Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki of Mehrauli was amongst the pioneers of the Chishti Sufi order in the Indian subcontinent. He is also known as Qutub-ul-Aqtab and Malik-ul-Mashaa’ikh (head of the Sufi saints). Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki was the dearest disciple and spiritual successor of the great mystic, Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer.
He is especially venerated as the greatest Khwaja (Sufi master) in Delhi, the capital of India which is respected and known among Sufis as “Bais Khwaja ki chaukhat” (the city of 22 most prominent Sufi masters). When a young Qutbuddin fell at the feet of Chishti, he embraced him affectionately, blessed him and raised him in a spiritual and humane environment. He often exhorted him: “Never turn your face from the right path of Sufism and Truth. Prove yourself to be a brave man in this Divine Mission.”
It was the era of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish when Bakhtiyar Kaki became the head of the Chishti Sufi order after Khwaja Gharib Nawaz and followed his legacy by devoting himself to the spiritual. His most famous disciple and spiritual successor was Baba Fareed, who is deeply endeared by both Muslims and non-Muslims.
His discourses and practices enabled his companions to transcend caste, creed, colour, region and race and thus he became the spiritual mentor for humanity at large. During his time there was no room for divisive forces.
Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an alim (classical Islamic scholar) and a Delhi-based writer.
He can be contacted at grdehlavi@gmail.com
