‘Khoje-e-Digar’, 400 year-old tradition at Khanqah-i-Naqshbandia today

Thousands of people would assemble at the revered shrine of Hazrat Khawja Naqshband (RA) at Khawja Bazar in Downtown here on Wednesday afternoon to offer ‘Khawja Digar’, the centuries old practice of offering congregational Asr (post noon prayers) at the shrine on 3rd Rabi-ul-Awal.
Soon after the prayers, the Imam would recite the Awraad-e-Asriya, (a booklet comprising verses of repentance and faith), the great sufi saint used to recite along with his hundreds’ of disciples 700 years ago at Bukhara in Uzbekistan.
Hazrat Khawja Naqshband (RA) was born in 718 AH at Qasr-i-Arifan, a village in Bukhara. A shrine is dedicated to him at Khawaja Bazar in Downtown, where one of the great saints of Naqshbandi order, Hazrat Moinudin Naqshband (RA) is laid to rest along with his wife and two sons.
The Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Bahaudin (RA) is celebrated on the 3rd Rabi-ul-Awal every year, besides the gatherings for special prayers (khatmat-ul-muazzamat) are held for twelve days–from 21st Safar to 3rd Rabi-ul Awal. These gatherings are held every day at 8 am at Khanqah-i-Naqshbandiya.
“This practice continues as a tradition from the times of Hazrat Khwaja Khawand Mahmood from 1017 AH- 405 years,” said Engineer Muhammad Ashraf Fazili who has written a book on Sufi Saints of Kashmir. He said the saint Khawja Moinudin, who is laid to rest at Khawja Bazar shrine was the son of Hazrat Khawja Khawand Mahmood, who after developing some differences during his visit to Kashmir, fled to Lahore.
He said in memory of the founder of Naqshbandi order, Hazrat Bahaudin Naqshbandi(RA), every year on 3 Rabiul Awal. “The Khoje-e-Digar (congregational Asr prayers) were introduced by Hazrat Kawja Moinudin and since then the tradition is on since past more than 400 years,” Fazili said. He said after the Naqshbandi order gained prominence in Kashmir, the area also named as Khawja Bazar.
Noted poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef said to there is no doubt that Islam has reached Kashmir through sufi saints who came all the way from central Asia. “Even the founder of Islam in Kashmir, Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani(RA) also travelled from Central Asia,” he said. “Similarly, Naqshbandi order was founded by Hazrat Khawja Bahaudin Naqshbandi (RA) who was from Bukhara. His disciples came to Kashmir and spread the message of Islam in the light of Naqshbandi order.”
About the Khoje-e-Digar, Zareef said Asr prayer is considered very important prayer of the day. “Allah has mentioned about this prayer and there is a complete chapter in the holy quran about this prayer alone,” he said. “We participate in the congregational Asr prayers known as Khoje-e-Digar only to repent for our sins and to seek the blessings of Almighty Allah.” In Naqshbandi order, almost every kind of “bad smoke” that of cigars, and cigarettes is prohibited.
He said since the founder of Naqshbandi order used to wear clothes of highest brand including the traditional gown, Kashmir’s rich and the followers of the saint also wear Karakuli (traditional skull cap) and drape shawls.
Patron Karawan-e-Islam Moulana Ghulam Rasool Hami said that wherever there are disciples of Naqashbandi order in the world, the 3 Rabi-ul-Awal is celebrated as a day to remember the founder of the order, Hazrat Bahaudin Naqshbandi (RA). “In Kashmir, the disciples of the founder of Naqshbandi order, Awaraad-e-Asriya written by the founder itself is read worldwide. The booklet comprises verses of repentance, faith and special prayers,” Hami said.
Locals of Khawjabazar, who are the followers of saint, said that they have heard about wearing branded clothes on the day of Urs of saint. “My ancestors were following the practice of wearing turban and draping shawls on the day of saint’s Urs. But wearing turbans slowly vanished after 1947 and now turbans are replaced with Karakulis,” said Abdul Aziz Naqshbandi, of Khawjabazar. “Many of our relatives from various districts of Kashmir will also come to our house and participate in the annual Urs and Khoje Digar.”
Since past more than over 100 years, Mirwaizeen have been addressing congregational gatherings at the shrine. Keeping the past tradition, present Mirwaiz, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq will also address the gathering at the shrine before the congregational Asr prayers. He will also lead touba-e-Istegfaar (prayers for repentance.”