Hazrat Aminuddin Ali Ala: The Chishti Luminary Who Made Bijapur a Beacon of Faith and Culture

By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam 11 September 2025 Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala, lovingly remembered as Khwaja Ameen, was one of the most renowned Chishti Sufis of 17-century Bijapur. Revered for his miracles, literary contributions, and reformist role in the Deccan, he became an enduring spiritual force whose shrine at Bijapur continues to draw devotees of all faiths for more than three centuries. Main Points: 1. Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala was born in 17th-century Bijapur to a noble Chishti family of saints. 2. He became the disciple of Hazrat Khwaja Ataullah and received Khirqa and khilafat at an early life. 3. He shaped Bijapur’s spiritual life, and his Khanqah became a centre of devotion and learning. 4. He authored Sufi works and enriched the growth of Dakhani Urdu literature. 5. His mausoleum in Bijapur preserves the largest Islamic inscription found in any Indian tomb. ----- Introduction In the religious and cultural landscape of 17th-century Deccan, Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala, popularly called Khwaja Ameen, stands out as a radiant figure of the Chishti Silsila. He embodied both the intense mystical absorption of the Sufi path and the balance of reformist discipline that tied spirituality firmly to Shariat. He is remembered not only for his extraordinary miracles — foremost his ability to walk on water while performing prayers but also for his rich contributions to Dakhani Urdu literature, his role in guiding disciples, and his enduring shrine in Bijapur. His life bridged the intimate world of mystical rapture with the public role of a teacher, reformer, and guide, leaving a mark that continues to illuminate Bijapur’s spiritual heritage. Early Life and Family Background Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala was born in the 17th century in Bijapur (today’s Vijayapura, Karnataka), during the later Adil Shahi period. While his exact date of birth is not recorded in historical sources, his legacy is firmly tied to the Chishti Silsila of the Deccan. He hailed from a distinguished family of Chishti saints whose lineage stretched back to Central India’s celebrated Sufis. His father was Hazrat Shah Burhanuddin Janam Chishti of Bijapur, a saint in the Chishti order whose guidance shaped the region’s religious culture. His grandfather, Hazrat Miranji Shamsul Ushshaq, had been a prominent disciple of Hazrat Kamalu’d-Din Mujarrad Bayabani, a legendary Chishti mystic of the Deccan. From this chain, Hazrat Khwaja Amin inherited both the deep devotion of his ancestors and the expectations of a family steeped in the service of spirituality. His uncle, Hazrat Khwaja Ataullah, though he died young, played a decisive role in his nephew’s spiritual initiation. Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s lineage was further venerated by titles such as Sher-e-Khuda (Lion of God) and Mashuq-e-Rabbani (Beloved of the Divine), reflecting the awe he inspired among his followers. Tragedy struck early with the death of his father, after which Hazrat Khwaja Ameen was raised under the careful guardianship of his father’s disciples. He was particularly nurtured by spiritual elders Hazrat Shaykh Mahmud Khush-Dahan, Hazrat Syed Dawal, and Hazrat Syed Khudawand Shah, each of whom cultivated his innate inclination for mystical absorption. Spiritual Training and Initiation Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s early mystical tendencies drew him towards solitude and rapture. Often absorbed in divine remembrance, he spent much of his youth in devotional practices near the dome of his father’s tomb. It was here that he is said to have attained his first state of enlightenment, experiencing absorption (Jazb) and ecstatic rapture (Wajd) that defined his spiritual personality. His formal initiation came from his uncle, Hazrat Khwaja Ataullah, who entrusted him with the Faiz (spiritual blessings), Iradat (guidance), and the sacred Khirqa of the Chishti order. With this transmission, he was recognised as a successor in the family’s Silsila. Such was his spiritual state that many contemporaries remarked he seemed more a mystic lost in divine love than a scholar of rules. His intensity, however, brought both admiration and controversy in the years that followed. Religious Controversies and Reform The depth of Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s mystical absorption led him initially to neglect the outward observance of Shariat. Though lost in rapture, he was criticised for failing to maintain the external obligations of prayer and ritual. This controversy reached a climax when Hazrat Syed Muhammad Bukhari, a respected religious scholar, complained directly to Hazrat Sultan Sikandar Adil Shah of Bijapur. The Sultan’s intervention was a turning point. Hazrat Syed Muhammad Bukhari counselled Hazrat Khwaja Ameen to balance his mystical absorption with proper observance of Islamic law. Taking this advice to heart, Hazrat Khwaja Ameen reformed his outward conduct and began strict adherence to Shariat. This period marked the synthesis of mystical love and legal observance that defined his later teachings. Famous Miracles and Spiritual States Hazrat Khwaja Ameen is remembered above all for his extraordinary miracles, the most celebrated being his