Nizamuddin Auliya, born in Delhi in 1238 CE, was a revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order in India. Renowned for his piety and compassion, he emphasized love, humility, and devotion to God in his teachings. Nizamuddin welcomed individuals from diverse backgrounds into his circle, exemplifying inclusivity and generosity toward the poor and needy. His teachings attracted numerous disciples, including the renowned Sufi poet Amir Khusrow. Upon his passing in 1325, Nizamuddin left behind a profound legacy of love, tolerance, and spiritual enlightenment. His shrine in Delhi, the Nizamuddin Dargah, remains a sacred pilgrimage site visited by millions seeking blessings and spiritual guidance. Nizamuddin Auliya’s timeless teachings continue to inspire Sufi practitioners and spiritual seekers globally, promoting the values of unity, compassion, and devotion to the Divine.
Nizamuddin Auliya Quotes
01. “Every visitor should be served something; if there is nothing to offer, a cup of water may be offered.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
02. “One who serves becomes the master.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
03. “Women are equally endowed with spiritual power and talent. They are equal to men in spiritual discipline.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
04. “Fasting is half the prayer, the other half is patience.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
05. “A man is in his worst state when he considers himself good and pious.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
06. “Self-criticism and quarrel with one’s own self is better than seventy years of prayer.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
07. “The purpose of prayer is to get rid of self-conceit. One who is ego-centric and selfish cannot achieve anything spiritually.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
08. “Devotion to God is of two kinds, lazmi (intransitive) and muta’addi (transitive). In lazmi devotion, the benefit which accrues is confined to the devotee alone. This type of devotion includes prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, to Mecca, recitation of religious formulae, turning over the beads of the rosary etc. The muta’addi devotion, on the contrary, brings advantage and comfort to others; it is performed by spending money on others, showing affection to people and by other means through which a man strives to help his fellow human beings. The reward of muta’addi devotion is endless and limitless.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
09. “There should be no expression of anger when points of difference are discussed.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
10. “A spiritual mentor should not instruct his disciple openly, but should use hints and suggestions to bring about change in his thought and behavior.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
11. “Honest dealings alone lead to lasting fame.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
12. “One should pray for the Salvation of all. There should be no discrimination in it.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
13. “Poetry and scholarship are vain and valueless if used for praise and cajolery of others.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
14. “A miracle is like a screen which obscures the reality from view.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
15. “One should hide, rather than disclose the evil deeds of others.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
16. “Every wealth has its zakat (charity amount on hoarded income). Zakat of knowledge and learning is to act upon it.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
17. “Food should be distributed to all and sundry, without any discrimination.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
18. “One who repents sincerely after committing a sin and one who committed no sin hold equal position in mystic discipline.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
19. “Spiritual guidance and training should be received from one spiritual source. Hold one door and hold it fast, should be the guiding principle.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
20. “Dishonest dealings lead to destruction of cities.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
21. “Food should not be taken alone.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
22. “Every work, spiritual or otherwise, appears difficult in the beginning but perseverance makes it easy.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
23. “Real pleasure lies not in accumulation but in the distribution of wealth.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
24. “Though God’s bounty is always there, whatever one can achieve is through the dint of his effort. Under no circumstances one can earn anything without struggle.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
25. “One should scrupulously abstain from the display of his spiritual achievements.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
26. “One should be kind-hearted and should deal with people with clemency.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
27. “He told his disciples that suppression of anger was not the right course, as it directed the virus to other channels of thought and action. ‘Forgive the person who has committed a wrong and thus eliminate your anger,’ was his advice. Forgiveness rather than retribution was the real way to peace and happiness in society.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
28. “One should hide, rather than disclose the evil deeds of others.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
29. “One should pitch his ambitions high and should not involve himself in material allurements. He should rise above sex and appetites.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
30. “One who does not love children cannot treat the grown-ups well.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
31. “The Shaikh believed that one who caused pain to any human heart could not attain spiritual excellence. He cited Shaikh Abu said Abul Kair’s remark that though there were innumerable ways leading to Him but bringing happiness to human heart was the surest way to gnosis.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
32. “Whatever one does not like for himself, he should not, under any circumstances, suggest for others.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
33. “Bread earned through permitted means provides greater spiritual enlightenment than livelihood obtained through doubtful means.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
34. “A spiritual mentor should not instruct his disciple openly, but should use hints and suggestions to bring about change in his thought and behavior.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
35. “Every visitor should be served something; if there is nothing to offer, a cup of water may be offered.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
36. “If one man vents his wrath on another and the second man is patient, the virtuous attitude belongs to him who is patient and not to him who gives vent to his wrath.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
37. “Fasting is half the prayer, the other half is patience.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
38. “When one prays he should think of His mercy alone. He should neither brood over his penitences nor over his past sins.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
39. “Lordship and slavery are not known to mystic life. A slave may succeed his master to the spiritual seat.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
40. “Spiritual control and sobriety (sahu) are superior to (spiritual) intoxication (sukr).”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
41. “Honest dealings alone lead to lasting fame.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
42. “Intention and motive alone count. One’s intention should be good.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
43. “A miracle is like a screen which obscures the reality from view.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
44. “There should be no expression of anger when points of difference are discussed.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
45. “On the day of Judgment, one would be asked to give an account of his earnings secured through permitted means and will be punished for earning through dubious methods.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
46. “Nobody in this world has more worries and agonies than myself. So many people come to me and report their woes and misfortune to me. All these (accounts) sear my heart and my soul.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
47. “Poetry and scholarship are vain and valueless if used for praise and cajolery of others.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
48. “Self-criticism and quarrel with one’s own self are better than seventy years of prayer.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
49. “One should pray for the salvation of all. There should be no discrimination in it.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
50. “Awliya’s love prevails over his intellect.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
51. “He who has a subtle nature will soon become disillusioned.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
52. “He who has knowledge, intellect and love is worthy of Khilafah-e-Mashiykh.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
53. “Real wisdom is to renounce the world.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
54. “A dervish should neither be happy with happiness nor sad with sadness.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
55. “One should bear the oppression of everyone and should not even intend to take revenge for it.”
— Nizamuddin Auliya
