Usman Harooni
Usman Harooni was an early modern wali or "saint" of Sufi Islam in India, a successor to Shareef Zandani, fourteenth link in the Silsila of the Chishti order, and master of Moinuddin Chishti. Usman Harooni was born in Haroon, Iran. His year of birth is variously given as 1096, 1116 and 1131 AD (490, 510 and 526 AH). He is also known by his nicknames, Abu Noor and Abu Mansur.
When he was rather young, he came in touch with an absorbed mystic named Chirk. This association with Chirk brought about a significant transformation in his life. As a result, the material world lost its charm for him and he decided to embrace a higher moral and spiritual life.
Usman Harooni went to meet Shareef Zandani, a renowned mystic and saint of the Chishti order, with a request to be enrolled as his spiritual disciple. Shareef Zandani found him to be a fit person and accepted the request, by placing a four-edged cap upon the head of Usman Harooni.
He then 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.
Usman Harooni spent over thirty years in the company of his spiritual guide. During this period, he was engaged in ascetic practices and prayers. As time passed, he gained many spiritual accomplishments. He was then asked by his spiritual guide to move on and spread the gospel of truth.
Spiritual lineage
The traditional silsila (spiritual lineage) of the Chishti order is as follows
- Ali, cousin of Muhammad
- Hasan of Basra, d. 728, an early Persian Muslim theologian
- 'Abdul Wāḥid Bin Zaid Abul Faḍl, d. 793, an early Sufi saint
- Al-Fudhayl bin 'Iyyadh
- Ibrahim ibn Adham, a legendarly early Sufi ascetic
- Ḥudhayfah al-Mar'ashī
- Amīnuddīn Abū Ḥubayrah al-Baṣrī
- Mumshād Dīnwarī Al Alawi
- Abu Ishaq Shamī chishti (d. 940, founder of the Chishti order proper)
- Abu Abdaal Chishtī
- Naseruddin Abu Muhammad Chishtī
- Abu Yusuf Bin Saamaan, d. 1067
- Maudood Chishti, d. 1139
- Shareef Zandani, d. 1215CE, 612H
- Usman Harooni
Famous disciples (murid)
Khaja Usmani has many disciples but three famous Khalifa's (Khilafat successors) are below and usual says its a privilege and pride to have "Khwaja Moinddin Hassan" with us and he is Allah's beloved one.
- Syed Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Chisti
- Hazrat Sheikh Najmuddin Safri
- Sheikh Muhammad Turk ayman
Travels
Usman Harooni undertook many tours and travels to preach the gospel of truth. In the process, he visited many countries and cities, prominent among which are Bukhara, Baghdad, Falooja, Damascus, Mecca and Madina. During the course of his travels, he performed the Hajj, or the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
In almost all cities, he enjoyed the company of renowned Sufis and accomplished dervishes. While on the way to Oosh, he met Sheikh Bahauddin of Oosh. And when he reached Badakshan, he met a saintly man who was one of the attendants of Hazrat Junayd of Baghdad.
He reached Baghdad once again, and there he stayed for a while. During all the travels, he was accompanied by his close and dear spiritual disciple, Moinuddin Chishti, who carried his tiffin basket.
After a while, Usman Harooni visited India, during the rule of Sultan Altamish.
wisal
Usman E Harooni Rahimullah achieved wisal on 15 of Shawaal, 617 AH (1220 AD). His Urs take place every year in Belchi on 15 of Shawaal. His blessings are still invoked by thousands of people belonging to every strata of society and every school of thought. While his tomb is in Mecca or in Belchi, 10 km from Bihar Sharif(Nalanda), Bihar, India. There is also a symbol of his strength and source of his blessings at the Usmani Chilla at Ajmer.
Message and teachings
According to Usman Harooni, a great man is one who is endowed with virtues like contentment, sincerity, self-abnegation, self-sacrifice and above all, spirit of renunciation. He said that the ego in a man was an enemy, as it did not allow him to think rationally, act wisely and live happily. He emphasised that unless a man loves human beings, it is impossible for him to love God.
