In 1265 Nizamuddin visited Baba Farid again. During his second visit
Baba Farid taught him some chapters of the Qur’an, highlighting the spiritual
aspects of the verses. He also taught him
Awariful Maarif
of Suhrawardi
and
Tamhid
of Abu Shakur. Now Nizamuddin’s training was almost complete.
On his third visit, in 1265, he was given the
khilafat nama
by Baba Farid.
This put on record the fact that he had completed his spiritual course under
Baba Farid and had permission to disseminate his teachings. Baba also advised
him to lead an ascetic life and gave him his blessings in these beautiful
words:
“You will be a tree under whose shadow the people will find rest…You
should strengthen your spirits by devotion to God… I have handed over all
these things to you for, at the time of my death, you will not be present.”
11
After his return from Ajodhan, Nizamuddin stayed in the city of Delhi
for some time, but he had no place of his own where he could make a
permanent home. He had no income either. He could not earn any money,
as all his time was spent in the study of the Qur’an, in prayer and in
meditation. He lived therefore in straitened circumstances. Finally, he
moved to Ghayaspur, a little known place, with no habitation or resources
of any kind.
Sultan Muizzuddin Kaiqubad (1287-90), the successor of Balban, made
Kilu Khari his capital. It was only two kilometres away from Ghayspur,
which eventually became a busy suburb of Delhi. As a result, Nizamuddin
wanted to move from there as well, but a fellow Sufi discouraged him
from doing so by pointing out that, wherever he went, people would follow
him. He asked him if he would spend his whole life moving from one place
11
Siyar ul Awaliya, pp. 116-117
