Khawājah Muhammad Sulaimān Tounsavī : An overview of the life of the seventeenth century saint of Tounsa
Khawājah Muhammad Sulaimān Tounsavī was from those awlīyā’ that were blessed with a lofty station from youth. He worked tirelessly from a young age for the propagation of Islam. His father was Khawājah Zakarīyā Khān. Khawājah Tounsavī was born 1185H. His father passed away when he was aged four.
After the passing of his father, Khawājah Tounsavī was nurtured by his mother. She focused on his education and nurturing until he was sixteen years of age. At this time, he entered into the service of the saint Khawājah Nūr Muhammad Muhārvī. He took the spiritual oath of allegiance (bay’at) and became his disciple.
Khawājah Muhārvī instructed his disciple Khawājah Tounsavī in spiritual practices and self vigilance, prayer litanies, and meditation (pās anfās). After passing through the stages of spiritual wayfaring, Khawājah Muhārvī honoured Khawājah Tounsavī with the cloak of vicegerency (khirqa-i khilāfat). At this stage, he was twenty-two years of age. After this, Khawājah Muhārvī sent him to the town of Tounsa to continue the propagation of Islam.
When Khawājah Tounsavī reached Tounsa he established an Islamic seminary from which he began instructing students in the religious sciences. He began to increases his spiritual practices to the point that they became his primary preoccupation.
Khawājah Tounsavī had immense love for his Pīr (spiritual master) Khawājah Muhārvī such that he considered serving his master as the objective of his life. When his master ordered him to leave for Tounsa in order to propagate the religion he began to cry from the thought of separation. It was his master’s support which facilitated his being able to leave.
He was known to be devoted to the worship of God. He had one mat spread in his room upon which he prayed. He was a man of samā’, longing (showq) and experience (dhowq). Yet, was considered from the great scholars of the outward sciences within his age.
He passed away in the year 1267H. He was buried in his room which today houses his shrine. His mazār-i sherīf is visited by many who seek to convey their greetings to the great man of God and to benefit from the blessings of his proximity. After he passed, his grandson Khawājah Allāh Bakhsh Tounsavī become the custodian of the khanqa and the heir to his grandfathers outward and inward knowledge.
The main vicegerents of Khawājah Tounsavī were Khawājah Shams al-‘Ārifīn al-Siyālvī, Miān ‘Abdullāh Shāh, Hāfiz Muhammad Alī Khayrabādī, Molvī Muhammad Alī Shāmil. May Allah have mercy on him and raise us with him and the Holy Prophet, the one from whom all spiritual light emanates, upon him be endless blessings and peace.
A few of his aphorisms:
“The men of God are those who are always content with the will of God. There is not even a similarity to egotism in their words nor within their beings.”
“For purification of the heart and spiritual progression obeying the Sacred-Law is paramount.”
“Whosever left desiring the world became accepted by God and His beloved.”
All praise is to Allah the Kind, may prayers and peace forever shower upon the Chosen One Muhammad, his pure family and noble companions, and all of the righteous in general, and upon the Mashā’ikh-i Chisht in particular. Amīn.
Shams Tameez
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