A Towering Figure In Sufism, Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin Suhrawardi Dehlavi, Is Known As The 'Crown Of Saints' And The 'Lamp Of The Pious'

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 16 October 2025 Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin Suhrawardi Dehlavi (1405–1496 CE) was a renowned Sufi saint and scholar from Multan. A master of Islamic sciences and spirituality, he dedicated his life to serving humanity, spreading Islam, and guiding disciples with his profound wisdom. Main Points: 1. Born in 808 Hijri (1405 CE) in Multan, Pakistan. 2. Excelled in Islamic jurisprudence, Hadith, and Tafsir. 3. Received Khilafat from Sheikh Kabiruddin Ismail. 4. Known for generosity, distributing wealth to the poor. 5. Shrine in Mehrauli Sharif, Delhi, inspires devotees. ----- Hazrat Khwaja Sheikh Samauddin Suhrawardi Dehlavi was a revered saint, a beacon of spiritual light, and a towering figure in Sufism. Known as the "Crown of Saints" and the "Lamp of the Pious," he was a master of divine secrets and an embodiment of spiritual perfection. His life was dedicated to spreading Islamic teachings, serving humanity, and guiding souls toward divine truth. Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin belonged to a distinguished lineage tracing back to Hazrat Mus'ab bin Zubair through sixteen generations. His noble ancestry is as follows: Hazrat Makhdoom Samauddin, son of Maulana Sheikh Fakhruddin, son of Sheikh Jamaluddin, son of Ismail, son of Ibrahim, son of Sheikh Hasan, son of Sheikh Kamaluddin, son of Sheikh Hasan, son of Isa, son of Nuh, son of Muhammad Sulaiman, son of Dawud, son of Yaqub, son of Ayyub, son of Hadi, son of Isa, son of Mus'ab bin Zubair. His respected father, Maulana Sheikh Fakhruddin, was a devoted disciple of Hazrat Sayyid Sadruddin Muhammad, also known as Raju Qattaal. Sheikh Fakhruddin was also the elder brother of Hazrat Maulana Makhdoom Sheikh Ishaq Dehlavi. Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin was born in 808 Hijri (approximately 1405 CE) in Multan, present-day Pakistan. His blessed name, "Samauddin," meaning "the light of faith," reflected his radiant spiritual persona. Hazrat Samauddin pursued both exoteric and esoteric knowledge with great diligence. He studied under Hazrat Maulana Sanauddin, a prominent disciple of Hazrat Mir Sayyid Sharif Jurjani, and excelled in Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), Hadith, and Tafsir (Quranic exegesis). His mastery earned him a place among the most learned scholars and Sufi masters of his time. His spiritual training was primarily under his father, Sheikh Fakhruddin. From the age of twelve, his father would call him at midnight for spiritual instruction, imparting divine secrets and guiding him toward spiritual excellence. His father prayed fervently for him, beseeching Allah to grant Samauddin eternal success and divine favour. While Hazrat Samauddin was a disciple of his father, he received the mantle of spiritual succession (Khilafat) from Hazrat Sheikh Kabiruddin Ismail, known as Sheikh-e-Kabir. When Hazrat Samauddin approached Sheikh Kabiruddin to become his disciple, he expressed his deep desire to strengthen his spiritual bond. Despite initial hesitation from Sheikh Kabiruddin, who suggested his brother Hazrat Sheikh Fazlullah could grant Khilafat, Hazrat Samauddin persisted with humility. He recited a Persian couplet, expressing his unwavering commitment: "Whether you show kindness or not, I will not leave your doorstep, for I have found my place at your door and seek no other." Moved by his devotion, Sheikh Kabiruddin embraced him, accepted him as a disciple, and bestowed upon him the prestigious Khilafat. He instructed him in spiritual practices and guided him to dedicate his life to spreading Islam and serving humanity. Hazrat Samauddin's spiritual lineage (Shajra-e-Tariqat) connects to Hazrat Sayyidna Sheikh Shahabuddin Umar Sohrawardi through the following chain: Hazrat Samauddin, disciple of his father Sheikh Fakhruddin and Hazrat Sheikh Kabiruddin Ismail, disciple of Hazrat Sayyid Sadruddin Muhammad (Raju Qattaal), disciple of Hazrat Sayyid Ahmad Kabir, disciple of Hazrat Sheikh Ruknuddin Abul Fath, disciple of Hazrat Sheikh Sadruddin Arif, disciple of Hazrat Sheikh Bahauddin Zakariya, disciple of Hazrat Sayyidna Sheikh Shahabuddin Umar Suhrawardi. Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin was a paragon of Islamic scholarship and Sufi spirituality. His generosity was legendary; despite receiving thousands of rupees in offerings, he kept nothing for himself. He distributed all his wealth among the poor, needy, orphans, and destitute, often taking loans to fulfil their needs. His noble character was adorned with humility, piety, and compassion. Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlavi, a renowned scholar, described him as a master of asceticism, piety, and both formal and spiritual knowledge. His spiritual insight was so profound that a mere glance from him could purify a person's soul, and his smile would fill the hearts of seekers with hope and divine blessings. Hazrat Samauddin was deeply devoted to worship and spiritual discipline. His daily routine included rising at midnight for Tahajjud prayers, followed by supererogatory prayers (Nawafil), engaging in meditation (Muraqaba) until dawn, performing Fajr, Chasht, and Ishraq prayers, spending time in meditation between Zuhr and Asr prayers, reciting Nawafil Awwabin after Maghrib, and continuing meditation until Isha. Hazrat Samauddin was respected by kings and commoners alike. Sultan Bahlul Lodi visited him and received advice to fear Allah, avoid falsehood, and be grateful for divine blessings. After Sultan Bahlul's death, his son, Nizam Khan, later known as Sultan Sikandar Lodi, sought Hazrat Samauddin's blessings before departing from Delhi. During their meeting, Nizam Khan cleverly asked about the meaning of a Quranic phrase, to which Hazrat Samauddin responded with blessings for his success in both worlds. Touched by the saint's wisdom, Nizam Khan expressed his desire to hear such words from his blessed tongue. Hazrat Samauddin prayed for him to become a great ruler like Sikandar (Alexander), a prayer fulfilled as Nizam Khan rose to prominence as Sultan Sikandar Lodi. Hazrat Samauddin had two sons: Hazrat Sheikh Abdullah Bayabani and Hazrat Naseeruddin, the latter becoming his spiritual successor. His prominent deputies (Khulafa) included Hazrat Naseeruddin, Hazrat Maulana Sheikh Khwaja Jamali, and Hazrat Sheikh Adhan. Hazrat Samauddin authored scholarly works, including commentaries (Hawashi) on Lam’aat by Sheikhuddin Iraqi and a treatise titled Mafatihul Asrar, a significant contribution to Islamic scholarship. In his final days, Hazrat Samauddin expressed a desire to see his eldest son, Hazrat Sheikh Abdullah Bayabani, as conveyed through his devoted disciple, Hazrat Maulana Sheikh Khwaja Jamali. He embraced Sheikh Jamali, gifted him a special robe, and entrusted him with a letter for his son. A day later, he advised Sheikh Jamali to remain present for his funeral prayers, indicating his approaching departure. On the 17th of Jumada al-Ula, 901 Hijri (1496 CE), Hazrat Khwaja Samauddin Suhrawardi Dehlavi passed away, leaving a legacy of piety and service. Years before his passing, Hazrat Samauddin had a dream in which Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki appeared near the Shamsi Lake in Delhi, indicating that the place was reserved for him. His blessed shrine is located in Mehrauli Sharif, Delhi, near the Auliya Masjid, where it remains a source of spiritual inspiration. ----- A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/sufism-hazrat-khwaja-suhrawardi-dehlavi-saints-pious/d/137264 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