Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

12th Century

Iran/Per
(Middle East)

Gharib Nawaz

Timeline (1142? - 1236?)

Poems by Gharib Nawaz
Books - Links

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Khwaja Mu'in'ud-Din Chisti, called Hazrat Gharib Nawaz (which means "Helper of the Poor"), was born in Persia (Iran). The dates of his birth and death are uncertain, but he probably lived from the mid 12th to the mid 13th century.

Gharib Nawaz studied traditional sciences and taught at the important Islamic universities of Bhukhara and Samarkand. He, however, yearned for a deeper, inner knowing and became a devoted student of a Chisti Sufi master from Nishapur. He studied with this master for twenty years, traveling with him throughout Central Asia and Arabia, conversing with many of the important Sufi figures of their day.

After going on pilgrimage to Mecca, Gharib Nawaz felt called to bring his teachings to India. He spent forty days in spiritual retreat at the tomb of a Sufi saint in Lahore, and then began his travels through India and drew an enormous following. As a mark of his influence, today the Chishti order is no longer numerous in Iran, but it is the most widespread Sufi order in India.

Hazrat Gharib Nawaz eventually became the eighth head of the Chishti order.

Gharib Nawaz died and was buried at Ajmer in India. His tomb has become an important pilgrimage spot for both Muslims and Hindus in India. It is sometimes even referred to as "the Mecca of India."

Poems by Gharib Nawaz

	Riddle
	The Second Jesus

Recommended Books

The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry, Translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson / Translated by Nasrollah Pourjavady

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	A quick glance guide to the life of Gharib Nawaz http://muslim-canada.org/sufi/quickglance.htm A bulleted biography of Gharib Nawaz.
	Hazart Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty (R.A.) http://www.gharibnawaz.com/ Biography and summary of his teachings online.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Gharib Nawaz

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World