Articles By Meher Murshed

Meher Murshed is the author of Song of The Dervish, a book that details the lives of Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro. It recounts true stories of why people, cutting across religion, visit Nizamuddin Auliya’s dargah 700 years on. Meher is also a journalist. Twitter Account - https://twitter.com/mehermurshed

Nizamuddin Auliya: A life spent in bringing happiness to the human heart

Whenever Bibi Zuleikha looked at her son’s feet, she would say: “Nizamuddin, I see the signs of a bright future. You will be a man of destiny some day.” Nizamuddin returned to Delhi from Ajodhan after spending time with his master Baba Farid, learning the life and ways of Chishti Sufis. The creed was simple: Devote your… continue reading

Learn from the Hindu how worship is done: Amir Khusro

There are as many paths as there are grains of sand. -Nizamuddin Auliya Oh you who sneer at the idolatry of the Hindu, Learn also from him how worship is done. –Amir Khusro Six yogis once came to Nizamuddin’s hospice in Ghiyaspur and started to meditate in front of his door. They did not utter… continue reading

Nizamuddin Auliya to Amir Khusro: I am weary of everyone, even myself, but never of you

Amir Khusro would pray most of the night. Once his master Nizamuddin Auliya asked him: “Turk, what is the state of being occupied?” “There are times at the end of the night when one is overcome by weeping,” he replied. “Praise be to God, bit by bit is being manifest,” Nizamuddin said. But what was… continue reading

The Prince and The Four Dervishes

The night sky was coal black; the Moon was hidden by a blanket of thick grey clouds, but the prince could see a fire burning at a distance. Four dervishes crouched around the flames to keep the howling icy wind at bay; the graves around them whispering stories of days gone by. One was a… continue reading

Basant: The day hope lived in Nizamuddin Auliya again

There was a day when hope died in Nizamuddin Auliya’s khanqah. That was the day he buried his nephew Taqiuddin Nuh, the apple of his eye, quite like his favourite disciple, Amir Khusro, court poet of the sultans of Delhi and master musician. The master grieved. He had not known grief such as this; this… continue reading

Bruce Lawrence’s Morals for the Heart: You may not see Nizamuddin but you can hear him

Amir Hasan Sijzi came to his master Nizamuddin Auliya looking worried. It was Friday, September, 19 1310, he writes in Fawaid Al Fuad. “I obtained the benefit of kissing his feet. In this week I was distressed because there had been an interruption in my salary’s payment. As soon as I called on the master,… continue reading

Rang De, Amir Khusro’s ode to Nizamuddin Auliya, by Chand Tara Orchestra moves the heart

It was December 12, 1319, the ulemas were getting more and more irritable. How could Nizamuddin Auliya dance and weep to Sama, just like his master Shaikh Farid? This issue of music had been boiling. The ulema wanted it banned. Nizamuddin’s disciple Amir Hasan Sijzi spoke at his master’s assembly: “This group that denies Sama,… continue reading

Nizamuddin Auliya: The Dervish of Love

Faith. And love. It is all that matters in this courtyard. Bibi Zuleikha’s father, Khwaja Arab, was a man of riches in Bukhara when the Mongol Chinghiz Khan eyed the riches of the city. He sacked Bukhara, looted its wealth and murdered thousands. Bibi Zuleikha, Khwaja Arab and their family escaped the bloodbath and fled… continue reading

A faqir has no religion – there is only Haq and love, says Sain Zuhour

His expression rarely changes. His face is gaunt and wrinkled; he seems lost in another world; his eyes are sunken, but look right into you. “God did not create religions to divide Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Sufis only believe in God; nothing else matters.” This is the belief of a faqir – Sain Zuhour. At… continue reading

Baba Farid: Bringing happiness to the human heart

I wish always to live in longing for You. May I become dust, dwelling under your Feet. My goal freed of both worlds is only You. I die for you, just as I live for You. Baba Farid It was sometime around 1264, young Nizamuddin Auliya wandered into a desert in the depths of depression…. continue reading