Hazrat Khwaja Arif ar-Riwgari (May Allah have Mercy Upon Him)
He (may Allah have mercy upon him) was an exalted Arif-billah (a gnostic blessed with deep divine recognition) upon whom the inner reality manifested with all its brilliance, splendor, and divine light. He was a sun of knowledge and spiritual gnosis who illuminated the dark skies of his era. He was rightfully hailed as the light of the garden of ultimate reality and the radiant lamp of the sanctuary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Hazrat Khwaja Arif (may Allah have mercy upon him) was born in the village of ‘Riwgar’, situated six miles from Bukhara and one mile from Ghajdawan. He remained at the threshold of his spiritual master, Hazrat Khwaja Abdul Khaliq al-Ghajdawani (may Allah have mercy upon him), serving him with utmost devotion of heart and soul until his master granted him the permission for spiritual guidance and instruction (Irshad). He received the inner secrets of the spiritual path (the blessings of the Silsila Aliya) directly from his master, who had personally witnessed his high station of perfection and devotion. Through his spiritual essence, he filled Bukhara and its surrounding regions with the fragrance of divine blessings, introducing the minds and hearts of the people of his time to the profound mysteries and secrets of divine gnosis.
Key Teachings and Exalted Sayings
The disciples and devotees of Hazrat Khwaja Arif (may Allah have mercy upon him) meticulously recorded his insights and precious observations, some of which are detailed below:
On Trust in God and Mindfulness of Death: Maintain absolute reliance (Tawakkul) upon Allah Almighty until He Himself becomes your Teacher. Moreover, always let the remembrance of death be your constant companion.
On Longing for the Future: Attaching excessive hopes to the future deprives a person of the spiritual blessings and goodness that are present along the path of Allah.
A Prayer to Join the Rank of the Abdal: Whosoever recites this supplication ten times a day: “O Allah! Guide the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him). O Allah! Shower Your mercy upon the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him). O Allah! Alleviate all the sufferings and calamities of the Ummah of Muhammad (peace be upon him)”—their name shall be inscribed among that elite group of the friends of Allah (Awliya) known as the Abdal (the spiritual substitutes).
On Desire Without Action: He who desires Paradise without performing righteous deeds has such a desire recorded as a major sin. Similarly, he who awaits intercession without any means or righteousness is entangled in a form of arrogance.
On Sincerity: It is astonishing to see that while the world has many righteous people (Salihin), true and sincere believers (Sadiqin) are exceedingly few.
On Healing and Patience: To attain healing and deliverance from any affliction or adversity, keep your suffering hidden from people; they can bring you no benefit. They can neither aid you nor prevent that suffering from reaching you.
The Three Types of Hearts: Hearts are of three kinds: one is like a mountain, which nothing can move from its place; the second is like a date-palm tree, whose roots are firmly anchored in the ground but its branches remain in motion; and the third is like a bird’s feather (or a straw in a storm), blown from right to left by the wind.
On Guarding One’s Faith: Whosoever desires to protect their faith should abstain from excessive socializing and mingling with the general public.
A Soulful Supplication: “O Allah! Whenever You wish to punish me, You may do so, but do not distance me from Your proximity and from the presence of Your divine court.”
Spiritual Marvels and Miracles (Karamat)
The noble personality of Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Arif Riwgari (may Allah have mercy upon him) was a fountainhead of asceticism, piety, and spiritual marvels. Classical Sufi treatises (such as Rashahat ‘Ayn al-Hayat and Nafahat al-Uns) chronicle several of his miracles, which serve as a testament to his high spiritual standing and his status as a Mustajab ad-Da’wat (one whose prayers are instantly answered).
Some of his renowned miracles include:
Allah Almighty had blessed Khwaja Arif with such a profound gift of spiritual unveiling (Kashf) that whenever someone came into his presence, he would answer the thoughts or questions lingering in their heart before they could even speak them aloud.
Once, a resident of Bukhara visited him, harboring a doubt in his heart: “Do the Awliya (friends of Allah) truly know the unseen?” Looking at him, the Khwaja remarked:”We do not know the unseen; the unseen is known to Allah alone. However, when Allah chooses one of His servants, He purifies the mirror of their heart to such an extent that the thoughts and reflections of other people’s hearts become clearly visible in it.”Upon witnessing this miracle, the man immediately repented and became his disciple.
It is narrated that one of his disciples embarked on a long and perilous journey for the purpose of trade. Along the way, bandits attacked his caravan. In a state of intense distress, the disciple called out from the depths of his heart to his spiritual master, Khwaja Arif Riwgari, seeking his spiritual assistance.By divine decree, the bandits suddenly felt as though a massive army was about to ambush them. Stricken with terror, they abandoned the looted wealth and fled. When the disciple returned to Bukhara and presented himself at the master’s court, the Khwaja smiled and said, “When you called out to us, we were on our prayer mat, praying for your protection.”
Allah had placed such immense blessing in his supplications and spiritual blowing (Dam) that even patients with incurable illnesses would find health. Biographers note that a man once brought his son, who was suffering from severe developmental delays and a mental ailment. Physicians and healers had completely given up on him.The Khwaja blew upon water, gave it to the boy to drink, and placed his blessed hand upon the boy’s head. By the grace of Allah, the youth was instantly cured and restored to full consciousness, later going on to memorize the Holy Quran.
On one occasion, a severe drought struck Riwgar and its surrounding areas. Crops withered, and the inhabitants became desperate for a single drop of water. The locals gathered and approached the Khwaja, requesting his prayers.Stepping outside his monastery (Khanqah), he turned his face toward the sky and humbly raised his hands in the court of Allah. Before he could even lower his hands, dense clouds gathered in the sky, and a rain of mercy poured down, completely replenishing the entire region.
Hazrat Khwaja Arif Riwgari (may Allah have mercy upon him) used to say that the greatest miracle is steadfastness (Istiqaamah). In other words, remaining firmly grounded in the pure Sacred Law (Shariah) and perfectly emulating the Prophetic Sunnah is the true miracle, whereas extraordinary feats (Khariq al-Adat) are merely manifested by Allah to comfort and gladden the heart of a believer.
Mawlana Khwaja Arif al-Riwgari (may Allah have mercy upon him) passed away in the very town of Riwgar where he was born, and his final resting place is located there. He departed from this temporary world in the year 636 AH (1239 CE). Prior to his passing, he entrusted the inner secrets of this Golden Chain of the Naqshbandiyya Sufi Order to his chosen successor, the Grand Sheikh Hazrat Khwaja Mahmud al-Anjir al-Faghnawi (may Allah have mercy upon him).