Hazrat Burhanuddin Ghareeb: The Chishti Saint Who Brought Delhi's Spirit to the Deccan

By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam 16 June 2025 Among Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s closest disciples, Hazrat Burhanuddin Ghareeb played a key role in transplanting the Chishti spiritual legacy to Khuldabad, also called Rauza, a city and a Taluka of Aurangabad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. His teachings emphasized faqr, sama, and the ecstatic experience of divine love. Main Points: 1. Disciple and Khalifah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya 2. Migrated from Delhi to Khuldabad, Maharashtra, in Tughluq era 3. Known as Bayazid Thani for his deep faqr 4. The Dargah in Khuldabad, Maharashtra, preserves a relic of Prophet Muhammad and draws Lacs of devotees annually 5. Legacy lives through Deccan Sufi networks and Burhani rituals ---- Introduction Hazrat Burhanuddin Ghareeb, one of the most distinguished Chishti saints of India, is remembered for spreading the spiritual light of Delhi to the Deccan during the early 14th century. As a chief disciple and Khalifah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, he inherited and carried forward the central teachings of the Chishti silsila—love, humility, sama‘, and detachment. His final resting place in Khuldabad, Maharashtra, became a spiritual axis for southern India and remains one of the most venerated dargahs in the region. Early Life and Family Background Hazrat Burhanuddin Ghareeb was born around 1240 CE in Hansi, in present-day Haryana. He belonged to a respected family of scholars and Sufis. His father, Hazrat Shaykh Naseeruddin Mahmood Hanswi, was a well-known Sufi, while his maternal uncle, Hazrat Jamaluddin Hanswi, was also a prominent spiritual figure. His mother, Bibi Hajra, came from the same spiritually rich family. Both paternal and maternal influences deeply shaped his early spiritual inclinations. He was the elder brother of Hazrat Muntajabbuddin Zar Zari Bakhsh.The family maintained strong ties with the Chishti silsila, particularly the Delhi-Hansi network of Sufis, which formed the foundation of his training and outlook. Education and Spiritual Training From a young age, Hazrat Burhanuddin was immersed in an environment of ilm and zikr. He received traditional Islamic education in Hansi and then likely continued higher learning in Delhi. Though specific subjects are not recorded, he was well-versed in Islamic sciences and Sufi doctrine. He soon became a devoted mureed of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, in whose khanqah he spent years serving and learning. He was granted bay‘ah by Hazrat Nizamuddin himself and undertook intense spiritual practices such as chilla, sama, and faqr. Hazrat Burhanuddin emphasized poverty (fuqr), inner annihilation, service to humanity, and trust in divine love. He encouraged loud zikr (zikr-e-jahri), sama, and ecstatic expressions of devotion. His title 'Bayazid Thani' (the second Bayazid) was bestowed upon him by Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, who saw in him the same intense detachment and spiritual surrender as in the earlier saint Bayazid Bastami. Migration and Later Years in Khuldabad Following the political turmoil under Sultan Muhammad Tughluq and the capital’s shift from Delhi to Daulatabad in 1327 CE, Hazrat Burhanuddin migrated to the Deccan. He settled in Khuldabad, which became a spiritual capital for Chishti saints. His arrival there marked the expansion of the Delhi Chishti legacy into the southern regions. He established his khanqah in Khuldabad, where many disciples gathered and the spiritual culture flourished. He trained many mureeds, including some lesser-known but deeply influential Sufis of the Deccan. Among those influenced by his spiritual chain was Hazrat Syed Zainuddin Shirazi, a key figure in Khuldabad's later history. Death and Dargah Legacy Hazrat Burhanuddin Gharib passed away in Khuldabad, near Aurangabad, in the 14th century. His shrine lies within the Khuldabad Dargah complex, known for its architectural serenity and spiritual ambiance. It includes his Mazaar, a large courtyard, a naqqarkhana, and a mosque. His dargah also preserves hairs of the beard of Prophet Muhammad, making it one of the few shrines in India to do so. His annual Urs is held between 8th–12th Safar with large gatherings, qawwali, and the Burhani chilla tradition. Pilgrims from across Maharashtra, Telangana, and Karnataka gather here for spiritual blessings. Enduring Legacy Hazrat Burhanuddin Ghareeb is remembered as the bridge between Delhi’s Chishti movement and the spiritual landscape of the Deccan. His teachings gave rise to new Sufi expressions in Khuldabad and surrounding areas. The city of Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh is said to be named in his honor, reflecting his wide spiritual influence. Even without written works, his legacy endures through rituals, oral teachings, and the living culture of devotion in southern India. ----- 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-burhanuddin-ghareeb-chishti-saint-spirit/d/135877 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