Farhan Israeli/Jaipur

Located near the Char Darwaza in Jaipur's old city, the shrine of Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Shah-e-Wilayat is not just a religious site but also a symbol of the city's shared cultural heritage. For nearly two centuries, this khanqah has been spreading the message of love, humanity, and brotherhood, drawing people across religious and community boundaries with devotion.

The Mughal architectural style mosque, family cemetery, shrine, garden, and pond within the dargah complex still recall a time when khanqahs were not just places of worship but also centers of spiritual education, moral upbringing, social service, and spiritual guidance.

According to Syed Ziauddin Ziyai, the dargah's head priest, his spiritual lineage is the Fakhri Nizami Chishti. Although he holds ties with several Sufi orders, including the Chishtia, Qadriya, Suhrawardiya, and Naqshbandiya, his family is primarily identified with the Chishtia Nizamia order. He says that Hazrat Maulana Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan Dehlvi was one of the prominent elders of this order, and Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib joined it later. He is remembered not only in Rajasthan but throughout the country as a Sufi elder known as "Maulana Sahib Jaipuri."

Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib is said to have been born in 1150 Hijri in Ghayaspur, Delhi. He belonged to a Syed family. Both his parents' lineage is linked to the Hasani-Hussaini tradition. In Sufi tradition, such a family is called Najibut-Tarfain.

He is said to have been authorized to appoint disciples in several Sufi orders, including the Chishti, Qadriya, Naqshbandiya, Suhrawardiya, Noorbakhshia, Shuttariya, and Firdausiya. His followers remember him by the titles of Spiritual Leader and Qutb.

In India, the Chishtia order is associated with Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti whose shrine is in Ajmer, Rajasthan. After him, the order passed to Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Mehboob-e-Ilahi. After Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, this branch became known as the Chishtia Nizamia. It is said that over time, the order experienced many ups and downs, but Hazrat Sheikh Kalimullah Jahanabadi and his caliphs gave it new strength.

Hazrat Maulana Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan Dehlvi is also included among this lineage, whose prominent caliphs are said to include Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib.

Many aspects of Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin's arrival in Jaipur are still part of the narrative at the Dargah. It is said that when he arrived in Jaipur, the city was also known as Jaynagar. Gradually, he made Jaipur a center of his spiritual and social activities. A large number of people began visiting his khanqah, and people from all communities began to join him.

Seeing his growing popularity, some people complained against him to the court of the then Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh. It is said that the Maharaja ordered soldiers to bring him to the court, but the soldiers could not proceed. In traditions associated with the Dargah, this incident is remembered as a miracle. According to traditions, after this, the Maharaja himself went to meet Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib. The king was so impressed by his personality at their first meeting that he developed a deep respect and reverence for him. After this, his khanqah gradually became an important center of knowledge, Sufism, and social service.

Maulana Ziauddin Sahib was recognized not only as a Sufi sage but also as a social unifier. People from different communities visited his khanqah, where there was no discrimination based on religion or caste. According to Syed Ziauddin Ziyai, the fundamental teachings of the Chishti order are love, service, and humanity. This is why Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib's khanqah is still considered an important example of Jaipur's Ganga-Jamuni culture and shared culture.

According to those associated with the Dargah, in the early days after arriving in Jaipur, Maulana Ziauddin Sahib's camp was set up in Mohalla Kamangaran. He also established Mohalla Handipura, near Char Darwaza, as his base. His gatherings began to take place in the Madrasa Maulana Sahib and the Masjid Maulana Sahib, located here. Gradually, this place became a center of religious and spiritual education, where, along with knowledge, special attention was paid to the moral and spiritual upbringing of human beings. Here, alongside the teachings of the Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, and other religious sciences, Sufism was also taught. Students not only acquired bookish knowledge, but also learned morals, self-reflection, sincerity, and humanity in the company of their Sheikh.

This is why this Khanqah was considered a confluence of both knowledge and action. Those associated with the dargah say that the fame of this khanqah was not limited to Jaipur. Students and pilgrims from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, the Deccan, Afghanistan, and even China came here to seek education and spiritual blessings. This reflects the scholarly and spiritual significance of this khanqah at that time. Two parts of the khanqah deserve special mention. The Gulabi Dalan was the place where madrasa education was conducted, gatherings were held, and public meetings were held. The Sandali Dalan was the sacred place of worship, zikr, mushahada, and riyazat for Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib, where he spent long periods of time engaged in spiritual practice.

