Only that person who stays on the right path will be successful in this world and the hereafter. For this reason, Allah has taught us to supplicate Him to guide us to the straight path, “O Allah! Guide us along the right path.”
Among these people who have been favored by Allah is the Pole of Deccan Hadhrat Khaja Banda Nawaz Gesudaraaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him). He had given a single moment of his life to promote and propagate the teachings of Islam. His whole life was according to the precepts of the Holy Quran and the Hadith. Every aspect of his life mirrored the teachings of the Shariah. Through his character and lifestyle, he guided humanity to its ultimate goal. He drew them out of the darkness of oppression and barbarity and set them on the path of moderation and benevolence. He cleaned the hearts of the populace. He turned them away from the pleasures of this world and acquainted them with the pleasure of the proximity of Allah. He made heedless reverberate with the remembrance of Allah.
The name of Hadhrat Banda Nawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) was “Syed Muhammad” and his Kunniyah was “Abul Fatah.” The populace remembers him with the honorifics of “Banda Nawaz, Gesudaraz, etc.”
He was born on 4 Rajab in 721 Hijri in Delhi. He is a descendent of Hazrath Imam Hussain (May Allah be well pleased with him) through 21 generations.
He gave his spiritual allegiance to Shaykh Ul Islam Hadhrat Khaja Naseeruddin Chiraagh Dehlvi” (May Allah shower His mercy on him).
Hadhrat Khaja Banda Nawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him) fulfilled the great obligation of guiding people onto the right path through his teachings, writings and utterances. He instructed them to remain steadfast on the correct Islamic beliefs. His whole life was an epitome of piety, purity, humility and generosity.
The Khaja was a master of the logical and the spiritual sciences of Islam. He was well aware of the secrets and spiritual nuances of the Holy Quran. The scholars of that age were astonished at his erudition. Although the Khaja was a master of all sciences, exegesis of the Holy Quran is his special field. Due to his obedience to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and his relationship with him, he was granted special knowledge.
He instructed his disciples to be patient on difficulties of life and to be content with what Allah has decreed for them. The Khaja instructed us to be mindful of how we are spending our time and forbade wasting time. He advised us to reflect on how we had spent our day before going to sleep for the night. If we have committed good deeds, we should thank Allah for it and if we have committed sins, we should repent for it.
His character and moral were of such a high stature that he would shower love and affection even on the non-Muslims. Once a disciple of the Khaja addressed a non-Muslim in a rude manner. The Khaja immediately advised him against it. When he protested that the other person was a non-Muslim, the Khaja said: Remember that you are a Muslim! That person is not a Muslim, but he is a human being. We should treat him with respect due a fellow human being.
Ref: www.ziaislamic.com/english/news1descr1.php?ids=1335&&key=khaja%20gareeb%20nawaz
