His exalted Eminence - Shah Deccan Qutub Kokan Hazrat Khwaja Habib Ali Shah was born in a noble family, whose lineage is traced back to Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddiq (radiallahu anhu), sahabi Rasool - the 1st caliph of Islam.
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Hazrat Pir Khaja Habib Ali Shah Chisti ul Quadri (Jagir Name : Habib Yarkhan Siddiqui)is a descendant of the First Calipha of Islam Hazrat Syedna Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra). His great grand father Hazrat Shah Abdul Ghafur Siddiqui Chinaki (ra) arrived in Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India. He was invited to Ahmedabad as religious teacher by the then famous Sufi Saint Hazrat Shah Alam Mahbub Alam. His mazaar (shrine) is in the precincts of Dargah Shareef of Hazarat Shah Alam Mahbub Alam (ra), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur Asaf Jah II recognizing the potential of Hazrat Abdul Qadeer Siddiqui (ra) (who was expert in the field of medicine and in the spiritual sciences) invited him to Hyderabad, India. He was appointed as Hakim ul Hukuma (Chief Royal Physician), Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowment. As a token of his acknowledgement he had bestowed to him a property portfolio comprising several villages. It is thus, that he received the title of Mohi-ud-Dowla. He died in 1188 AH and is buried in Nawabpur in Aurangabad, India. A masjid in Pathergatti (opposite present Osmania Bazaar, Hyderabad) was built by him and has been named after him, and still exists.
His father Nawaab Ahmed Yar Khan Siddiqui (ra) was a well revered "Nawaab", a famous scholar of religion and well known philanthropist, who was appointed as Hakim ul Hukuma (Chief Royal Physician), Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowment in Nizam Government of Hyderabad Deccan and was given the title of Mohi Ud Dowla. His mother, Bibi Amatul Fatima, has a lineage from Hazrat Sayyiduna Imam Ali sahabi Rasool and the 4th Calipha of Islam. His parents were pious and were mureed of Sheik-ul-Islam Hazrat Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Ali Shah (as known as Hafiz Pir Dastagir) of Khairaabaad, India.
Pir Tariqat Sheikh Hazrat Sayyid Ali Razvi al Madani (ra) is the maternal grandfather of Hazrat Pir Khaja Habib Ali Shah (ra). He was a man of great piety and was a wali (sufi) saint. His tomb is in Asifnagar area of Hyderabad. A suburb of Hyderabad, now in the heart of the city, is named after him called "Mohalla Sayyid Ali Guda". Even today hundreds of disciples from all walks of life visit his shrine to pay homage and receive blessings each day.
The birth of Khwaja Habib (rahmatullahi alaihi)) was foretold by the great Sheikh himself who remarked that "his" son would be born in the home of Nawaab Ahmad Yar Khan (Mohi ud dowla). At this stage the mother of Hazrat Khwaja Habib Bibi Amatul Fatima was beyond child bearing age, but since the grand sheikh had spoken, they knew that Allah willed otherwise.
