Hazrat Abdur Rahman Jami

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:
Birth Name: Nooruddin Abdur Rahman Jami
Born in: 23rd of Shaban 817AH

 

In depth

Hazrat Mawlana Nooruddin Abdur Rahman Jami (, may Allah be pleased with him) was born in the small town of Jam (also known as Khorasan), on the 23^rd of Shaban 817AH. He is a famous Sufi, and a follower of the Naqshbandiyya Sufi Order.

Because his father was from Dasht, Hazrat Jami's early pen-name was Dashti but later, he chose to use Jami because of the two reasons which he mentions in a poem:

“My birth place is Jam and my pen

Has drunk from (knowledge of) Sheikhul Islam (Ahmad) Jam

Hence in the books of poetry

My pen name is Jami for these two reasons.”

In 822 AH, Khwaja Mohammad Parsa (, may Allah be pleased with him) happened to pass through the small town of Jam on his way to Hijaz. A great number of people gathered to honour and pay respect to this great holy Saint, and amongst these people was a young Hazrat Jami and his father.
Reflecting on that moment sixty years later, Hazrat Jami writes, “the pure radiance of his (Khwaja Mohammad Parsa) beaming face is even now, as then, clearly visible to me, and my heart still feels the joy I experienced from that happy meeting.”

Amongst his greatest characteristics, Hazrat Jami was kind and generous to the poor & needy, and his courage to defend righteousness never wavered.

 

Hazrat Jami (, may Allah be pleased with him) began his education at Herat, Afghanistan where he lived towards the end of his life. He was naturally intelligent, and it has been said about him that he’d take a book from a fellow student while on his way to school, and excel them all when they were tested in class.

After this, he entered Samarqand, the most important centre of scientific studies in the Islamic World, and would often prove himself as wiser and smarter than his lecturer. It was here that Hazrat Jami completed his education.

During his life, Hazrat Jami wrote approximately eighty-seven books and letters, some of which have been translated into English.

Of the Sufi path, Hazrat Jami held the view that love was the fundamental stepping stone for starting on the spiritual journey. To a student who claimed never to have loved, he said, "Go and love first, then come to me and I will show you the way."

Here, it seems fit to share with you a great story regarding Hazrat Jami’s love for Rasulallah , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

Hazrat Jami had a deep and intense level of love for the Holy Prophet , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. As he was also a great poet, he would often spend his time composing and reciting poems in the praise of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,, as a means to comfort his heartache.

It so happened that the time came when this love reached its peak, and Hazrat Jami grew restless with the weight of his devotion. In a moment of agony, he composed a famous Naat (poem in the praise of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,), which he then vowed to recite infront of Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,’s mausoleum in Madinah Sharif. (The Naat is called Tanam Farsooda Jaa Para.)

Once he had gathered some companions, he then began his journey to Madinah Sharif so as to fulfil his promise.
  

After many months of travelling, the caravan of Hazrat Jami finally reached the outskirts of Madinah Sharif. They decided to camp for the evening before entering the Holy City, when in the distance they saw a rider on a horse galloping towards them. The man on the horse came to a halt when he reached them and enquired, “Which of you is Jami?” The disciples pointed out who Hazrat Jami was and said, “That is our leader, Imam Abdul Rahman Jami.”

 

The man alighted his horse, and greeted Hazrat Jami by saying. “Assalamu alaikum!”
Hazrat Jami replied, “Wa alaikum salam! Who are you and where have you come from?”

The man replied, “O Jami, I have come from Madinah.” 

The name of Madinah had hardly left his mouth when, overwhelmed with love and respect, Hazrat Jami took off his turban and placed it the feet of the stranger, saying, “May I be sacrificed for these feet!  They have arrived from the City of my Prophet!”

Hazrat Jami then enquired, “Good sir, for what reason have you come here?”

The man became silent and then answered, “O Jami, you must promise to listen to this message with strength in your heart. I have brought for you a message from the Holy Prophet , peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.”

Hazrat Jami at once enquired, “ Tell me, what does my Beloved say?”

The man hesitated, and then continued, “Jami, the Beloved Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has sent me to tell you that he has forbidden you from entering Madinah Sharif.”

These words dealt a terrible blow to Hazrat Jami, and at once he felt light-headed and fell to the ground. His companions tried to revive him but to no avail. However a few hours later, he regained consciousness and the pain caused him to weep bitterly.

The man who had bought the news was waiting for Hazrat Jami to recover from the shock. Hazrat Jami then turned to him and exclaimed, “O bringer of such news, tell me why my Beloved is displeased with me? What wrong is it that I have done?”

The man then replied, “O Jami, it is quite the opposite. Rasulallah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is in fact, extremely pleased with you.”
Hazrat Jami, in confusion, replied, “How can this be, when I have been forbidden to enter the Holy City? What is this you are telling me?”

The man then explained, “the Beloved has told me to tell Jami thus: if he (Jami) comes to Madinah with such intense love in his heart, I will feel it necessary to come out of my tomb and greet him in person – such would be the recompense for his love! So convey the message to him that he should not enter Madinah, and that I will visit him myself.”

 

Such was the love of Hazrat Nooruddin Abdur Rahman Jami!