Ethical Sayings & Spiritual Gems of Wisdom of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.)
Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.)
Ethical Sayings & Gems of Wisdom
The sacred sayings attributed to Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (R.A.), popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, have been preserved through generations. Despite the passage of many centuries, their spiritual significance, ethical values, and message of love and devotion continue to inspire seekers of truth.
The following sayings reflect the essence of Tasawwuf (Sufism) and emphasise Divine love, humility, patience, compassion, self-discipline, remembrance of Allah, and service to humanity.
Essence of Sufism
1. The Heart of a True Lover The heart of a true devotee of Allah remains constantly aflame with Divine love. So intense is this love that anything contrary to its purity is consumed by its spiritual fire.
2. Three Qualities of a True Devotee A true lover of Allah possesses three great qualities:
Charity like a river — generosity that flows freely and benefits all who approach it.
Affection like the sun — love and kindness extended to everyone without discrimination.
Hospitality like the earth — an open and welcoming heart that embraces all.
3. Do Not Look Down Upon Others A sin may not harm a person as greatly as the habit of looking upon one’s fellow human beings with contempt. Humility and respect for others are essential qualities of a spiritual seeker.
4. Obedience to the Will of Allah The true test of a devotee is that his heart remains obedient to the will of Allah and that he constantly fears doing anything that may displease Him and cause him to be deprived of Divine grace.
5. The Seeker of Truth One who perceives the deeper reality of existence becomes contemplative, reflective and inclined towards silence.
6. The Greatest Spiritual Danger A person is in a state of grave spiritual danger when he commits sins while simultaneously believing himself to be among Allah’s chosen people.
7. The True Dervish A true Dervish is one who never disappoints or turns away a person who comes to him in need.
8. The Meaning of Patience Patience is demonstrated by accepting sorrow, suffering and difficulties without constant complaint, while maintaining faith and inner strength.
9. The More One Knows, the More One Wonders The deeper a person penetrates into the reality of existence, the greater becomes his sense of wonder before the vastness of Divine creation and knowledge.
10. The Aarif and His Relationship with Life The spiritually realised person regards death as a friend, excessive luxury as an enemy, and constant remembrance of Allah as a source of honour and spiritual strength.
11. Peace of the Spiritual Seeker The best state of a Dervish or spiritually realised person is one in which the heart becomes free from worldly anxieties and excessive concerns.
12. Knowledge and Enlightenment Knowledge is like an unfathomable ocean, while enlightenment is like a wave within that ocean. The ocean of knowledge belongs to Allah, while human enlightenment is only a portion of what He allows a person to perceive.
13. Namaz — The Ladder to Divine Nearness Namaz is the spiritual ladder through which a believer seeks closeness to Allah Almighty.
14. The Consequence of False Oaths Prosperity departs from the household of one who knowingly tells a lie while taking an oath, and such a person ultimately brings ruin upon himself.
15. The Graveyard as a Place of Reflection A graveyard is a place from which one should learn a lesson about the temporary nature of worldly life. It is therefore not a place for laughter, worldly entertainment, eating, drinking or frivolous behaviour.
16. Remember the Final Journey Always keep yourself prepared for the final journey and remain conscious of the reality of death.
17. Trials and Divine Love According to this spiritual teaching, difficulties and trials may become a means through which a person is tested, purified and drawn closer to Allah.
18. Feeding the Hungry One of the greatest ways of seeking protection from the Fire of Hell is to:
Feed the hungry.
Give water to the thirsty.
Fulfil the needs of the needy.
Befriend and comfort those who are suffering.
19. The Light of Ishraq Just as sunlight gradually increases in the morning, the Divine Light within a person is traditionally described as expanding through sincere performance of Salat al-Ishraq.
20. The State of Spiritual Absorption When an Aarif becomes deeply absorbed in meditation and contemplation, his concentration can become so profound that even extraordinary distractions would fail to disturb him.
21. Purification In matters of physical purification, water should reach every part of the body, including the roots of the hair, so that purification may be complete.
22. Human Perspiration The source text states that human perspiration is not impure, attributing this understanding to Hadith.
23. Repent Before It Is Too Late Seek forgiveness and repent quickly before death arrives, and perform Namaz before its appointed time passes.
24. The Path of Tariqat For the seeker following the path of Tariqat, spiritual progress requires detachment from excessive attachment to the physical world, then from the desires associated with the Hereafter, and ultimately from the dominance of the Nafs (ego/self).
25. Never Despise Anyone For a traveller on the path of Truth, looking down upon another person is considered a serious spiritual failing. Humility should always accompany the seeker.
26. The Silence of the Aarif When an Aarif becomes silent, it is said that he is engaged in communion with Allah; when he closes his eyes in contemplation, it is as though he is knocking at the door of Divine nearness.
27. The Path of Divine Love The path of Divine love is such that whoever sincerely enters it gradually loses the dominance of the ego and becomes absorbed in the love of the Beloved.
28. The Lovers of Divine Knowledge Those devoted to Irfaan, or spiritual realisation, keep their hearts and thoughts centred upon Allah.
29. Detachment from Wealth Freedom from excessive attachment to wealth and material possessions is regarded as one of the early stages of spiritual attainment for an Aarif.
30. Sacrifice for the Beloved True lovers of Allah are willing to sacrifice both worlds for the sake of their Divine Beloved, yet they still consider their sacrifice insignificant compared with the greatness of Divine love.
31. Three Qualities of an Aarif A spiritually realised person is characterised by three qualities:
Piety
Conduct that earns respect
Modesty and humility
32. Divine Love Above All Other Attachments The love of Allah transcends and surpasses every other form of worldly passion and attachment.
33. Perfection of Faith The perfection of faith is reflected through three qualities:
Fear of Allah
Hope in Allah
Love of Allah
34. Death as a Bridge Death is described as a bridge through which the lover ultimately journeys towards the Beloved—Allah Almighty.
35. True Love and Remembrance True friendship and love of Allah are demonstrated not merely through words, but through constant remembrance of Him within the heart.
36. The Purpose of the Heart The heart was created with the capacity to revolve continually around the love and remembrance of Allah Almighty.
The Essence of the Message
Taken together, these sayings present a spiritual path centred upon Divine love, sincere worship, humility, patience, compassion, charity, remembrance of Allah, detachment from excessive worldly desires, and service to humanity.