ability to walk upon water to perform his prayers. When critics questioned his neglect of Shariat, he demonstrated before witnesses his devotion by walking upon the waters and performing his Namaz. This miracle silenced his detractors and confirmed his spiritual rank in the eyes of the people. Beyond this, he lived constantly in states of Jazb and Wajd, Divine absorption that made him a vessel of spiritual grace. Disciples and seekers who sat in his company reported overwhelming experiences of spiritual awakening, abundant discoveries, and manifestations of divine light. Teachings and Literary Contributions As a guide, Hazrat Khwaja Ameen combined exhortation with gentle persuasion. He explained spiritual secrets, taught knowledge rooted in the Qur’an and Hadith, and emphasised the inner dimensions of worship. His discourses became a source of guidance for disciples across the Deccan. He also contributed to the literary heritage of the region. His writings on Sufi practices and spiritual matters circulated among his disciples, and he became known as a contributor to the development of Dakhani Urdu literature. Verses and prose passages attributed to him reflect both the richness of the Deccan’s linguistic culture and the universality of Sufi thought. However, these works have remained largely within private collections and khanqah circles, and are not publicly available in published form today. Disciples and Khalifas Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s circle of disciples was large and influential. Among his most prominent disciples were Hazrat Syed Khadwan Khudanama, Hazrat Syed Miranjhi, and Hazrat Syed Hasan Khudanama. One of his most notable Khalifas was Hazrat Qadir Linga Ankal, who carried forward his teachings with devotion. Through them, his Batini Faiz (inner spiritual blessings) spread across the Deccan, ensuring that his message did not remain confined to Bijapur. His spiritual descendants maintained the Chishti practices of devotion, Sama, and brotherhood, keeping alive his vision of a society bound by love and equality. Death and Burial Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala passed away on the 24th of Ramadan, 1085 AH (approximately 1674 CE), in Bijapur. His death was mourned across the region as the departure of one of the city’s greatest spiritual lights. He was buried on an elevated hillock known as Choukhandi in Bijapur. His tomb, built in the typical Adil Shahi architectural style, soon became one of the most prominent Dargahs of Karnataka. Architectural Heritage of the Tomb The mausoleum of Hazrat Khwaja Ameen is itself a marvel of Deccan architecture. Constructed by his devoted disciple Hazrat Afzal Khan Batani, it reflects the fusion of Islamic and local styles characteristic of the Adil Shahi period. The tomb is octagonal in design, crowned with a dome that dominates the hill. It contains what is perhaps the largest single Islamic inscription on any Indian tomb. A thuluth script inscription with Tughra flourishes measuring 21.5 metres by 60 centimetres. Adding to its uniqueness, the walls of the mausoleum bear twelve hemistichs of Dakhani-Urdu verses on each side, reflecting Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s contributions to the language and the literary devotion of his followers. Annual Urs and Celebrations For more than 360 years, the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala has been celebrated with great devotion. Observed annually on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of Ramadan, it is among Bijapur’s most important spiritual gatherings. The Urs begins with the sandal ceremony performed on the morning of the 9th, traditionally at 9 a.m., by the saint’s hereditary custodians. This is followed by Qawwali sessions that revive the spirit of Sama, along with the serving of Langar that feeds thousands. Even in recent years, the Urs has drawn devotees from across Karnataka and beyond. The 360th Urs was celebrated in 2023, though the COVID-19 pandemic had earlier led to restrictions in 2020. The shrine continues to be maintained by hereditary custodians, the Sajjada Nasheens, who oversee its traditions and ensure the continuity of rituals. Spiritual Legacy and Impact Hazrat Khwaja Ameen’s spiritual legacy is manifold. At his shrine in Bijapur, many devotees testify to experiencing manifestations of divine light (Anwar). His dargah remains a place where Muslims, Hindus, and people of other faiths gather, reflecting the interfaith devotion that characterises South Asian Sufism. Through his miracles, teachings, and reforms, he reinforced the central message of the Chishti order: love, service, and humility. His role in enriching Dakhani Urdu literature gave language to the mystical yearnings of the Deccan. Continuing Reverence More than three centuries after his passing, Hazrat Khwaja Aminuddin Ali Ala continues to be remembered as one of Bijapur’s greatest saints. His miracles are retold with reverence, his verses still echo in Dakhani gatherings, and his dargah remains a testament to the fusion of faith, literature, and architecture in the Deccan. Through him, the Chishti message of love and devotion flourished in southern India, uniting communities in an enduring bond of spiritual brotherhood. ----- Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hazrat-ali-ala-chishti-beacon-faith-culture/d/136792 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism