Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm
The 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal marks the blessed Urs of Khwāja Muhammad Zahidق, the 21st Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain. A man of immense piety, humility, and luminous guidance, his life was a continuous reflection of the Qur’an and Sunnah, serving as a bridge between the earlier Naqshbandi Masters and the generations that followed.
Khwāja Muhammad Zahidق was born into a family known for its deep connection to knowledge and worship. From the earliest days, it was apparent that his heart was drawn to the remembrance of Allah ﷻ.
His nights were filled with long vigils, and his days with service, study, and care for the poor. People would often say that he seemed to have been born with the Dhikr of Allah ﷻ already flowing in his heart.
One of the most treasured stories from his youth tells of a day when he accompanied his father to the masjid. While the adults prayed, young Muhammad sat quietly in a corner, his eyes fixed on the mimbar (pulpit). After the prayer, an elderly man approached and said, “Child, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
The young Khwāja Muhammadق replied, “I was wondering how one can reach the hearts of people so that they never forget Allah ﷻ again.” That elderly man later told the family, “This child will grow to be a guide of hearts.” His words were proven true.
Khwāja Muhammadق’s path to spiritual mastery was marked by his devoted service to his Shaykh, Khwaja UbayduLlah al-Aḥrarق, the 20th Grandshaykh. He served him with such sincerity that he became known for anticipating his Shaykh’s needs even before they were spoken.
It is narrated that if Khwāja UbayduLlah al-Aḥrarق began to walk towards the masjid, Khwāja Muhammad Zahidق would already be at the door, holding it open, his head bowed in respect. His Shaykh once said of him, “If I had one hundred such mureeds, the whole world would be in constant remembrance of Allah ﷻ.”
His training under Khwaja UbayduLlahق was intense and exacting. He was tested in patience, service, and silence. There is a famous story that during one winter, his Shaykh instructed Khwaja Muhammadق to stand outside the khanqah from Fajr until Maghrib, greeting and assisting every visitor, without sitting or leaning against a wall.
For days he did this in the freezing wind, smiling at every guest. When asked if he felt tired, he replied, “When the heart is warmed by the love of the Shaykh, the body does not feel the cold.” This endurance and devotion earned him the deep trust of his Master.
When the time came for Khwaja UbayduLlahق to pass the secret of the Naqshbandi Tariqah to a successor, it was Khwaja Muhammad Zahidق who was chosen. Upon placing his blessed turban upon Khwaja Muhammadق head, his Shaykh said, “You will be a lantern for those who are lost, and a rope for those who are drowning in heedlessness. Protect this trust as you would protect your own soul.”
Khwāja Muhammadق became a luminous presence in the spiritual world. His gatherings were filled with warmth, wisdom, and Divine presence. People from distant lands came to sit in his Sohbah, and many found their lives transformed after only a short time with him.
He was known for his gentle way of correcting people. Rather than rebuking them harshly, he would tell a story or share an example from the lives of the pious predecessors, letting the listener discover the lesson themselves.
One famous example was when a man complained about his difficulty in maintaining focus during prayer. Khwāja Muhammadق did not criticise him, but told him, “There was once a merchant who loved counting his gold coins. When he entered prayer, he imagined the coins before him and counted them one by one.
After some time, he began to replace the coins in his mind with the Names of Allah ﷻ. Soon, every rak’aah was filled with His remembrance.” The man understood that the key to focus was love, and from that day his prayer was never the same.
Khwāja Muhammadق’s humility was extraordinary. Though thousands respected him, he lived simply, wearing modest clothes and eating whatever was placed before him without complaint.
Once, a visitor from a wealthy city was shocked to see the Shaykh eating coarse bread and lentils. “You are a great spiritual Master,” the man said, “Should you not eat finer food?” Khwāja Muhammadق replied, “My soul is the guest here, not my stomach. Why should I feed the host more than the guest?”
Another story tells of a time when he was invited to a grand feast by a nobleman. As he entered, he saw the poor gathered outside, unable to join. Without hesitation, he turned to the host and said, “The food will be sweeter if we eat together.” He ordered the doors opened and all were welcomed inside. That night, the feast became an act of worship.
His teachings always emphasised sincerity, service, and the constant remembrance of Allah ﷻ. He would often say, “The heart is a mirror. Keep it polished with Dhikr so that it reflects only His ﷻ Light.”
His Dhikr circles were renowned for their serenity. Witnesses describe an almost tangible peace settling over the gathering, as if the entire room had been lifted into another realm.
In his later years, despite physical weakness, he continued to guide his mureeds with the same energy as in his youth. When someone once suggested he rest more, he smiled and said, “Rest will come when I am in my grave. Until then, my breath belongs to Allah ﷻ and to His servants.”
On the 12th of Rabiul Awwal, his pure soul returned to his Lord ﷻ. His passing was felt deeply across the Naqshbandi world. Many reported dreams of the Shaykh smiling and saying, “Do not think I have left you. A true Shaykh walks with his mureeds until they reach the Presence of Allah ﷻ.”
Today, his blessed maqam remains a place of solace, visited by those seeking peace, guidance, and a renewal of faith. His legacy lives on through the teachings he preserved, the lives he touched, and the Golden Chain of Masters who carried his light forward.
Khwāja Muhammad az Zahidق’s life is a testament to the power of service, humility, and unwavering love for Allah ﷻ.
May Allah ﷻ sanctify his secret, elevate his station, and allow us to inherit even a drop of his sincerity.
Al-Fatiha.
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