Sufi saints and their teachings have always been a source of inspiration for all. They are known for their kind attitude, gentle nature, and their subtle mystical insights. Among the well-known Sufi saints of Kashmir, Shaikh Baba Dawood Khaki RA has attained a distinguished position. Hazrat was rendering his duties as the Chief justice (Qazi Ul- Quza) before he came under the influence of his spiritual mentor Hazrat Makdoom Sahab RA. He was enjoying all the worldly comforts. As soon as he came into the contact with Hazrat Makdoom RA, his life changed completely. He attained the highest esteem not only because he was a knowledgeable person but the person who believed in realistically practicing the teachings of Islam. It is because of this amazing quality, he got the Nike name as Abu Hanifa RA next to Abu Hanifa RA. Hazrat summarized that spiritual experience in these following lines:

Yak Nazir Barhali Zaar Khakhi Bacharaha Kun
Zaan Nazir Haki Khaki Tyra Choo Zar Shudast

His parents used to address him by his nicknames- Dawlat or Baba. Dawood is his appellative (Lakab) and Khaki as his Takhalus. The meaning of Baba is-a grand scholar. In earlier times, knowledgeable personalities were often addressed by the name “Baba” His father’s name was Khaja Hassan Ganie. As per the historical records his birth took place in 908 A.H. (1521 A.D) in Srinagar at Kalashpora Mohallah. It is worth to mention here that this family was famous by the name Ganie family (one of the dynasties in Kashmir). This particular people group was associated with the writing of documents and maintaining accounts. Though your ancestors too were associated with that business, therefore, your name is also suffixed with this cast name -Ganie Hazrat Baba Dawood KhakiRA attained the highest esteem in calligraphy. Thus, this name is more suitable for him. Your father was a kind-hearted and God-fearing personality. When you were at a tender age, your father left for an abode. After his father’s death, his life became worrisome it enhanced his problems. His mother also died soon after his father left him in an atmosphere of despair. In that hour of grief and sorry, he managed the social and economic affairs of his life besides continuing his efforts in enshrining his writing skills. Fortunately, when Baba Dawood KhakhiRA was from the receiving side in the process of education, there were a good number of Islamic There was a famous Khanqha around Mohallah Bahyoo Din Pora where Mohammad Syed Ismail ShameeRA was rendering his duties as the Principal. Hazrat received his earlier education there and for further studies, he went to Masjid Khanda Bawan Nowkadal where Moulna Baseer RA one of the great Islamic scholars known for his highest spiritual esteem was imparting spiritual guidance. After his death, he presented himself before another spiritual Master namely Hazrat Razi Ul DinRA ( Mir Razi-Ul- Din) for further guidance. Then Hazrat moved to Darul Uloom Qutbu-Din- Pora Srinagar where he spends almost three years under the spiritual guidance of Hazrat Mirza Hayderi RA. It was the time when Hazrat Moula Feroz Ganie then Chief Mufti had been rendering his duties as the principal of the said institution and Hazrat took maximum benefit from him as his student. After the death of Mir Razi-Ul-Din, Hazrat Khahi begged before Moula Feroz Ganie to quench his thirst for knowledge.
After completing his schooling from that institution, he moved to Mirza Afzal for further guidance. On, he was busy in acquiring knowledge of Hadees from Hazrat Sheik Yaqoob Sarfi (RA) even though he remained his classmate. The reason was that Hazrat Yaqoub SariRa had acquired the knowledge of Hadees from Hazrat Hafiz Ibn Hajir Maki. He belonged to Shafi Sect and was the grand scholar of Hadees in his own time.
It is mentioned in the book Tajul Arifan in the chapter Tazkirutual Arifan that Hazrat remembered the whole text of the Quran at the early age of six and used to read out the Whole Quran Text in the month of Ramzan during the special Ramadan prayer ( Tarayee). He attained both physical and spiritual understanding and familiarity concerning Islamic rules and regulations. At the age of 18, He completed his formal type of education and then rendered his service as the teacher of Faqih. Apart from that, he had substantive knowledge of Arabic and a unique taste for poetry. As you were busy in gaining new spiritual heights for each passing day Almighty Allah chose him for the sacred mission of spreading the message of the Quran and Hadees, Apart from that a good a thing happened in his life was that he came under the great guidance of Hazrat Sheik Hamza Makdoom RA (Mahbubul Alam).
As the part of Sufi- training, Hazrat Makdoom RA assigned him the duty of collecting the little piece of mud (Dehela) (to cleanse themselves before prayer). One day, while collecting the balls of mud, he recalled the luxurious days of his life when he had been a rich nobleman with a large retinue of servants, but now had been reduced to such a low state. These inner thoughts became evident before Hazrat Sultan ArifeenRA by way of intuition. One day, Hazrat Sultan asked him to arrange some pieces of clay at Khohi Maran ( Mountain). As soon as he tried to get the same, he discovered that the whole mountain had been turning into gold. He moved here and there in search of the piece of mud but all in vain. In the meantime, Hazrat Sultan ArifeenRA once again called him, in response to that Hazrat Dawood RA told Him that there was no mud available but gold everywhere then he asked him to bring at least a piece of gold for him. On hearing this Hazrat Dawood Ra surprised and told him with great reverence that it could not be used as the replacement for that odd work. In this way, his Murshid made him understand the nature of spirituality and artificiality and warned him against those irrelevant thoughts.
Hazrat Baba Dawood Khaki(RA) says that His spiritual guru Hazrat Makdoom Sahab(RA) got his teaching through Owasi lineage and became aware of the secrets of Shariyat Tariqat, and Haqiqat, , He crossed following stages like Alimul Yaqeen, Anul Yaqeen, and Haqul Yaqeen with the strict adherence of Shariat and Tariqat Hazrat has written many books that include Qasidatul Ameer, Qasida Jalaliya, Waridul-Mureedin, etc.. But out of them, Waridul-Mureedin has attained a unique position as it is written by Sheikh Sahab RA in the name of his Murshid Sheikh Hamza Mukdoom RA in which the author highlights the spiritual status Mukdoom Sahab RA. He also wrote a summary of it in the form of a book ( Daturul-Salikeen).
Before his last journey towards the eternal world, he visited Multan to meet other exalted Murshid. On his return, he took his last breath at Anantnag in 1585 A.D (994 A.H) then his disciples took him to Srinagar and buried him the Shrine of his spiritual mentor Sheikh Hamza Makdoom RA on Kohei- Maran, Srinagar. People used to celebrate his day ( Urs) every year on 3rd Safarul Muzafar as per the Islamic calender with great ethos and respect.

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