8th Jumada al-Awwal: Urs of Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulal, 16th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm

The 8th of Jumada al-Awwal marks the blessed Urs of Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulalق, the 16th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain and the noble teacher of Imamul Tariqah, Mawlana Shaykh Bahauddin Shah Naqshbandق.

Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulalق was born around 676 AH (1277 CE) in the village of Sukhar, near Bukhara in present-day Uzbekistan, into a noble Sayyid family descended from the Holy Prophet ﷺ. His father, Sayfuddin Hamza, was a man of learning and honour, known as an Amir among his people, while his mother was a woman of deep purity and faith.

She would later relate that whenever her hand reached toward food that was doubtful, she could not bring it to her mouth. She knew that the child in her womb was blessed and destined for a life of spiritual purpose.

The family lived simply and worked as potters by trade, for “Kulal” means potter. Khwaja Amir Kulalق himself moulded clay with his hands, finding in that work a reflection of the divine act of creation, for from clay man was formed. In his youth, he also trained as a wrestler and became one of the most renowned of his time, known for both strength and discipline. People would gather from distant towns to watch his skill.

One day, among the crowd stood a man who thought to himself, “How can a descendant of the Prophet, a man of piety, spend his time in such a sport?” In that moment, the man fell into a deep sleep and dreamed of the Day of Judgment. He found himself drowning and in great distress until Khwaja Amir Kulalق appeared, pulled him from the waters, and saved him.

When he awoke, Khwaja Amir Kulalق looked directly at him and said, “Have you now seen my power in wrestling and in intercession?” The man was shaken, realising that even in the wrestling field, Khwaja Amir Kulalق was a man upheld by divine support.

It was during this time that the great saint Khwaja Muhammad Baba as-Samasiق, the 15th Grandshaykh of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, passed by the wrestling ground and stopped to watch. One of his disciples silently questioned why a saint of such rank would stand in such a place.

Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق turned to him and said, “I am standing here for the sake of one man. He will be a great knower of Allah. Through him, people will reach the highest stations of Divine Love. My intention is to bring this one under my wing.”

At that moment, Khwaja Amir Kulalق felt the spiritual gaze of Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق fall upon him. His heart trembled and a veil was lifted.

He left his match and followed Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق to his home. From that day on, he entered into his service. Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق initiated him in the dhikr and the principles of the Naqshbandi Way, saying to him, “You are now my spiritual son.”

For twenty years, Khwaja Amir Kulalق remained in the company of his master, serving him with love and perseverance. Twice each week, he would walk the long distance from Sukhar to the town of Samas, nearly thirty kilometres, through all weathers, simply to sit in his Shaykh’s presence. His devotion was silent and unseen, yet his heart was being polished with the remembrance of Allah ﷻ until it shone like a mirror of divine light.

After the passing of Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق, the spiritual trust and responsibility of guiding seekers of the Naqshbandi Way passed to Khwaja Amir Kulalق. He became known as one of the Saints of Mastery, those who are masters even among saints. His gatherings were filled with tranquillity, his words were soft yet powerful, and his presence drew hearts to remembrance.

Khwaja Amir Kulalق’s spiritual insight was vast and his foresight clear. One day, as he and his disciples were returning from the Friday congregational prayers, they passed a group of young boys talking together. Among them was a boy named Timur. As he passed, Timur asked his friends, “Who is that man?” They replied, “That is Khwaja Amir Kulal and his followers.”

Timur immediately stood, ran to the Khwaja, and said respectfully, “O Friend of God, please stay with us and give us some advice.” Khwaja Amir Kulalق replied, “In the future, you will have a very important duty to perform, and you will be successful.”

That night, Khwaja Amir Kulalق saw the spiritual presence of his Shaykh, Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق, and was shown Timur’s destiny. He sent a message to the young boy, saying, “The spirit of my Master has made me aware of your future. You will rule over nations from the East to the West. After conquering Khorezm, take the road to Samarkand.”

Many years later, when Timur became a great commander, he remembered those words. He conquered Khorezm, then Samarkand, and wrote to Khwaja Amir Kulalق, saying, “O my dear and great Teacher, it is only with your help that I have been successful. If you allow me, I would like to visit Bukhara to show my appreciation.”

Khwaja Amir Kulalق sent his fourth son, Sayyid Amir Umar, with a letter, saying, “You do not need to come to me, for I am praying for you. If you wish to be blessed, rule with fairness and justice, and stay on the path to God.”

Timur continued to seek permission to visit Bukhara, but Khwaja Amir Kulalق refused until the city came under threat from an oppressive ruler. Only then did he permit Timur to enter.

