practices and spent much of his time in self-mortification, fasting and prayers.
His favourite retreats were tombs of the saints, isolated spots by rivers and
the wilderness of the jungles.
Shaykh Nizamuddin had a number of followers in Awadh, where
Nasiruddin Mahmud lived. At their instigation he decided to go to Delhi
and become the Shaykh’s disciple. He was 43 years old, well versed in
ascetic exercises and ready to embark on the way of the Sufis. He was
welcomed by the Shaykh and initiated into the
tariqa
.
Nasiruddin’s life of prayer, meditation and solitude ill prepared him
for an existence in an urban centre such as Delhi.Therefore, he begged his
Shaykh to allow him to retire into a nearby wilderness. He was asked
instead to remain in Delhi among the people and suffer whatever hardship
that entailed as, according to the Shaykh, all kinds of experience were
necessary for one’s intellectual and spiritual development. Besides, those
who had been blessed with the realization of God had a duty to guide the
populace along the same path. If they shirked their duty by opting for a life
of retirement, it would have amounted to risking divine displeasure.
Taking note of the popularity of the Sufis, Sultan Muhammad binTughlaq
tried to pressurize them into helping him in his ambitious schemes. He
wanted both the Sufis and the
ulama
to move to his new capital and lead the
masses there.Those who refused to do so had to suffer the displeasure and
the anger of the Sultan. Shaykh Nasiruddin was also one of those under
pressure, but somehow managed to escape going to Daulatabad.
After the sudden death of Sultan Muhammad binTughlaq in 1351, Feroz,
a cousin of his, succeeded him to the throne.This happened with the active
help of the
ulama
, the Sufis and the courtiers. FerozTughlaq, feeling obliged
