9th Rabi’ al-Awwal: Urs of Khwāja Muhammad Ma’sum, 26th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

The 9th of Rabi’ al-Awwal marks the blessed Urs of Khwāja Muhammad Ma’sumق, the shining son and spiritual heir of Imam Rabbani, Mawlana Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق, and the 26th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain.

Born in 1007 AH in the blessed city of Sirhind, Khwāja Muhammad Ma’sumق grew up in an atmosphere filled with learning and spiritual refinement. His father’s deep vision recognised in him an inheritor of the Prophetic legacy. Mawlana Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق would say, “This son of mine has been adorned by Allah ﷻ with the jewels of perfection. He will be a leader in both the seen and unseen worlds.”

From an early age, he displayed exceptional aptitude, memorising the Holy Qur’an in three months, and completing his studies by age sixteen.

His spiritual beauty was matched by his gentleness. Many spoke of how his presence could calm the troubled and uplift the weary. A famous account tells of a learned scholar who came to challenge him with intricate theological questions. Khwāja Muhammad Masumق listened patiently and answered with such clarity and simplicity that the man was moved to tears, admitting that his soul had found the answer it sought more than his intellect had.

At the youthful age of twenty-six he assumed leadership of the Naqshbandi Way, stepping into the seat of Grandshaykh. Mawlana Ahmad al-Faruqi as-Sirhindiق declared, “My son Muhammad Masum is my representative. Whoever holds to him, holds to me. Through him, the chain will remain alive until the end of time.”

Thousands of seekers came under his guidance, from the scholars of the great cities to humble villagers seeking light. His letters, over three hundred in number, are treasures of spiritual counsel, addressing the challenges of faith, the trials of the heart, and the method of walking firmly on the path of Allah ﷻ.

One of his most radiant qualities was his deep and overwhelming love for the Holy Prophet ﷺ. Those who attended his gatherings recall the frequent recitation of salawat and the tears that would flow as he spoke about the Messenger ﷺ. In one of his letters, he wrote, “All goodness is in the love of the Beloved ﷺ. If a heart holds even a spark of that love, it will be saved from the fire of separation.”

One remarkable moment remains in the memory of his followers. A deputy named Khwāja Muhammad as-Siddiqق was riding atop a horse when he lost his footing in motion, hanging by one stirrup over a rushing mount. In desperation he uttered, “O my Shaykh, support me.”

In that instant, Khwāja Muhammad Masumق appeared before him, took the reins, and brought the horse to a safe stop. Another disciple recalled drowning at sea, calling upon Khwāja Muhammad Masumق, and finding himself saved at the very moment his hope faded.

One evening, while sitting in his khaniqah, water seemed to pour from his sleeves. When asked, he quietly explained that a disciple on a ship during a tempest had cried out to him, and he had reached across the seas to rescue him. The shipwrecked man later confirmed the moment, matching it exactly with the time he had earlier said.

Despite his lofty rank and many karamah, he lived with the simplicity of true Saints. He would receive guests without formality, sometimes serving them with his own hands. Food in his home was shared with any who came, and travellers found his door always open, without barrier or distinction.

One disciple, after a long and tiring journey, found Khwāja Muhammad Masumق at the gate carrying water for guests. When the man expressed surprise that the Grandshaykh himself was performing such a task, he smiled and said, “Serving you is serving Allah ﷻ.”

His training of disciples was both gentle and firm. He taught that remembrance of Allah ﷻ is the soul of the Way, and that it must be constant, both with the tongue and the heart. He would warn, “The one who remembers Allah ﷻ with the tongue but forgets Him in the heart is like a man who calls his friend while walking away from him.”

Khwāja Muhammad Masumق lived in the era of the Mughal Empire and was deeply respected by Emperor Aurangzeb, who would seek his advice through messengers. Yet the Shaykh never allowed worldly power to distract him from his purpose. He reminded rulers to uphold justice and avoid pride, and his concern was always the preservation of faith and the protection of the hearts of believers.

His writings reflect a heart completely absorbed in Divine contemplation. In one letter he wrote, “The world is like a shadow. If you run after it, it will run away from you. If you turn your back on it, it will follow you. Do not be deceived by its glitter, for its end is dust.” In another, he counselled, “The heart is a mirror. Keep it polished with remembrance so that the Light of the Divine may be reflected without distortion.”

The influence of his work was vast. Through his many disciples, the Naqshbandi Way spread across regions, bringing spiritual awakening to communities far beyond Sirhind. His balanced approach, combining the outward Shariah with the inward path of purification, became a model for later generations of Guides.

When his blessed life came to its end in 1079 AH, those present reported that his lips were moving in dhikr until the last breath. The fragrance of musk was said to have filled the air at his passing, a sign often mentioned in the lives of the Awliya. His Urs is not a day of grief but a day of gratitude and joy, marking his union with the Beloved ﷺ and the beginning of his everlasting service through the unseen.

As the blessed day of his Urs comes, we remember his words, “Keep your heart turned to the One who never turns away from you. In Him ﷺ is your safety, your honour, and your joy.”

May Allah ﷻ allow us to walk in the light of his example, to live with humility and love, and to depart from this world with His remembrance upon our tongues and in our hearts.

Al-Fatiha.