Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 12: ‘Khoja Digar’, a special prayer was offered today at the Naqashbandh Sahib (RA) shrine here with thousands of devotees thronging the revered shrine for the congregational Asar prayers amid chilly weather.
Braving cold wave, devotees thronged the shrine of the revered Sufi saint located at Khwaja Bazaar, Nowhatta, for prayers and supplications. A large congregation of devotees offered special Khwaja Digar prayers in the afternoon.
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The Urs is celebrated on the 3rd Rabi-ul-Awal (a month of Islamic Calendar) every year. Besides, the gatherings for special prayers (khatmat-muazzamat) are held for 12 days from 21st Safar to 3rd Rabi-ul Awal. These gatherings are held every day at 8 AM in the Khanqah-i-Naqshbandiya and on the urs day after the Asr prayers, special mass prayers are held called ‘Khoja Digar’.
Various Scholars including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressed the devotees on the occasion.
Mirwaiz threw light on the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and asked the Ummah to follow Quran and Sunnah and also threw light on the life of Hazrat Khwaja Baha-ud-Din Muhammad Naqshband Bukhrai (RA).
He said that the Uswa-e-Hasana (the way of living) of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has been and will continue to be the best path to follow and walk upon, not only for Muslims but entire mankind.
Mirwaiz while paying tributes to great saint stated that he worked tirelessly for the establishment of Tawheed and implementation of Sunnah among the Muslims of the world.
He said great Sufi saints like Hazrat Khawja Bahaudin (RA) were the blessed and chosen ones by Almighty Allah to spread the teachings of the revered Prophet Muhammad (SAW) among people who dedicated their life to it. “Their life is a living example of piety and simplicity. They guided humanity and showed them the spiritual path of getting closer to Almighty Allah and helped to kindle compassion and kindness among them. The light of their teachings and exemplary lives penetrated the darkness of ignorance and doubt,” he said
On the occasion, Mirwaiz led special Touba-e-Istigfaar prayers (repentance prayers) and also offered the Khoje-e-Digar (the congregational Asr prayers), a 400 year old practice in Kashmir to remember Hazrat Khawaja Naqshband (RA).
Hazrat Khwaja Naqshband Sahib (RA) was born in 718 AH at Qasr-i-Arifan, a village in Bukhara. The shrine is dedicated to him, where one of the great saints of the Naqshbandi order, Hazrat Moinuddin Naqshband (RA), was laid to rest along with his wife and two sons.
Khawaja Degar is one of the holiest Degar time to Magrib time prayer offered by Hazrat Bulbulshah (R.A) when he succeeded to lit candle of light, love and Peace. The King of Kashmir, Hazrat Sader-ud-Din Rinchen Shah (R.A) of that time followed ideology of love .The Amir-i-Kabir (R.A) has also on 3rd of Rabi-ul-Awal holy month of Meelad offered Khawaja Degar as he was true Aishiqaan-e-Rasool (SAW). Similarly, during the era of Khawjagaans and Naqashbandia and Khaniets of Central Asia, Khawaja Degar was offered during every 3rd day of holy Rabiul Awwal.
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