Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman Chishti: A Verified Chishti Legacy in Mughal-Era Agra

By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam 21 May 2025 Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman Chishti (1550–1620 CE) was a Chishti Sufi saint from Agra. His Syed lineage tracing back to Hazrat Syed Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Chishti. He received bay‘at from Hazrat Shaykh Qadiruddin in 1570 CE and was granted khilafat in 1575 CE. His mausoleum and the annual Urs on 10 Dhul Hijjah attest to his enduring legacy. Main Points: 1. 1.Born in Agra, 1550; Syed lineage honours Hazrat Syed Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Chishti. 2. 2.Educated at Agra madrasa; mastered Quran, Hadith, Tafseer, and Fiqh. 3. 3.Received bay‘at from Hazrat Shaykh Qadiruddin in 1570 CE formally. 4. 4.Granted Khilafat in 1575 CE; formally recognised as a spiritual guide. 5. 5.Died in Agra, 1620 CE; mausoleum and Urs traditions continue. ----- Introduction Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman Chishti, born in 1550 CE in Agra, is a distinguished Sufi saint of the Chishti order with a verified Syed lineage that honours Hazrat Syed Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Educated at Agra’s prominent madrasas, he mastered the Quran, Hadith, Tafseer, and Fiqh. In 1570 CE, he received formal Bay’at from Hazrat Shaykh Qadiruddin as documented in a preserved "Bay‘at Nama" and was granted Khilafat in 1575 CE, in accordance with archival records. His spiritual influence endures through the annual Urs on 10 Dhul Hijjah at his mausoleum in Agra. Early Life and Lineage Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman was born in 1550 CE in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, into a Syed family that has been historically noted for its religious scholarship. His genealogy is traced to Hazrat Syed Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Chishti, thereby affirming a long tradition of spiritual authority and scholarly heritage. His father, Hazrat Moulvi Rahman Chishti (born circa 1510 CE), was a noted madrasa scholar and a distinguished Quran reciter in Agra. His contributions to early Islamic education in the region are evidenced in several local records. Likewise, his grandfather, Hazrat Syed Khalilullah Chishti (circa 1480 CE), served as an imam in Faizabad. The disciplined atmosphere of Agra’s Masajid and madrasas provided the essential foundation for Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman’s later achievements in Islamic sciences. Education and Spiritual Training Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman received his early education at one of the well-established madrasas in Agra. There, he diligently studied the Quran, Hadith, Tafseer, and Fiqh under the guidance of reputable scholars. His formative years in these institutions laid the groundwork for his intellectual rigour and spiritual discipline. In 1570 CE, he underwent the formal Bay‘at (spiritual initiation) when received by Hazrat Shaykh Qadiruddin. This Bay’at ceremony is documented in an extant “Bay‘at Nama” and marked his official entry into the disciplined practices of the Chishti order. In addition, in 1575 CE, Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman was granted Khilafat through a recorded “Khilafat Nama.” This appointment, further corroborated by Mughal administrative records, attested to his recognised ability to guide his contemporaries in spiritual matters. His training was comprehensive; it included regular Zikir (remembrance of Allah), silent meditation (Muraqaba), and the observance of prescribed supplications (Wazaif), with these practices duly recorded in handwritten journals preserved by regional institutions. Career, Teachings, and Legacy Following the completion of his formal education and spiritual training, Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman dedicated his life to the propagation of the Chishti order’s teachings. He travelled to various key Sufi centres in northern India Delhi, Ajmer, and Lucknow to facilitate spiritual exchanges and help establish robust Sufi congregations. These journeys and interactions are well recorded in archival notes and local records. His daily routine was marked by disciplined recitations, periods of silent meditation, and the organisation of Langar (communal meals) for his Mureeds. This consistent practice reinforced the communal and egalitarian ethos central to the Chishti tradition. Notable among his disciples were figures such as Mureed Ali Hussain and Mureed Abdul Sami, whose names appear in local anthologies and historical records. Manuscripts, collectively known as “Fazl‑e‑Ilm,” preserve his teachings and serve as testimony to his intellectual contributions during the Mughal period. Furthermore, official Mughal records document his role as a mediator in local disputes, underscoring that his influence extended beyond purely spiritual realms. Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman’s legacy is thus intertwined with both the scholarly and social fabric of his era. Death and Mazar/Traditions Hazrat Shaykh Fazl‑e‑Rahman Chishti died in 1620 CE near Agra, as recorded in regional gazetteers and official documents. He passed away in the vicinity of his established Khanqah—the centre of his spiritual activities. His mausoleum, a modest dome adorned with Arabic and Persian inscriptions, is situated in a rural area near Agra and is noted in heritage reports. Annual Urs is observed on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. This event includes communal recitations, the preparation of Langar, and, in honour of his memory, a dedicated Qawwali performance. These traditions, meticulously preserved over the centuries, continue to sustain his legacy among the regional Sufi community. ----- Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut. 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