Biography
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Birth and Parentage
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Born in 653 Hijri of Amir Saif Uddin Mahmud who was one of the nobles of Hazara, Balakh. Chingez Khan's incursions loomed large on them so he migrated to India during the reign of Sultan Altutmish, joined the court, and settled down at Patiali in the district of Etah. Because of his abilities he rose to a high and trusted rank in the court. Here he was married to the daughter of a noble, Imad-Ul-Mulk, who bore him three sons: Aiza-Uddin, Ali Shah, Hisam Uddin, and Abul Hasan; the later was the youngest.
Education
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His first tutor was his father who died when he was nine years old and his maternal grand father, Imad Ul Mulk, took over the responsibility of their education and up-bringing. His two elder brothers also gave their attention to his education. Consequently, he acquired proficiency in all material and intellectual subjects and was regarded a scholar of high repute. He was an intelligent and prolific poet, and sang melodiously innovated Qawwali, and invented several musical instruments. In addition to, he was a good prose writer.
Pledge of Obedience and Spiritual Heir
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When eight he went with his father and other members of family to Hazrat Nizam Uddin's residence. His father wished him to select his guide and teacher himself. Others went in but he stayed outside thinking that if he (Hazrat Nizam Uddin) were a perfect saint he would summon him himself. Hazrat Nizam Uddin's spiritual powers revealed to him his dilemma. He sent his servant to bring him in. Amir Khusrau was so much impressed of his personality that he accepted him his guide and teacher and entered the fold. Soon he became the dearest of his disciples and in course of time was granted the robe of his spiritual heir.
Prayers and Meditation
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Despite his association with the court he continued to pray and meditate and traveled speedily on the road of conduct. Every night he recited seven chapters of the Qu'Oran melodiously after the Tahajjud prayer. The chronicles mention that he kept fasts continuously for forty years. He was engrossed every time in the intense love of God. There was so much incinerating heat generated in his heart that whatever he wore burnt on the chest. Hazrat Nizammuddin once said about it "If asked on the Resurrection day what have you brought? I would say the heat from the bosom of the Turk."
Deep attachment to his Teacher
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He loved his teacher deeply and spent most of his time with him. His teacher 'Hazrat Nizam-Uddin loved him more than any other of his disciples even more than his spiritual heir, Hazrat Nasir Uddin Roshan Chiragh Dehlavi. Once the Mahboob-e-Ilahi said, "I am annoyed by all, even by myself sometimes but never by you."
Buying his teacher's sandals for five lakhs rupees and carry them back on his head in the presence of Hazrat Nizam Uddin shows his deep love and faith for him.
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His Poetry
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He was not only a mystic but also a Persian poet of great caliber.
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Books
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He wrote about 92 books some of them are Rahat-Ul-Mohibbeen' Tohfat-us-Saghir, Gharra-tul-Kamal, Moghzan-e-Asrar-e-Nizami, Sheerin-Khusrau, Laila-Majnoon, Aina-e-Sikandari, Hasht-Bahisht, Taj-Ul-Futuh, Tughlaq-Nama, Manaquib-e-Hind.
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Revelations and Miracles
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It is said that when Sheikh Abul Fateh Multani said his funeral prayers, raised hands to bless him, he got tip and recited a Persian couplet.
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Death
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Amir Khusrau was extremely grieved at the demise of his teacher. He was not in Delhi Lucknow
The Sufi
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Sufi poetry is the result of a spirit of defiance and self-sacrifice. The transformation of secular (majazi) into divine (haqiqi) love is already present in India
The tradition of Sufi music also traces its roots back to Amir Khusrau, which became linked to the various traditions of Sufi movement in
Through seven centuries, his name has been kept alive in the form of oral traditions sung by qawwals, poets and general people alike-
"Kaahay ko biyaahi bides, ray, lakhi baabul moray, Kaahay ko biyaahi bides........, bhayiyon ko diye babul mehlay do-mehlay, Hum ko diya pardes, ray, lakhi babul.."....
