Hazrat Shaikh Saleem Chishti was born in the year 1478 (883 Hijri), during the period of Lodhi rulers, at Sarai Alauddin Zindah Peer – Delhi. His mother’s name was Bibi Aqsa.
Sheikh Salim Chishti was a descendant of Sheikh Baba Farid Ganj Shakar, a Sufi preacher and mystic of Chishti Order of Sufi Islam. Sheikh Baba Farid Ganj Shakar was the most favorite disciple of Sufi Saint Khawaja Bakhtiyar Kaki (RA) who was the Khalifa of Sultan Khawaja Moin Uddin Chishti (RA).
Sheikh Salim Chishti (RA) was among the progeny of middle son of Sheikh Baba Farid Ganj Shakar- whose name was Shaikh Badaruddin Sulaiman – and the family tree of this family goes back to the great Caliph of Islam - Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA). It is claimed that Sheikh Salim Chishti (RA) was a born saint (Wali), and there are certain miracles associated with him since the time of his birth. At a very early age, Sheikh Salim Chishti’s (RA) parents passed away, and his elder brother Hazrat Shaikh Musa Chishti devoted himself to his upbringing. Sheikh Salim Chishti (RA) was a firm follower of the practices of Islam, and he often used to visit mountains and other secluded places for meditation. At the age of 18, he expressed the desire to undertake a journey to Mecca to perform the Haj pilgrimage. Initially, his elder brother Hazrat Shaikh Musa Chishti was worried because of Shaikh Salim Chishti’s young age. Hazrat Shaikh Musa Chishti did not have any children of his own till that time, and he had brought up Sheikh Salim Chishti (RA) as his own child. Then Hazrat Saleem Chishti prayed to the Almighty to give a progeny to Hazrat Shaikh Musa Chishti, and miraculously, soon Hazrat Shaikh Musa Chishti was blessed with two sons - Shaikh Ibrahim Chishti and Shaikh Fazal Chishti.
In the year 1512, Hazrat Saleem Chishti left for Mecca and Medina to visit the Holy Grave of Prophet Mohammad (SAW), where he also attended several religious congregations with Ulemas for hailing Islam. During his stay in Hijaz, Hazrat Saleem Chishti practiced Tasawu`uf and taught the same to his disciples., which included Syed Mohammad Wali, Syed Mahmood Shahi, and Syed Rajjab Ali, the erstwhile Mutawalli of Masjid Nabavi. Hazrat Saleem Chishti remained in the service of Prophet`s Mosque for a period of 9 years, during which he performed 22 Hajjs while staying at Hijaz. One day in his dream he saw the Prophet, who directed him to go Fatehpur Sikri in India to preach the message of Islam. While departing from Hijaz, Hazrat Saleem Chishti took some soil from there as he wanted to be buried in the soil of Haram Shareef. In keeping with his wishes, when his last rites were performed upon his death, some of the soil from Hijaz was spread upon his grave.
During this same time, Sher Shah Suri had defeated King Humayun, who left India and went to Iran. After the death of Sher Shah Suri, the Emperor of Iran helped King Humayun to get back his Kingdom of India. After the death of King Humayun, Hemu Vikaramaditya took over the reins of Delhi and Agra and declared himself as King on 7 October 1556. At the same time, Behram Khan coronated Akbar, the son of King Humayun, as the King at Punjab. Later, on 5th November 1556, Akbar defeated Hemu at Panipat and won back Agra and Delhi.
To learn more about Islamic teachings, Hazrat Saleem Chishti visited several saints and ulemas. He received Khilafat from his master Hazrat Khawaja Ibraheem Shami. In the Year 1537 (944 Hijri), Hazrat Saleem Chishti returned to Fatehpur Sikri and made his abode on a hill, starting his spiritual journey.
The stone cutters of Fatehpur Sikri used to go to this hill to collect stones, when one day they saw that two lions were sitting outside the abode of Hazrat Saleem Chishti. The stone cutters felt frightened, but the Shaikh assured them that these loins will not harm them. The people requested him to come back and live among them in the city but the Shaikh denied because he wanted to live in seclusion on the hill. And thereafter, the people experienced several miracles associated with Hazrat Saleem Chishti.
Subsequently, the stone cutters of Fatehpur Sikri constructed a mosque, a wazoo khana and a water tank for the Shaikh on the hill. The Mosque - named Masjid Sang Tarash - was the first Mosque constructed on the hill of Fatehpur Sikri. Later on, a house and a Chillagah were also constructed for Hazrat Saleem Chishti.
About his journey to Hijaz, it is said that he started his journey with the permission of his elder brother and his first stop was Sarhind Punjab, where he stayed for some time and get the blessings of a religious priest.
