SHAYKH BAHAUDDIN NAQSHBAND QSA
The great Sufi saint, Shaykh Muhammad Bahauddin Shah Naqshband Qaddas Allahu Sirrahu “QSA” (May Allah sanctify his secret) is the founder of one of the largest spiritual paths (silsila) in the world, which is the Naqshbandi Silsila.
He was born in a village near Bukhara (Uzbekistan) in 717 A.H. At the age of 18 years old, he was already waking up 3 hours before Fajr (dawn prayer) and would pray, “O my Lord, give me the power to carry the difficulties and the pain of Your love.”
Hazrat as-Samasi QSA later told him to change this method of supplication (dua), and advised him to pray instead “O God, grant Your pleasure to this weak servant.” The shaykh advised him that although Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala may give His servants some difficulties to test them, He does not like His servants to be in difficulties. However, this practice shows the intense love and determination of Hazrat Shah Naqshband QSA at such an early age. He was already an exceptional Islamic scholar by the age of only 20 years old.
Hazrat Bahauddin Shah Naqshband QSA was a rare scholar of both the outward Islamic sciences (Shari’ah) and the inward Islamic sciences (Sufism) such that one of his titles were “Dhu-Janahayn” which is the possessor of two wings.
He passed ahead in the month of Rabi al-Awwal, 791 A.H. after a lifetime of significant contribution to Islam and spirituality. He was buried in his garden as he requested.
We remember the awliya (saints) because Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala’s mercy comes down on us when we mention them. One of the masters of the Naqshbandi Silsila, Hazrat Sharafuddin Daghestani QSA said, “When the stories of the saints and details of their lives are mentioned, the sins of the listeners will be shattered away as the shattering of glass.”
O my Lord, for the sake of all your beloved prophets and saints, please fulfill all my needs and remove my pains.
Ya Mere Allah Jumla Ambiya ke wasthey,
Hajathe Barla Meri Kul Awliya ke wasthey.
Silsila-e-Aaliya, Khushhaliya !
(Ref: 101 Great Mystics of Islam - Muhammad Riaz Qadiri)