Hazrat Moinuddin Hasan Chishti Ajmer رحمة الله عليه, affectionately known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz رضي الله عنه, was born in the year 530–537 Hijri (1135–1142 CE). His birthplace was Sanjar in the province of Khurasan—sometimes referred to as Sistan or Sijistan—located in East Persia (present-day Iran). This village, situated north of Qandhar, still exists today and holds historical significance as the cradle of one of the greatest spiritual luminaries of Islam.
He was born into a noble and devout family of the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed lineage. His father, Hazrat Syed Ghayasuddin Hasan رضي الله عنه, was a pious man and a direct descendant of Hazrat Imam Musa al-Kazim رضي الله عنه, linking the family to the Husaini Syeds. His mother, Syeda Bibi Ummul Wara رضي الله عنها—also known as Bibi Mah-e-Noor—belonged to the noble lineage of Hazrat Imam Hasan رضي الله عنه, making Khwaja Moinuddin a Hasani Syed on his maternal side. Through both parents, his roots were firmly tied to the sacred household of Sayyiduna Imam Ali كرّم الله وجهه and Sayyiduna Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ.
His mother often recalled the spiritual signs that surrounded his birth. From the moment she conceived him, their home was filled with blessings, abundance, and prosperity. Even those who were once adversaries turned into friends. She experienced many auspicious dreams, and as her pregnancy advanced, she would hear divine exaltations from her womb each night from midnight until dawn. These mystical experiences filled her with joy, and upon his birth, the entire house was illuminated with a radiant light, symbolizing his divine mission. As narrated in Mir’at al-Asrar, “Upon his arrival, all places were filled with the divine light.”
Khwaja Moinuddin’s childhood unfolded during a time of political turmoil and social unrest. The Muslim world, particularly Sistan and Khurasan, was beset by chaos, bloodshed, and oppression at the hands of Tartars and rebels. The once-civilized region was ravaged, leaving the population in fear and uncertainty. Sultan Sanjar’s weakened rule failed to protect the people, and the followers of Islam suffered greatly. Despite this turbulent backdrop, the young Moinuddin grew up under the shade of spiritual grace, embodying piety, purity, and the early signs of sainthood that would later shine across the world.