It is mentioned in Muntakhab Tawareeqh that King Akbar was 28 years of age and he had still not been blessed with a male child. Although two sons were born to him, they had died at a very early age. After the battle of Ranthambore, Akbar remained in Ajmer for many days, where he prayed for a male heir at the Dargah of Hazrat Moin Uddin Chishti (RA). It is said that therefrom he was indicated to visit Fatehpur Sikri, but prior to that he visited the Grave of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar at Pakpattan (Ajodhan), thereat it is narrated to him by Ibraheem Farid Sani – the then Diwan of Dargah of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar - that Baba Farid was very pleased with Hazrat Saleem Chishti. Thereafter, King Akbar came to the abode of Hazrat Saleem Chishti, where Hazrat predicted that the King will get three sons by the grace of Almighty Allah. Akbar promised to the Shaikh that he would give his first child under the Shaikh’s command and supervision, upon which the Shaikh pleasantly replied that I accept and I give him my name – Salim, suggesting that even prior to birth of King Jahangir, he had been named Salim.
After this meeting, Akbar ordered the construction of a palace for Maharani Harka Bai - the daughter of great King of Amer Biharimal Kachwaha - adjacent to the house of Hazrat Shaikh Saleem Chishti. When Mahrani Harka Bai became pregnant, Akbar requested her to stay with other women of the family (daughters and wife of Hazrat Saleem Chishti) in Hazrat’s house itself.
Mulla Abdul Qadir Badayuni, in his book Muntakhab Tawareeqh, has noted that a son was born to the Queen in the courtyard of the house adjacent to the Chillagah of Hazrat Saleem Chishti. The child was named Salim, who would go on to become famous in history as Emperor Jahangir.
It is also mentioned that several years prior to the birth of Jahangir, Hazrat Saleem Chishti had mentioned that he could see trees, gardens and palaces on this hill, so Akbar directed his men to construct a large city on and around the hill, for which he also freed several war prisoners. According to an English Traveler Range Phillips, who visited the city in 1576, Fatehpur Sikri was bigger than London.
According to him, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri were among the most beautiful Cities of India. Fatehpur Skiri was also bestowed with the titles “City of Victory”, Darul Noor and Darsu-us–suroor.
After the birth of Salim, Akbar walked barefoot from Fathepur Sikri to Ajmer to pay homage to Hazrat Moin Uddin Chishti.
It is also said that Akbar had directed to build to Great Mosque, similar to Great Mosque of Arabia, in view of the fact that his Shaikh had spent almost 22 years at Hijaz.
The date of laying down the foundation of that Mosque is mentioned in the following couplets:
Dar Zamane Shah Jahan Akbar,
Ki Az –o- Mulk ra nizam Amad,
Shaikhul Islam Masjid-e- Aa-raast,
Kaz Safa Qaba Ehatram Amad
Saal Tamamm Ain Bina-e- Rafi
Saani Al Masjid Al Haram Amad.
It is said that Akbar had once asked the Shaikh what would happen after the Shaikh’s demise, upon which the Shaikh had replied that whenever our real master calls us, we will depart. He also predicted that when the time comes for him to depart, Prince Jahangir will write a couplet or poetry, upon hearing which, Akbar ordained that no teacher will teach the art of poetry to Prince Jahngir. However, one day a lady from the King’s house taught a couplet to Prince Jahangir, who later recited the same in the presence of Shaikh Saleem Chishti. Those lines were as follows:
Elahi Ghuncha-e- Ummed Bakshan
Gule Az Roza Javed Bin Maa
It is reported in Tuzkiye Jahangeere that upon hearing this couplet, Shaikh Saleem Chishti immediately called King Akbar and told him that “O- King the time to depart has come- the prince has recited poetry.” Thereafter, the great musician Tansen came and played the Sufi music popularly known as “Sima” and Shaikh Saleem Chishti addressed King Akbar “that time to leave you all has come – I am going.” He gave his turban to the prince and declared that I have given my place to Prince Jahangir. He then retreated to his chambers and left for his heavenly abode. Akbar mourned a lot at the passing away of the Shaikh and shouldered the dead body of his Shaikh himself to the grave.
It is also recorded that Akbar had obtained permission from Shaikh Saleem Chishti to construct a mausoleum and Mosque, where several family members and disciples of Shaikh Saleem Chishti are buried.
After the sad demise of Saint Shaikh Saleem Chisti, his son - His Holiness Shaikh Badruddin Chisti - became the first sajjadanashin of the shrine Fathepur Sikri. Since then, his descendants have been maintaining the spirituality and the holiness of the shrine and spreading the Sufi philosophy among the masses in India and abroad.
Presently, Hazrat Peerzada Ayazuddin Chishti Alias Rais Mian, 16th descendent of the Sheikh Saleem Chishti became Sajjadanashin.