It is said that in later years, Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib established a khanqah, mosque, and dargah complex near the present-day Char Darwaza. According to those associated with the dargah, this complex was constructed around the end of the 18th century, and later became a permanent center of his spiritual legacy. The present-day dargah, Mughal architectural mosque, shrine, family cemetery, garden, and pond are part of the same complex. Local traditions also recount an interesting anecdote: Maulana Sahib would retrieve coins from beneath his prayer mat when paying construction workers. A worker became suspicious and dug there at night, but found nothing. The next day, Maulana Sahib paid him two days' wages and smiled, remarking, "You were working hard even at night." It is said that after this incident, the worker became his disciple.

Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib's followers were not limited to Jaipur, but were spread across many areas of Rajasthan. Traditions related to the dargah also mention Nawab Mir Khan of Tonk. It is said that a man, seeking refuge from the Nawab's imprisonment, sought refuge with Maulana Sahib's disciple, Qazi Sahib. The Qazi Sahib refused to return him, after which the Nawab's army arrived. According to traditions, Qazi Sahib invoked his Pir, Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib. Later, when Nawab Mir Khan learned the full truth, he personally came to Jaipur, presented himself before Maulana Sahib, and expressed his devotion to him. It is said that he placed his sword and turban at Maulana Sahib's feet, pledging allegiance to him and accepting him as his Pir.

The Khanqah of Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib was primarily known for its service to the people. In the Chishti order, service to Allah's creatures is considered the greatest act of charity. This is why the doors of this Khanqah were always open to every needy person, traveler, and person seeking help. According to those associated with the Dargah, the guests' accommodation, food, and other needs were fully taken care of. Arrangements were also made for travelers coming from faraway lands. It is said that Maulana Ziauddin Sahib would first offer hospitality and then listen to their problems.

This tradition of service, love, and humanity later became the Khanqah's greatest identity. An anecdote about Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib's good morals and patience is also found in the Dargah's traditions. It is said that once a man sitting in his gathering began criticizing Sufis and elders. Maulana Sahib neither responded nor expressed displeasure, but instead listened with complete composure and silence. When the man finished speaking, Maulana Sahib hosted him and offered him sweets. He also invited him to come again. The man was astonished by this. According to tradition, Maulana Sahib said, "This is the home of a fakir. A fakir's job is to please hearts, not to break them."

Urs and cultural traditions

The Urs of Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin Sahib is celebrated every year from the 21st to the 25th of the lunar month of Zilqada. According to those associated with the Dargah, he passed away on the 25th of Zilqada, 1230 Hijri. During the Urs, events such as Milad Sharif, Mushaira, Mehfil-e-Sama, Kul Sharif, and Dua are organized. In addition, special gatherings are organized in the month of Rajab in memory of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Garib Nawaz. The Basant tradition has also been observed at the Dargah for almost a century. Mustard flowers are offered on this occasion.

According to Sajjadanashin Syed Ziauddin Ziyai (Zia Miyan), Hazrat Maulana Ziauddin (RA) dedicated his entire life to worship, spirituality, and service to the people. After his passing, his nephew, Hazrat Syed Ghulam Rasool Sahib, assumed the responsibility of the dargah's spiritual legacy and the sajjadanashinship. Syed Ziauddin says that the responsibility of the Sajjadanashin is not merely to hold a position, but to carry forward the teachings of the elders, the khanqah traditions, and the spiritual legacy. According to him, the Sajjadanashin's primary responsibility is to connect people with the path of love, peace, humanity, and spiritual guidance.

He explained that he is fulfilling his responsibilities by organizing the Urs, serving guests, and carrying forward the Khanqah's long-standing traditions. Zia Mian received his education at Jaipur and Rajasthan Universities and later completed his LLB from Aurangabad. He says that the true teaching of the Sufi tradition is to improve one's character. The spiritual education received from a Pir-o-Murshid guides one towards self-reflection, good behavior, and social responsibility.

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As evening falls, and hands are raised in prayer in the courtyard of the dargah, people from different communities gather together. This is the Khanqah's most distinctive feature. According to locals, this Khanqah, over two hundred years old, has been a part of Jaipur's shared cultural heritage. Even today, this Dargah bears witness to Jaipur's inclusive culture and the message of humanity, which its elders have carried forward as a tradition of love, brotherhood, and service.