The Spiritual Turning Point in the Life of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.)
By the will of Allah, when Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) was around fourteen years of age, his beloved father passed away, leaving him an orphan. He inherited a garden and a mill from his father. A few months later, his mother also passed away, leaving this transient world.
From an early age, Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) had a deep affection for the company of Dervishes and Faqirs and held them in the highest respect.
One day, while he was watering the plants in his garden as part of his daily routine, a Majzoob arrived there. The Majzoob was Hazrat Sheikh Ibrahim Qundoozi (R.A.). When Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) saw the venerable saint, he immediately left his work and respectfully went forward to welcome him.
He kissed the hand of the old saint, escorted him to a tree, and humbly requested him to sit beneath its shade. At that moment, Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) had nothing else to offer his distinguished guest. As it was the season of grapes and the vines were laden with ripe fruit, he plucked a bunch of sweet and juicy grapes and offered them to the Majzoob. He then sat before him with utmost respect and humility.
The God-loving Majzoob appreciated the young Khwaja’s hospitality and ate a few grapes with pleasure. Recognising that this promising young man possessed a sincere heart and was destined to seek the ultimate Truth, Hazrat Sheikh Ibrahim Qundoozi (R.A.) took a piece of oil cake, crushed it between his teeth, and placed it in the mouth of Khwaja Sahib (R.A.).
Because of his deep love and respect for Dervishes and Faqirs, Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) accepted it without hesitation and swallowed it. According to the traditional account, at that very moment, a profound spiritual transformation took place within him. The attractions of the material world suddenly lost their significance, and he experienced a state in which he felt no barrier between himself and the Divine.
After this extraordinary spiritual experience, Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) eventually regained consciousness and found himself alone. Hazrat Sheikh Ibrahim Qundoozi (R.A.) had already departed.
Although the venerable Majzoob had left him, the spiritual experience remained deeply engraved in Khwaja Sahib’s (R.A.) heart. He developed an intense longing to experience that divine state once again. Despite his efforts to exercise patience and restraint, he could not overcome the overwhelming love and spiritual yearning that had awakened within him.
As his love for the Truth grew stronger, worldly possessions and material attachments gradually became insignificant to him. He therefore sold his belongings, distributed the proceeds and his possessions among the poor and needy, and set out in search of spiritual truth, retaining only the bare necessities for his journey.
Having received a glimpse of Divine Light through Hazrat Sheikh Ibrahim Qundoozi (R.A.), Hazrat Khwaja Sahib (R.A.) became increasingly restless. His thirst for spiritual knowledge further intensified his love and longing for Allah. He left the land of Samarkand and, taking the Name of Allah upon his lips, journeyed westward in search of his Murshid-e-Kamil—the Perfect Spiritual Guide.
After a long journey, he eventually reached a town called Haroon, situated at some distance from Nishapur.
