Country Afghanistan Elevation 1,573 m Province Herat Province | Time zone UTC+4:30 Local time Sunday 9:09 PM | |
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Weather 3°C, Wind NE at 6 km/h, 83% Humidity | ||
Chisht, also written Chisht-e Sharif, Chesht-i Sharif or Chesht is a town near Herat in Afghanistan. It is important in Sufism because the Chishti Sufi Order originated there.
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Chisht-i-Sharif is some 177 km east of Herat city. As you approach it across a plateau, you can see the two famous domes of Chisht. The town sits in the ravine between these plateaus. Winding down and up, you will find an avenue of pine trees leading directly to two ruined buildings now standing in the middle of an extensive graveyard. Experts argue as to the purpose of these buildings. Some speak of them as mausoleums. Others see them as parts of a grand complex of buildings. The mutilated molded terra cotta brick decoration can only speak softly their former magnificence. Stylistically, the decoration of these buildings falls into the category of Ghorid arch in the Jami Mosque and the minaret of Jam, both of which bear the name of Ghiyas-ud-din Ghori.
Chishti Order
The Chishti order of the Sufis derives its name from Chisht (pronounce: Chesht, hence Cheshti). Chisht is a small town near Herat in Afghanistan. The first one to call himself Chishti was Abu Ishaq Shami. As the name Shami implies he came from Syria or even from Damascus (ash-Sham). He met a Sufi who directed him to settle in Chisht and from that day on he is known as Abu Ishaq Shami Chishti. He died in 940 C.E. in Damascus and lies buried on mount Qasiyun, where later on also Ibn al-‘Arabi was buried. Looking at the date of his death we can say that the Chishtiyya order is one of the oldest, if not the oldest now still existing Sufi order.
The next in the silsila of the Chishtiyya is Khwaja Mawdud Chishti. He had learnt the Qur'an by heart and could recite it very melodiously at the age of seven. His father died when he was only 26 and, by virtue of his father's will, he became his successor.
He was born around 430 Hijri in the city of Chisht. He initially received education from his father. He memorized Qur'an by the age of 7, and completed his education when he was 16.
His work includes two books Minhaaj ul Arifeen and Khulaasat ul Shariah.
He died around Rajab 527 Hijri and is buried in Chisht.