Jamal-ud-Din Hansvi
| Jamal-ud-Din Hansvi | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | Islam, specifically the Chishti Sufi order |
| Personal | |
| Born | 583 A.H. (c. 1187) Ghazni |
| Died | 659 A.H. (c. 1261) Hansi in Haryana, India |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Haryana |
| Title | Khalifa |
| Period in office | Early 13th century |
| Predecessor | Farid-ud-din Ganjshakar |
| Successor | Various, including Shaikh Burhan-ud-Din and Shakih Qutb-ud-Din Munawwar |
Sheikh Jamal-ud-Din Ahmad was a direct descendant of Imam Abu Hanifa, the renowned Persian jurist of Islam. He was born at Ghazni, (Khorasan) which is in Modern-day Afghanistan, in 583 A.H. (c. 1187). He was five years old when his family came to Hansi. He became a disciple of Hadrat Baba Farid-ud-Din Ganjshakar of Pakpattan at the age of 50. He learnt deeply and served devotedly.
He was a scholar and a poet. Before becoming a Sufi, Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din had been the khatib of Hansi, owning villages and extensive property. Discipleship with Baba Farid meant abandoning material prosperity. When his poverty became overwhelming, Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din, using Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Auliya of Delhi as a go-between, informed Baba Sahib of his extreme impecuniosity. Through the Shaikh the Baba replied that it was Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din's duty to bear the spiritual burden assigned to him.
He was a scholar and a poet. Before becoming a Sufi, Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din had been the khatib of Hansi, owning villages and extensive property. Discipleship with Baba Farid meant abandoning material prosperity. When his poverty became overwhelming, Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din, using Shaikh Nizam-ud-Din Auliya of Delhi as a go-between, informed Baba Sahib of his extreme impecuniosity. Through the Shaikh the Baba replied that it was Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din's duty to bear the spiritual burden assigned to him.
It is said that once Shiekh Baha-ud-din Zakariya of Multan came to Baba Farid and stayed with him for some time. On his return, he wrote to Baba Sahib “Give me your disciple Jamal and have all mine and courtesy demands that request be no turned down.” Baba Farid is reported to have replied: “Exchange is permissible in goods material. But Jamal (which means beauty) is not exchangeable.”
Baba Farid liked Sheikh Jamal-ud-din so much that he went to Hansi to stay with Sheikh Jamal-ud-din for 12 years. He nominated him as his Khalifa.
He trusted him so much that whenever Baba Farid would give the letter of Khilafat to anyone, he would direct him have it countersigned by Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din of Hansi. Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din performed this duty most conscientiously. Once Shaikh Jamal refused to endorse the kahilafat-nama which the Baba had granted a disciple, under some pressure. Shaikh Jamal was so angry that he tore the paper containing the Khilafat-nama to pieces, while informing the disciple that he was unworthy of such an honour. Baba Farid supported Shaikh Jamal-ud-Din actions telling the disciple he was unable to mend what Jamal had rent apart.
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