The Great Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan
Chishty (R.A) reached Ajmer in the year 587
Hijri. While some historians do not agree to
this year of Khwaja Baba’s (R.A.) arrival,
they state that the Great Hazrat Khwaja Baba
(R.A.) visited Ajmer Sharif during 562
Hijri.
While in Ajmer the Great Hazrat Khwaja Baba
(R.A.) had to face many troubles created by
the Raja (King) and his subordinates. The
bad treatment received by Hazrat Khwaja Baba
(R.A.) compelled him to pay the Raja back in
the same coin according to the Islamic
ethical rules.
The Great Hazrat Khwaja Baba (R.A.) did not
yield to the Raja inspite of his continuous
efforts and tactics. Consequently, Raja
Prithviraj failed to realize the supreme
powers of divinity through which the Great
Hazrat Khwaja Baba (R.A.) was asked to visit
Ajmer. Finally, Hazrat Khwaja Baba (R.A.)
turned to action; and thus, the Raja's
active supporters, Sadi Deva and Ajoypal,
embraced Islam.
These two Hindus-Sadi Deva and Ajaipal were
later devoted followers of the Great Khwaja
Moinuddin Hassan Chishty (R.A.). Impressed
by his teachings they embraced Islam. They
made a request to the Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.),
asking him to shift from Ana Sagar to the
city in order to enable the citizens of
Ajmer to derive full benefit from his divine
preaching.
The Saint's missionary work flourished. His
followers turned up in a large numbers from
the neighbuoring areas and embraced Islam.
At this juncture, the Great Hazrat Khwaja
Baba (R.A.) once again extended his cordial
invitation to Raja Prithviraj Chowhan to
follow his teachings and embrace Islam. But
the offer was turned down by Raja Prithviraj.
The conversion to Islam of Shadi Deva and
Ajaipal had adversely affected the power and
prestige of the proud and ambitious ruler
Prithvi Raj. He started persecution and
harassment of the new followers of the Great
Khwaja Baba (R.A.) out of revenge. He
continuously insulted a Rajput courtier, who
sought the help of the Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.).
When this maltreatment to the courtier was
brought to the notice of the Raja, he was
terribly enraged and ordered a Durbar to be
held. At this Durbar, the Raja explained the
Saint's attempt at polluting their religious
beliefs and also inciting the people to gain
influence in the political affairs. But his
attempt proved futile and he could not
convince the people of the Saint's
intentions. The Raja called the Saint an
ordinary faqir was not liked by the public.
The Raja who had not been tolerating the
presence of the Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.) so
far concluded the Durbar by saying that some
one must tell this 'faqir' to get out of
Ajmer.
When the news about the Durbar reached the
Saint's ears, the Great Hazrat Khwaja Baba (R.A.)
simply remarked; "We will arrest the Raja
alive and hand him over to the army of
Islam." These utterings of the Great Khwaja
Baba (R.A.) confused his followers as they
knew well that Khwaja Baba (R.A.) being a
Holy Saint, had neither political ambitions
nor any army or equipment to capture the
Raja 'alive'. They, however, soon realized
that Khwaja Baba (R.A.) was a man of God.
His utterances would have serious
consequences and hence they waited for the
results. His utterances would always mean
the general well-being of humanity and would
consequently prove true sooner or later any
how. The very day the Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.)
utterred these grave words, Sultan
Shahabuddin Gouri, who was sitting in his
chamber at Ghazni; pondering over his defeat
at the hands of Prithvi Raj in a gloomy
atmosphere, suddenly felt giddy and retired
to bed. Immediately thereafter he saw a
venerable aged person in his dream,
commanding him to: "Get up. The land of
India is yearning to kiss your feet, and the
throne and crown are awaiting you there."
This dream made the Sultan restless and gave
him will and strength; an eternal power
again and again urged him to attack India.
Immediately, as a result of the divine order
of the dream and in order to avenge his
previous defeats at the hands of Raja
Prithvi Raj, the Sultan started secret
preparations for attacking Raja Prithvi Raj
once again. No one could contemplate such a
daring venture so soon after a defeat.
However, the strange voice was ringing his
ears continuously, calling upon him to
proceed to India immediately and attack Raja
Prithvi Raj as success was waiting for him.
As the Sultan could no longer resist the
urge, he mobilized his army to march towards
India. The goal was kept a secret. Even his
trusted Generals did not know the final
destination. While the Sultan was camping at
Peshawar, a closely related gentleman to the
Sultan enquired about the vast preparation
and the final destination of attack. The
Sultan, while replying to the old man
referred to his earlier defeat at the hands
of Rai Pithora and said that ever since his
defeat he had neither changed his
blood-stained clothes nor slept in his bed
chamber nor visited his Harem. He added
further that he had not seen even the faces
of his allies. Sardars of Khilji and Afghans
had betrayed and deserted him on the battle
field. The old man realized the delicacy and
seriousness of the whole situation and
advised the Sultan to act very prudently and
before going to the battlefield to forgive
the Sardars and seek their co-operation and
alliance by giving them the assurance of
rewards and promotions. The Sultan accepted
the advice and accordingly issued orders to
the Sardars to meet him at Multan. At the
Durbar held at Multan he appealed to them in
the name of Islam to be prepared to fight up
to the last man and erase the blot of
disgrace owing to their previous defeat. He
impressed upon them that they should be
loyal and faithful and do their best to win
the battle. The Sardars were greatly
motivated by his appeal and bowed in
obedience, expressing their loyalty to the
Sultan by placing both their hands on the
scabbard of his sword.