Why did you part me from yourself, dear father, why? You’ve given houses with two storeys to my brothers, And to me, a foreign land? Why dear father, why? A song still rendered today during the bidaai (goodbye) ceremony of a bride from her maternal home - still relevant 800 years later.
The greatest influence in his life was his Pir (spiritual teacher) Hazrat Nizamuddin, who died in 1325 AD and grieving for him, Amir Khusrau also left for his heavenly abode within six months. He is buried very close to Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia on a raised platform surrounded by jalis (screens) in red sandstone called chabootra-e-yaar (niche of a friend).
If you ever visit his tomb, you are likely to hear this anecdote that surrounds it and many will tell you that it is true. Any individual with a love for music, knowledge and poetry can take a thread from Khusrau’s dargah (tomb) and tie it to his/her right wrist making Amir Khusrau his/her spiritual teacher – he will surely find success.
Let me quote him for all who wish to understand the Sufi – Khusrau and the musician in him : The sea of love is very different, the one who swims through it, sinks, and the one who sinks, reaches the shore. Khusrau darya prem ka Ulti waki dhaar, Jo ubhra so doob gaya, Jo dooba so paar! An apt description. Written by Amir Khusrau or Amir-Ul-Shaura Hazrat Khawaja Abul Hasan Amir Khusrau Dehlavi also known as Tuti-i-Hind (song bird of India, for he wrote and sang many songs in different tunes) – a master poet, mystic and musician par excellence.
Let me quote him for all who wish to understand the Sufi – Khusrau and the musician in him : The sea of love is very different, the one who swims through it, sinks, and the one who sinks, reaches the shore. Khusrau darya prem ka Ulti waki dhaar, Jo ubhra so doob gaya, Jo dooba so paar! An apt description. Written by Amir Khusrau or Amir-Ul-Shaura Hazrat Khawaja Abul Hasan Amir Khusrau Dehlavi also known as Tuti-i-Hind (song bird of India, for he wrote and sang many songs in different tunes) – a master poet, mystic and musician par excellence.
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Soul music
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Soul music
“Music is the fire that burns the heart and the soul” has rightly been interpreted by Amir Khusrau.
In his entire career, Amir Khusrau wrote a staggering 92 books including Taj-ul-fatah, Tughlak namah, Sheerin Khusrau and Laila majnoon. He served as a court poet and went to war under several Delhi
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Amir Khusrau is often acknowledged for creating ‘Khayal‘ of North Indian Classical music (popularly known as Hindustani Classical Music). He modified Dhrupad and added Persian tunes and beats to it. He created Qawwali on the likes of Bhajans. The poems he wrote were in Persian and a combination of Brijbhasha and Persian, which he called as Hindvi. These poems later were developed into Hindi and Urdu. Many of his poems are even today used in Hindustani Classical as Bandishes and as Ghazals by Ghazal singers.
In one of the above songs the phrase ‘Zeehaal-e-Miskeen‘ comes from a poem of Amir Khusrau. The unique thing about this poem is that it is written in Persian and Brijbhasha. In the first verse, the first line is in Persian, the second in Brijbhasha, the third in Persian again, and the fourth in Brijbhasha. In the remaining verses, the first two lines are in Persian, the last two in Brijbhasha. The poem showcases Amir Khusrau’s mastery over both languages :
‘Zeehaal-e-miskeen makun taghaful
duraye naina banaye batiyan
ki taab-e hijran nadaram ay jaan
na leho kaahe lagaye chhatiyan
duraye naina banaye batiyan
ki taab-e hijran nadaram ay jaan
na leho kaahe lagaye chhatiyan
Shaban-e-hijran daraz chun zulf
wa roz-e waslat cho umr kotah
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun
to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan’
wa roz-e waslat cho umr kotah
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun
to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan’
Amir Khusrau is credited with fashioning the Tabla as a split version of the traditional Indian drum, the Pakhawaj. He is believed to have brought Sarod into the mainstream hindustani classical music. Popular lore also credits him with inventing the Sitar.