In Diwan Habib, Hazrat Khwaja Habib exhibited his love for truth, about Sheikh and Mohammed:
"Kar Habib Apne Pidr aur na Madr pe Ghoooror
Ishq mein falan ibn falan haach hai haach"
(English Translation of the above Persian couplet: On your ancestry Habib be not proud aught. In the path of love So-and-So, is naught, is naught)
As predicted by Hafiz Pir Dastagir 2 years later, a male-child was born as the fourth child of Nawaab Ahmad Yar Khan, as family tradition who was named Habib Yar Khan. In Hagiography "Tadhkiratul Habib" (memorial of the beloved) by Hafiz Muhammed Fuzail Soofie Al Habibi, Durban, South Africa reported that at the time of blessed birth of Khwaja Habib a majzub stood at the door of the home in Kuch-e-Nasim Sultan (located near Machli Kaman near Charminar, Hyderabad) the palace of Nawab Ahmed Yar Khan (Mohi ud dowla), and pacing the floor in ecstasy repeatedly uttered "Shaykh Paida Shud" (English Translation: Sheikh has born). It is to be noted according to the science of Abjad, the year of the birth of Hazrat Khwaja Habib Ali Shah is "Ya Sayyid Habib Ali Shah Chishti"
Four years later, the grand Sheikh Hazrat Hafiz Mohammed Ali Shah Kharaibadi visited Hyderabad. He knowlingly enquired from Nawab Ahmed Yar Khan, "Well, well was not my child born at your home. ? Nawaab Ahmed Yar Khan replied "YES". Hafiz Pir Dastagir asked, "Well have you named him"? The Nawaab sahib replied in the affirmative. "What have you named him? ". asked the Sheikh. The Nawaab sahib replaied, "Habib Yar Khan Bahadur". Hazrat Hafiz Pir Dastagir was very pleased and said, "I have come to perform the Bismillah (Tasmi khani) ceremony of my son". On 23 Shawal 1240 AH at the age of four years four months and four days, Hafiz Pir proceeded with the Bismillah of the child and thereafter put the child on test. A handful of gold coins and a handful of sweetmeats were placed in front of the child and he was asked by the Sheikh to choose that which he desired. This child (Khwaja Habib) with saintly future placed his hands on both and said, "I will take both !". Upon this Hafiz Pir Dastagir smiled knowlingly and declared, "My child will choose spirituality over wealth, and will be a wealth of spirituality"!.
After the official Bismillah ceremony, Khwaja Habib in imitating the actions of his beloved Sheikh took to learning and memorizing the verses, meanings and ultimately the secrets of the Quran. The first impact of the soul piercing glance of the Sheikh was the love for the Quran.
At this tender age Khwaja Habib formally began the process of acquiring external as well as internal knowledge. The spiritual magnetism and charisma of the Ka'bah of lovers and the divine wine of the love of Allah that flowed from the glance of his murshid was so great, that this young child - Khwaja Habib of less than 5 years of age became enamoured with this beloved of Allah. By the age of six, Khwaja Habib would retire to the garden house, in a state of wudu, facing qiblah covering his face with a cloth would indulge in Muraqabah, in total privacy. By the age of nine, Khwaja Habib made it a consistent practice to be in a state of wudu. The obvious signs of wilayah that had manifest had an impact on his parents and other family members.
An historical fact narrated by several of his family members and Caliphas: During Id, Khwaja habib's father would listen to the requests of his children as to what they desired as gifts (iddi) on the occasion of happiness/id. When it came to the turn of Khwaja Habib tears would role down his eyes and he would weep and request "My dear father, whenever you visit the Khaqah of my beloved Pir-o-Murshid (Sheikh){Hazrat Hafiz Pir Dastagir}, grant me the privelege of accompanying you.".
After studying the Quran and the acquisition of the basic knowledge of Shariat Khwaja Habib was formally initiated into Tariqat by the hand of the illuminating lamp for the wayfarers on the path, the blazing sun of Al-Haqiqah, the priceless treasure from the ocean of Al Marifah Hazrat Hafiz Mohammed Ali Shah (Hafiz Pir Dastagir) Khairabadi. Khwaja Habib took the bayath on the hands of his Pir at the age of sixteen years sis months and eleven days on 30 Moharram ul Haram 1252 H. After the departure of Hazrat Hafiz Pir Dastagir from Hyderabad back to Khairabad, the pangs of separation and the yearning to be in the illuminating presence of his distinguished mentor began to burn in the heart of young Khwaja Habib and his restlessness grew greater day by day. In one of the verse in Habibul Talibun Khwaja Habib explains the feelings As :
"Hum ko Hafiz ki Gali ka woh taswur banddha
Showk Janat na raha bagh Irum bhool gaye"
(English Translation of the above Persian couplet: In the thought of Hafiz's alley I was so lost, Desire for heaven, the Gardens of Irum I forgot)
Khawaja Habib own words reported by his Calipha Hazrat Shah Mohammed Ibrahim Soofie Habibi (whose Dargah Shareef is at Ajmer Shareef India). Afer Bayat I persistently requested from my parents to send me to the Khanqah of my Sheikh Hazrat Hafiz Pir Dastagir, but would receive no response from them. During that period a group of my spiritual brothers (Pir Bhais) was planning to visit the Sheikh in Khairabad. I secretly sent a petitionary letter by the hand of Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Sahib (whose Dargah Shareef is in Hyderbad, India).