Timur wished to give much of Bukhara to Khwaja Amir Kulalق, but he refused, saying that the wealth of kings should remain with their people. His son, Sayyid Amir Umar became a close advisor to Timur, holding the unique position of being able to speak truth to him. He is buried beside Timur in Samarkand.

Disciples and seekers from many regions travelled to learn from Khwaja Amir Kulalق. Among those who came under his training was the young Khwaja Muhammad Bahauddin Shah Naqshbandق.

Shah Naqshbandق said, “When my master Baba as-Samasiق passed away, I moved to Qasr al-‘Arifan near Bukhara. This was Allah’s care for me, for it placed me close to Sayyid Amir Kulal. He told me that Baba as-Samasi had said, ‘I will not be happy with you if you do not take good care of him.’” From that moment, Shah Naqshbandق gave himself completely to the service of Khwaja Amir Kulalق.

Khwaja Amir Kulalق recognised in the young Bahauddinق the fulfilment of his own master’s prophecy. Khwaja Baba as-Samasiق had once said to his disciples, “A great reviver of this Way will rise from among Amir Kulal’s students, whose light will spread to the East and West.”

With that knowledge and responsibility, Amir Kulalق trained him with precision, knowing that he was preparing a heart destined to carry the secrets of the Golden Chain.

Shah Naqshbandق would later say, “My master shaped my heart as he shaped his clay, until it took the form of servanthood.” Through this gentle shaping, Amir Kulalق moulded his disciple’s inner being until it became a vessel of divine reflection.

Under Khwaja Amir Kulalق’s guidance, Shah Naqshbandق learned the balance between the outer and inner path. Khwaja Amir Kulalق trained him in the silent dhikr, the remembrance of Allah ﷻ in the heart without movement of the tongue, and instructed him to keep it continuously, day and night.

He encouraged him to study the sacred sciences, Hadith, and Shari‘a, and to live by the example of the Prophet ﷺ in every action, however small. He said to him, “Let your tongue be with people, but your heart be with Allah.” This became one of the defining principles of the Naqshbandi Order.

Khwaja Amir Kulalق also taught him the art of service and humility. He would assign Shah Naqshbandق the most menial of tasks to purify his ego. Once, the young disciple was told to sweep the zawiya and tend the animals before he could join the gathering. Another time, when he arrived after a long journey in a state of exhaustion, Khwaja Amir Kulalق told his attendants, “Take him out, I do not want him in my house.” They obeyed.

Shah Naqshbandق found himself outside in the cold night, but instead of complaint, he laid his head at the door of his Shaykh and remained there through the snow until dawn. When Khwaja Amir Kulalق came out, he stepped unknowingly upon his disciple’s head and immediately recognised him.

Lifting him up, he said, “O my son, you have been dressed with the robe of Divine Love, the robe of happiness, and the robe that neither I nor my master have been dressed with. Allah is happy with you. The Prophet is happy with you. All the Masters of the Chain are happy with you.”

He then washed his disciple’s wounds with his own hands and poured into his heart the lights of divine knowledge that opened for him the Reality of the Prophet ﷺ and the Oneness of Allah ﷻ.

Through Khwaja Amir Kulalق, the Naqshbandi Way took its final and perfect form, establishing the silent dhikr as its heart. His emphasis on sincerity, humility, and constant remembrance shaped the generations that followed. He taught that the outer form of religion must be joined with the inner refinement of the heart, and that the servant’s true path to Allah ﷻ lies in love, obedience, and service.

Even after Khwaja Amir Kulalق’s passing, Shah Naqshbandق would often visit his Shaykh’s maqam, sweeping its surroundings with his own hands, reciting Al-Fatiha, and saying, “I am the servant of Amir Kulal.” He said, “When I am in difficulty, I see the light of my Shaykh before me, and my heart finds peace.”

Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulalق had four sons: as-Sayyid al-Amir Burhanuddin, as-Sayyid al-Amir Hamza, as-Sayyid al-Amir Shah, and as-Sayyid al-Amir Umar. He also had four deputies, but he passed his spiritual secrets to only one of them, the Master of Masters, the Knower of Knowers, the Sultan of Saints, Khwaja Muhammad Bahauddin Shah Naqshbandق.

Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulalق passed from this world in 772 AH, corresponding to 1370 CE, in his birthplace near Bukhara. His blessed maqam stands in Yangi Hayat, surrounded by gardens and a mosque that continue to echo with his remembrance.

Not far from him rests his beloved disciple, Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Bahauddin Shah Naqshbandق. The fragrance of their companionship still fills those plains, drawing seekers from every corner of the world.

May Allah ﷻ sanctify his noble soul, bless his secret, and allow his light to continue guiding the lovers and seekers of the Naqshbandi Way until the end of time.

Al-Fatiha.

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