ego and false selves and all misinterpretation to reach Allah.

Death

It is said that an hour before his death he wokeup for Tahajud prayers, which is a very early morning prayer, at that time he was not feeling well. Thus, a doctor was called for checkup. When doctor tried to give some medication he refused by saying that "now there is no time left". He went to his bed and after few moments he died at 2:40 AM on Monday, 12 December, 1983. The funeral prayer was performed during afternoon of the same day which was led by his son Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Tahir. He was buried the same evening near the mosque.

His Successor

After the death of Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh all religious scholars, caliphs (spiritual representative) and key persons of the organization unanimously agreed to nominate his son Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Tahir also known as Sajjan Saeen as successor. He is also known as Sajjan Saeen. On that day almost every follower took Oath of Allegiance on his hand except for a few who also took Oath of Allegiance later. Some of them had reported that Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh came in their dream and advised them to take Oath.

References

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