When the entourage arrived in Khairabad, Hazrat Hafiz Pir Dastagir was busy conducting a lesson. The entourage was honured by receiving the blessings of kissing his feet and musfah. Hafiz Pir Dastagir adjourned the class (lesson) and enquired of their well being. Hafiz Pir Dastagir rather restlessly, varying his sitting posture repeatedly, asked whether all was well. Everyone replied in the affirmative, having completely forgotten about the letter in the excitement of their arrival at the Khanqah of their Pir. Finally Hafiz Pir Dastagir himself was compelled to ask, "Is there anything else? Is there no letter for me?" At that moment my letter came to mind and was presented to Hafiz Pir Dastagir. It is narrated that Hafiz Pir came forward, took the letter placed it on his head, held it to his chest, and wept profusely. After a while Hafiz Pir Dastagir regained his composure and opening his arms as if motioning to someone declared resolutely, "I will call him here " ! The highlights of this incident stated in the following verse by Khwaja Habib in his diwan :
"Shukr kya uska baja laya Habib Assi
Ho gaya paesh nazar ye sag darban ka qat"
(English Translation of the above Persian couplet: How can gratitude be shown by Habib the sinner. ? Before his eyes was presesnted the lowly servant's letter)
The letter was taken and placed by Hafiz Pir Dastagir in his top pocket. Khwaja Habib narrates in Diwan :
"Naam sun ke wo Habib Ashiq Ka
Padh ke phir jaayb mein rakha Kagaz"
(English Translation of the above Persian couplet: Hearing the name of Habib the lover, In his pokcet he kept the letter.)
Hyderabad:
Beside Hazrat Pir Khaja Habib Ali Shah Salis, Hazrat Pir Ahsan Pasha Habibi {calipha of Hazrat Pir Khwaja Habib Ali Shah Thani} is actively involved in spreading the teachings of Islam and principles of Silsila Habibia Nizamia. He perform all the rituals of Dargah Shareef in the absence of present Sajjadah Nasheen. Hundreds of devotees and disciples visits the shrine each day and need to be catered with proper guidance.
Bombay (Mumbai):
Moulana Mohammed Hanif Gaya sahib {only son in law of Hazrat Khaja Habib Ali Shah Thani} is actively performing the rituals at the Khanqah in Dockyard Road, Mumbai. It is the place where Hazrat Khwaja Habib took last breathe.
Canada:
Moulana Haamed Pasha Habibi Siddiqui {(also known as Haamed Yarkhan Siddiqui son of Hazrat Khizr Pasha (also known as Nawab Mujtaba Yarkhan Siddiqui) who was Calipha of Hazrat Maqdoom Pir Khaja Hafiz Ali Shah Sahib}, is actively performing the activities of Silsila Habibia. He is a calipha of Silsila Habibia-Nizamia. He is nephew of Hazrat Pir Khaja Habib Ali Shah Thani (ra). He is a bilingual speaker and member of several socio-religious organization. One of the office bearer for Qudam Awliay organization operating from Markham, Canada.
South Africa (active participants in propagating Islam and the Teachings of Hazrat Khwaja Habib
Moulana Hafiz Muhammad Fuzail Soofie Habibi Maulana Abdurraouff Soofie, Cape Town, South Africa Dr Muhammed Rafiq Khan
Ajmer:
Brother Hidayat Ali (he is also a Khadim of Khaja Sahib Dargah Shareef) is responsible for the activities of Silsila Habibia and Dargah Shareef of Hazrat Soofi Ibrahim Shah {one of the Calipha of Hazrat Khwaja Habib} stationed at Ajmer Shareef. He guide all the disciples of Silsila Habibia Nizamia upon their visit to Ajmer Shareef.