17th Rabi’ al-Awwal: Urs of Khwāja Mahmood Anjir al-Faghnawi, 13th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

The 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal marks the blessed Urs of Khwāja Mahmood Anjir al-Faghnawiق, the 13th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, a radiant guide whose life was spent in deep service to Allah ﷻ and His Beloved ﷺ.

Khwāja Mahmood Anjir al-Faghnawiق was born in the village of Anjir Faghna, near Bukhara, in a region where the fragrance of sainthood lingered in the air from the footsteps of earlier Masters. The people of the area were simple and God-fearing, yet it was the presence of Saints like Khwāja Mahmoodق that gave their lives direction and light.

From his earliest years, he was drawn to solitude and worship. Those who knew him as a child often recalled how he would slip away from the play of other boys, finding a quiet corner to recite Qur’an or make Dhikr. His father would say, “This boy’s heart is already with the Awliya. His eyes see something we cannot see.”

He was trained under the guidance of the great Shaykh Arif ar-Riwgariق, from whom he inherited the secret of the Golden Chain. It was under his hand that the refinement of his spiritual state reached perfection. Shaykh Arifق once said of him, “Mahmoud’s heart is like a polished mirror. Whoever looks into it will see only the reflection of the Prophet ﷺ.”

The relationship between Master and student was built on love and respect, and it was known that Khwāja Mahmoodق served his Shaykh tirelessly. He would fetch water, prepare the place for dhikr, and ensure the Shaykh’s comfort before ever thinking of himself. He learned by example that the path to Allah ﷻ is paved with service and humility.

One of the most well-known aspects of Khwāja Mahmoodق’s life was his extraordinary commitment to dhikr. His tongue was never still from the remembrance of Allah ﷻ. It is said that even in sleep, his lips would move in dhikrullah.

People were amazed at his ability to perform the silent dhikr of the heart continuously, a state he would later pass on to his mureeds as the essence of the Naqshbandi Way.

When asked about the secret of this constancy, he would quote the Qur’anic verse, “Remember Me, and I will remember you.” He would say, “When Allah ﷻ remembers His servant, the heart cannot bear to be empty of His ﷻ Name.”

The village mosque in Anjir Faghna became the heart of his teaching. There, he would lead prayers, guide the community, and hold Sohbahs filled with wisdom and gentleness. His words were simple, yet they pierced the hearts of those who heard them.

He often reminded people that spiritual progress is not measured by visions or miracles, but by sincerity and steadfastness. “One step taken with truthfulness,” he would say, “is better than a thousand taken in heedlessness.”

There is a beautiful story often told about him. Once, a man came from far away, having heard of the Shaykh’s reputation. He arrived at the mosque exhausted, thirsty, and dusty from travel.

Without asking who he was or what he wanted, Khwāja Mahmoodق immediately rose, brought water with his own hands, and served him.

Only after the man had rested did the Shaykh ask, “What brings you here, my brother?” The traveler wept, saying, “I came to learn the adab of the Way, and I have already learned it before hearing a single word.”

This was the essence of his teaching, embodying the manners of the Prophet ﷺ in every action.

He was known for his deep compassion for the poor. If anyone in the village was in need, they knew they could come to him without hesitation. There were times when he would give away his own food and sleep hungry, preferring that someone else be fed.

Once, during a harsh winter, he gave away his warm cloak to a stranger shivering in the cold. When his students asked how he could manage without it, he smiled and said, “The warmth of giving is greater than the warmth of wool.”

Despite his great spiritual rank, he avoided fame and worldly recognition. He preferred to be known only to those whom Allah ﷻ had destined to find him. When people praised him, he would lower his head and say, “Do not speak of me. Speak of the One ﷻ who is the Source of every blessing.”

Khwāja Mahmoodق also placed great emphasis on Sohbah as a means of transmitting spiritual realities. He would gather his mureeds after Fajr and sit with them, speaking not only with words but with the silent language of the heart. Many testified that they learned more from his presence than from any formal lesson.

When the time came for his departure from this world, his face shone with light. Those present reported that he was in a state of calm and peace, reciting the shahadah as his soul returned to its Lord. His passing left a deep emptiness in the hearts of his followers, but also a lasting fragrance of his teachings.

He was laid to rest in his birthplace of Anjir Faghna, and his maqam became a place of blessing for all who visit. Even now, centuries later, the air there is filled with tranquility, and visitors often feel an unexplainable joy in their hearts.

Mawlana Mahmoud Anjir Faghnawiق showed us that the highest stations are reached through humility, service, constant remembrance, and love for Allah ﷻ and His Beloved ﷺ.

May Allah ﷻ allow our hearts to be connected to his, and may we benefit from his blessed ways in this life and the next.

Al-Fatiha.