Hazrat Qazi Mazhar-ud-Din Chishti: A Hidden Torchbearer of Sufi Spiritual Grace in Maharashtra
By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam
26 April 2025
A Little-Known Yet Deeply Impactful Sufi Whose Quiet Legacy Of Jurisprudence, Zikr, And Handwritten Teachings Continues To Echo In Maharashtra Through His Manuscripts And Spiritual Memory
Main Points:
1. Hazrat Qazi Mazhar ud Din Chishti was a Sufi scholar and jurist in Maharashtra, remembered for combining Islamic jurisprudence with Sufi spiritual practices.
2. He belonged to Sufism, reportedly connected to the Nizami branch, and held the honorary title of "Qazi" within the local Muslim community.
3. He authored Risalas, mostly in Persian and Urdu, which included reflections on the Quran, Fiqh, and ethical Sufi conduct, preserved by his descendants.
4. His shrine in Maharashtra remains a modest site of reverence, with an annual Urs observed through Quranic recitation, silent prayer, and traditional rosewater offering.
5. Despite not establishing a widespread Khanqah system, his personal example and writings left a lasting impression among local seekers and a few surviving successors.
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Early Life and Local Reputation
Hazrat Qazi Mazhar-ud-Din Chishti was among the lesser-known spiritual figures of the Deccan region. He lived in Maharashtra, where he served both as a spiritual guide and local jurist. Though his exact date of birth remains undocumented, oral records suggest he flourished in the early decades of the 20th century. His life reflected a unique balance of Shariah and Tariqah, adhering to traditional Islamic jurisprudence while nurturing the internal path of Sufism. His honorific "Qazi" wasn’t just a title; it reflected the community’s recognition of his deep understanding of Islamic law and ethics. A Qazi is someone who comprehends Fiqh, derived from the four foundational sources: the Quran Sharif, the Sunnah of Prophet, scholarly consensus of Ummah (Ijma-E-Ummat), and analogical reasoning (Qiyas).
Affiliation with Sufism
Hazrat Qazi Mazhar-ud-Din Chishti traced his spiritual lineage to Sufism, specifically the Nizami branch, a Sufi Silsila originated from Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya Dehlvi. While his direct Sufi shajra (tree) was never formally published, manuscript records from his descendants mention names like Hazrat Shah Yousuf Chishti Dehlvi and Hazrat Wajihuddin Alwi Gujarati, hinting at a blended influence from the Delhi and Gujarat streams of Chishti teachings.
Written Legacy and Teachings
Among his most valuable contributions were handwritten Risalas, preserved by his family and rarely circulated outside Maharashtra. These writings were primarily in Persian and Urdu and addressed topics such as:
Adab-e-Mureed (Conduct of the disciple)
Tafsir-e-Kalamiya (Inner meanings of selected Quranic verses)
Short treatises on Fiqh related to inheritance and purification.
His notes often quoted from Hazrat Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din and classical texts of the Chishti tariqa. Though never formally printed, two manuscripts remain in the possession of his great-grandson, who allows visiting scholars to consult them with permission.
Devotional Traditions
Hazrat Qazi Mazhar-ud-Din Chishti never developed a Khanqah structure but emphasized Zikr-E-Khafi (silent remembrance). He offered Sufi Shajrah (lineage charts) to a few close Mureeds but encouraged most to focus on prayer and service. His Urs is observed annually in the Islamic month of Shaban. Local customs include Quranic recitations, collective Dua, and offering of rosewater.
Final Years
He passed away in the mid-20th century and was buried in the same courtyard where he taught for years. His grave is covered with a simple green Chadar. While his name never reached wider Sufi circles, his legacy is still honoured by a few remaining Khulafa (spiritual successors) in Beed and Osmanabad. They quietly preserve his method marked by simplicity, learning, and inner discipline.
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Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut.
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