Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm
The 12th Rabi’ al-Awwal marks the blessed Urs of Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق, the 11th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain.
He was a shining beacon of spiritual light in a time of great upheaval, a man of deep humility, sincere devotion, and unwavering love for Allah ﷻ and His Prophet ﷺ. Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق’s presence was like a gentle river, quiet yet powerful, carrying life and nourishment to countless hearts thirsty for truth.
He was born in the region of Ghujwan, near Bukhara, in a time when the lands of Central Asia were flourishing with knowledge and spirituality. From an early age, his heart was drawn towards the remembrance of Allah ﷻ and the company of the pious.
It is reported that even as a child, he would spend hours in silent contemplation, seeking the presence of the Divine. Those around him noticed a calmness and purity that was rare and precious. His days were filled with remembrance of Allah ﷻ, study of the sacred sciences, and service to his teachers and community.
Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق received his formal spiritual training under Khwāja Yusuf al-Hamadaniق, with whom he completed the Naqshbandi transmission and from whom he received his authorization. Classical accounts also record a visionary or spiritual transmission from Al-Khidr (AS) that awakened his practice of hidden, heart-centred remembrance.
Through years of discipline and training, he was polished like a jewel until his heart became a clear mirror reflecting the light of the Prophet ﷺ.
Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق’s gatherings were marked by a deep stillness that would descend upon all present. “Dhikr without presence is like a lamp without oil,” he would say. His students learned to carry this presence with them, in every moment of their lives.
He would often remind his students, “The path to Allah ﷻ is not in the length of prayers nor in the quantity of dhikr alone, but in the sincerity with which the heart turns to Him ﷻ.”
Despite his immense knowledge and spiritual rank, he was never one to draw attention to himself. He would sit among his students as one of them, eating simple food, wearing simple clothes, and attending to the needs of others without complaint.
Once, when a man came to him with a question, he directed him instead to a younger disciple, saying, “He can answer you as well as I can, for all wisdom is from Allah ﷻ and it matters not through whose tongue it flows.”
He often said, “To serve others is to serve Allah ﷻ Himself.” This was the way he lived daily. He would sit among the lowliest, helping the poor and comforting the broken-hearted. His humility was such that he never sought titles or praise. When asked about his status, he would smile and reply, “What matters is the love that burns in the heart, not the rank others give.”
For Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق, the role of a Shaykh was never about status but about carrying the trust of the Prophet ﷺ and the Awliya with honesty and fear of Allah ﷻ.
It is narrated that during one harsh winter, the people of Ghujwan were suffering from hunger. Without hesitation, Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق opened his home and distributed all the food and provisions he had, keeping nothing for himself.
When some students expressed concern, he smiled and said, “The One ﷻ who provides for them is the same One ﷻ who provides for me. My portion is with Him.” This act of selflessness inspired many to follow his example, turning the community toward compassion and care.
When his time in this world came to an end, Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق’s heart was filled with the remembrance of Allah ﷻ. Witnesses say that in his final moments, he was softly repeating the names of Allah ﷻ, his face radiant with peace.
His passing was a day of deep grief for the people of Ghujwan and for the lovers of the Naqshbandi Way everywhere. Yet even in death, his presence remained alive in the hearts of those who loved him.
Many reported dreams and visions of Khwāja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghijduwaniق in which he continued to offer counsel and encouragement. His blessed resting place became a point of spiritual light for those seeking nearness to Allah ﷻ.
Today, as we remember his Urs, we honour a man whose entire life was a testament to the reality that the path is one of service, humility, and love.
May Allah ﷻ bless his soul and grant us a portion of the sincerity and steadfastness that defined him.
May his example be a guiding light for all who tread the way of the Prophet ﷺ and the friends of Allah ﷻ.
Al-Fatiha.
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