Khwaja Usman Harooni (6 May 1107 – 3 December 1220, Urdu: عثمان ہارونی) was an early modern wali or Sufi saint of Islam in India, a successor to Shareef Zandani, sixteenth link in the Silsila of the Chishti order, and master of Moinuddin Chishti.[1] Usman Harooni was born in Haroon, Iran.[2] His year of birth is variously given as 1096, 1116 and 1131 AD (490, 510 and 526 AH). He is also known by the nicknames Abu Noor and Abu Mansur.[3]
Early life
When he was young, he met a mystic named Chirk. This association brought about a significant transformation in his life. As a result, he decided to seek a higher moral and spiritual life.[4]
Harooni later met Shareef Zandani, a mystic and saint of the Chishti order, and requested to enroll as his spiritual disciple. Zandani accepted his request by placing a four-edged cap upon his head.[5]
Zandani told him that the four-edged cap implied the following four things:
First is the renunciation of this world
Second is the renunciation of the world hereafter
Third is the renunciation of the desires of the self
Fourth is the renunciation of everything other than God
Mystic
Harooni spent over thirty years in the company of his spiritual guide. During this period, he engaged in ascetic practices and prayers. As time passed, he gained many spiritual accomplishments. Zandani asked him guide to move on and spread the gospel of truth.[6]
Spiritual lineage
The traditional silsila (spiritual lineage) of the Chishti order is as follows
In almost all cities, he visited Sufis and dervishes accomplished him. On the way to Oosh, he met Sheikh Bahauddin of Oosh. When he reached Badakshan, he met one of the attendants of Junayd of Baghdad.
During his travels, he was accompanied by *Moinuddin Chishti, who carried his tiffin basket.
Harooni visited India during the rule of Sultan Iltamish; before returning to Arabia for Hajj. In Belchi, near Biharsharif, India, he stayed and prayed.
Death
Usman E Harooni Rahimullah died on 5 Shawwal, 617 AH (1220 AD) at Makkah . His Urs take place every year in Belchi, Bihar SharifNalanda, Bihar, on 15 & 16 of Shawwal. His blessings are invoked by people belonging to every strata of society and every school of thought. His actual tomb was in Makkah, until it was destroyed in the early years of the 21st century. The shrine in Belchi is Usmani Chillah (a chillah is a non-burial memorial shrine). This shrine is regarded as a symbol of Usman's spiritual strength and of the source of his blessings.
Chillah
As known, a muridah waliyah of Usman Harooni took promise from him that after her death her tomb will be beneath in his feet, but eventually Usman Harooni died in Mecca, Arabia. To fulfill his promise, Usman Harooni once again existed in Belchi and ordered the muridah to build his shrine and after her death, she'll be buried beneath the shrine of Usman Harooni in Belchi. Beside his Chillah was built the tomb of the Waliya. For the past 650 years, an annual Urs has taken place every year.
The esteemed details of the chillah & life of Usman Harooni are noted in the book "Moin ul Qul" by the late 19th century Sufi leader Gudri Shah Baba, of Ajmer.
Message and teachings
According to Usman Harooni, a great man is one who is endowed with virtues such as contentment, sincerity, self-abnegation, self-sacrifice and above all, spirit of renunciation. He said that the ego was an enemy, as it did not allow rational thought, wise actions and a happy life. He emphasized that unless a man loves human beings, it is impossible for him to love God.
References
^Laxmi, Dhaul (2001). The Sufi saint of Ajmer. Thea Enterprises.
This table only includes figures venerated traditionally by the majority of Muslims in the Subcontinent, whence persons honored exclusively by particular modern movements are not included.
