Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti was born on Ist February 1143 in Isfahn or Sistan, Iran in 537 AH. After the death of his father he tried to run his father’s business, he was pious, generous and sacrificing from childhood. He represented a lifestyle centered on selflessness, detachment and a feeling of deep compassion towards others. This led him to turn to spirituality.
He was a Sunni Muslim and followed Hanafi Islamic theology. He traveled to Samarkand and Bukhara which were the renowned Islamic centres to gain religious knowledge. Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni was his spiritual teacher and declared him spiritual successor to the Caliphate at the age of 52 and he became a Sufi saint of the Chishtia order. He performed Hajj and went to Delhi via Multan and settled in Ajmer Rajasthan India in the 12th century. Delhi was ruled by Sultan Altamash and Ajmer was ruled by Prithvi Raj Chauhan.
He preached the virtues of love, tolerance, charity and distance from materialism. He also established a Khanqah in Ajmer to help poor people. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti died on 6 Rajab 633 Hijri 15 March 1236 AD.
His tomb is famous as Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmer Sharif Dargah. Emperors like Iltutmish, Akbar, Razia Sultana, Jahangir, Shahjahan, Aurangzeb etc. visited here. The Maharaja of Baroda built a beautiful cover on the Dargah Sharif. Jahangir, Shahjahan and Jahanara contributed to its renovation. The Nawab of Rampur presented a golden urn on top of the dome. The local people of Ajmer witnessed many miracles during his lifetime. Queen Mary built a water Hauz in the Dargah complex.
Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki who was a scholar and famous Sufi saint was declared as the spiritual successor by Khwaja Garib Nawaz during his lifetime and presented him with some gifts. Khwaja Bakhtiar Kaki was also his disciple and he carried forward the teachings of the Chishtia Silsila across India.
Every year the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is celebrated as a festival called ‘Urs’ in the Hijri month of Rajab. Every year a chaadar and tribute is presented on behalf of our Prime Minister on Urs.
People of all religions and sects visit the dargah of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz throughout the year. During the annual Urs, the number swells to millions. It is a highly revered place for his followers.