Amongst the shining stars of the realm of Sufism during the early medieval period was Khawja Usman Harooni (526-617 AH). Khwaja Usman was born in 526AH corresponding to 1129 AD; some have also mentioned 536 AH. He was born in the Haroon town of Khurasan Iran and that is the reason he being called as Haruni. Though some say about his genealogy that he is said to have been the twelfth descendant of the fourth Caliph of Islam Hazrat Ali (K.W) however it is not substantiated with solid evidence . He is also known by his nicknames as Abu Noor and Abu Mansur.
He got his early education from his father. Then he went to Nishapur for higher studies. There he acquired sciences and arts under the patronage of eminent scholars. He memorized the Holy Qur’an and then turned to Nishapur, the scientific and technical center of the time, for higher education. Soon he became one of the leading scholars of the time. After the completion of the external sciences, he decided to acquire the esoteric sciences. He was given the title of Shaykh-ul-Islam. Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (R.A) was a Hafiz of the Holy Qur’an (memorized Quran to his heart) and would engross in its recitations daily.
In the prime of his youth he was destined to meet an absorbed mystic (majzub) called Chirk. This association with Chirk resulted in bringing about a significant transformation in the life of young Usman. As a sequel to it, the material world lost its charm for him and he decided to pursue a higher moral and spiritual life.
Afterwards Khwaja Usman Harooni went to meet Hazrat Haji Sharif Zindani (RA), a renowned mystic and saint of the Chishti Order, with the request to initiate and enroll him as his _Mureed_ /spiritual disciple. Khwaja Haji Sharif Zindani (RA) found him to be a fit person and acceded to the request, by placing ‘Char Tarka Kula’ (four-edged cap) upon the head of Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA). By staying in the service of his followers, he began to make strides until he became a master at Sufism. Interestingly the four edges of the cap, in the words of Shareef Zindani (RA) , implied the following four things:
First is the renunciation of this world while as second is the renunciation of the world hereafter. The third is the renunciation of the desires of the self while the fourth is the renunciation of everything other than Allah. Hazrat Haji Shareef Zandani (R.A) instructed him to strictly stick to the practice and teachings of the Holy Prophet (Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and the masters of the Chistiya Order.
During the period, Khwaja Usman Harooni remained in the company of his spiritual master he undertook strenuous _Mujaheda_ (spiritual strivings)and was was engaged in ascetic practices and prayers. With the passage of time, he did master many spiritual accomplishments. As per the Sufistic tradition ,his spiritual guide directed him to move on and spread the Gospel of Truth. As the disciple completed the spritual training, Hazrat Haji Shareef Zandani (R.A) bestowed upon him the Khilafat and made him his successor.
Pursuant to the Sufi tradition Khwaja Usman Harooni undertook travels visiting many countries and cities including Bukhara, Baghdad, Falooja, Damascus, Mecca and Madina. Enroute he besought the company of renowned sufis and accomplished _dervishes_ . And while on way to Oosh, he met Sheikh Bahauddin of Oosh. On reaching Badakshan, he met a saintly man who was one of the attendants of Hazrat Junaid of Baghdad.
He reached Baghdad once again, and there he stayed for a while. During all the travels, he was accompanied by his close and dear spiritual disciple, Khwaja Moin-ud-din Hasan Chishti, who carried his tiffin basket.It was during the course of his travels, he performed the Hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
It was during the travel that Hazrat Usman Harroni (RA)visited India, during the rule of Sultan Altutmish.
Besides a leading Sufi, he was also deeply interested in poetry. One of his famous couplets read:
Nami-daanam kih aakhir chun dam-e-didaar mi-raqsam
Magar naazam baa-in zauqe kih pesh-e-yaar mi-raqsam.
His sayings have been put in a collection called as ‘Anisul Arwah’. According to Khwaja Usman Harooni, a great man is one who is endowed with virtues like contentment, sincerity, self-abnegation, self-sacrifice and above all, spirit of renunciation. He said that the ego in a man was an enemy, as it did not allow him to think rationally, act wisely and live happily. He emphasized that unless a man loves human beings, it is impossible for him to love God.
His advice was simple and his message was as simple and that was “Live”.
To exist is one thing but to LIVE another. To exist means to merely breathe, but to live means to keep the welfare of fellow beings uppermost in priority. To live a good life requires a serious effort on one’s own part. No exterior agency, legislation or act can make the man a moral being. Inner discovery is very important.
To help his disciples live a better life, Khwaja Usman Harooni gave discourses at times to guide them towards a better path. Of his many teachings, prominent are:
Once the Friend becomes your friend, the whole universe becomes yours. Then it is necessary that you should become unmindful of everything else except the Friend, should ever be with Him and should follow Him faithfully.
According to him, the faithful is one who keeps three things dear to his heart: mendicancy, illness and death.
It is best to not weep or wail in times of difficulty. In fact, according to the witness of Hazrat Abdullah Ansari (RA), Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) has laid down that the one who weeps and wails in times of trouble and tribulation invites the curse of God upon himself.
The one who feeds the hungry is dear to God. God fulfills a thousand wants and frees such a person from hell-fire.
He who gives food to a dervish becomes free from all sins.
He passed away on 5 Shawwal 617 AH corresponding to 3rd December 1220 CE in the city of Mecca and was laid to rest there where his eternal abode lies till date.
The sufi is credited with having groomed many disciples who turned to be great Sufis as well.These include Makhdoom Khwaja Syed Jalaluddin Abdal Chishti, (Hajipur, Bihar)
Sheikh Najmuddin Safri, Sheikh Muhammad Turk ayman, khwaja saipan mulk chisti, Khawaja Usman Ali Shah Chisti (Kolar Shareef)
The most prominent of these Sufis is Sultan Ul Hind Ata E Rasool Syed Khwaja Ghareb Nawaz Moinuddin Hassan Chisti (RA) popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz who has immortalised the name of his spritual guide. As said above Khwaja Usman Harooni was also an accomplished poet. His poetic nickname is ‘Usman’.
(The author is a Sufi writer and can be emailed at:bashirahmaddar2012@gmail.com)