The army returned to Lahore from there the
Sultan sent a message to Raja Prithvi Raj at
Ajmer through his able and loyal ambassador,
Syed Qawamul Ruknuddin Hamza. The message
read as follows:
“I, on behalf of my elder brother who is the
king of all Musalmans from Panjab to
Khorasan, have arrived in India for the
military campaign. Therefore, I write to Rai
Pithora (Prithvi Raj) who is the Maharaja of
all Indian Rajas asking him to accept our
supremacy and thus save the country from
destruction and bloodshed."
Raja Prithvi Raj on receipt of the above
message was greatly enraged as it was not at
all possible for him to tolerate this
humiliating message, being a victor in the
last war. He immediately issued orders to
his 150 confederates for mobilization.
Within a short time, a mighty army of 3 lakh
(300,000) soldiers and 3000 war elephants
was ready to face and beat back the attack.
The Sultan had an army comprising only
between 1 lakh 7 thousand (107,000) and 1
lakh 20 thousand (120,000). This army had
already advanced from Lahore and camped at
Tarain (Tarawri), which is 14 miles from
Thanesar or 40 kms from Delhi. This historic
battle was a turning point in both the
Islamic as well as Indian histories. In
reply to the Sultan's ultimatum Raja Prithvi
Raj wrote as follows:
"That the Commander-in-Chief of Islam must
have heard by now through his spies that for
the sake of protecting our 'Dharma', and yet
more reinforcements are arriving from all
over the country. Every Rajput soldier of
our army is so brave and courageous that no
one can fight them including the Afghans. It
is better for you to take care of your
Tartars and Afghan soldiers. Your purpose is
to plunder and loot, which cannot be
fulfilled and we swear by your youth and you
must remember, that at this moment we will
not allow even a single soldier to go back
alive."
On receiving the above communications, the
Sultan was greatly perturbed because the
number and strength of the enemy's army was
far greater than that of his own. He, in
spite of this, did not lose courage. After
very careful consideration, the Sultan sent
a very tactful and diplomatic reply to Raja
Prithvi Raj Chowhan, which reads as follows:
"You have given us very decent advice of
affection and favour, but you know I am
unable to act unless I get a command from
the Capital, which requires time. Perhaps,
the terms and conditions of the treaty would
be that the borders are under our control
and the rest of India shall remain in your
hands."
Raja Prithvi Raj did not realize the
significance of this letter and took it on
its face value. In fact, he laughed at the
enemy's weakness expressed in the letter.
This resulted in a general relaxation in the
Rajput Camp, followed by rejoicing and
happiness, dancing merry making throughout
the night in the Rajput camp. However, in
the Sultan's camp it was not so. Everybody
was terribly busy in secret preparations for
a surprise and sudden attack on the Rajput
army. The Sultan himself led a portion of
the army under cover of darkness through a
long and circuitous route, involving several
units and surprised the Raja in a dawn raid.
This resulted in complete confusion in the
Rajput camp, which had all night enjoyed
drinking, dancing and merry making. Still
Raja Prithvi Raj kept his presence of mind;
he gathered a portion of the army and tried
to resist the onslaught.
The Sultan organized his army into four
parts, each under a commander, and ordered
them to attack immediately at his signal.
Inspire of great confusion that prevailed in
the Rajput camp, the brave Rajput soldiers
fought valiantly. The Muslim soldiers
started losing their moral and started
losing ground, the Sultan then made a clever
move by retreating. The Rajput soldiers,
seeing them flee, chased them. At other
points, the Sultan signaled his reserved
units to attack the "Rajput soldiers from
the rear, but he could not succeed and the
Sultan's army suffered heavy losses.
At noon, the battle remained drawn. Raja
Prithvi Raj Chowhan gathered his troops and
persuaded them into taking an oath to fight
the enemy to the bitter end. On the other
hand, when the Sultan saw no sign of
victory, he removed his bejeweled steel
helmet and wrapped his coffin cloth on his
head. He drew his sword from its sheath;
which he smashed into pieces. He then
selected 12,000 fresh swordsmen and ordered
them to act strictly as he died. This meant
for them victory or death but no retreat
from the battlefield. With this determined
preparation, the Sultan's forces charged the
Raja's army like lightening and succeeded in
creating complete confusion in the enemy
column, who were scattered all around. In
this onslaught, a large number of Rajput
Sardars were killed. Raja Prithvi Raj also
tried to escape; but he was soon captured.
The Sultan later proceeded towards Ajmer,
where he installed Govindraj the son of Raja
Prithvi Raj on the Gaddi on the condition
that the Rajput would pay tribute to the
Sultan and also makes an annual payment.
The Sultan had the honour at Ajmer of
kissing the Great and Holy Khwaja Baba’s (R.A.)
feet when he recognised the Saint as the
same venerable aged person as had urged him
to attack India in his dream at Ghazni. The
Great Khwaja Baba (R.A.) accepted the Sultan
as his disciple. Sultan Shahabuddin then
proceeded to Delhi to take over the reigns
of the Government. He appointed Qutubuddin
Aibak (a very trusted and able slave) as
victory at Delhi.
With the fall of the Raja, the Great Hazrat
Khwaja Baba’s (R.A.) mission was fulfilled.
Khwaja Baba (R.A.), with his headquarters at
Ajmer, sent forth his disciples to all parts
of the country to preach his divine message.
The Great Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan
Chishty (R.A) being a very saintly man never
felt any enmity towards Raja Prithviraj's
kingdom. It was the Raja's own proud
attitude and belligerence that brought about
his down-fall. The Great Hazrat Khwaja
Baba’s (R.A.) main aim was to root out
ignorance, darkness, superstition,
oppression, profanation and corruption from
the territory of India. In this mission he
succeeded and now at the durbar of the Saint
there was no social discrimination of any
kind. The shrine of the Holy Saint is open
to all for their welfare and the fulfillment
of their desires.
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