Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (c. 1141-1230), also known as Gharib Nawaz (Benefactor of the Poor), was a Sufi saint and philosopher from Persia who settled in Ajmer, India, in the late 12th century. He is the most famous saint of the Chishti Order in the Indian subcontinent.
The title "Gharib Nawaz" reflects his dedication to serving the poor and downtrodden, and his teachings emphasized love, compassion, and service to humanity regardless of caste, creed, or religion. His shrine (Dargah) in Ajmer is one of the most important and visited Muslim pilgrimage sites in India.
The Sufi teacher known as the 'Gharib Nawaz' was Moinuddin Chishti.
Declining a Royal Gift
This excerpt from a sufi text describes the proceedings at Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya’s hospice in 1313 : I (the author, Amir Hasan Sijzi) had the good fortune of kissing his (Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya’s) feet ... At this time a local ruler had sent him the deed of ownership to two gardens and much land, along with the provisions and tools for their maintenance. The ruler had also made it clear that he was relinquishing all his rights to both the gardens and land. The master ... had not accepted that gift. Instead, he had lamented: “What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands ? ... None of our ... spiritual masters had engaged in such activity.”
Then he told an appropriate story: “... Sultan Ghiyasuddin, who at that time was still known as Ulugh Khan, came to visit Shaikh Fariduddin (and) offered some money and ownership deeds for four villages to the Shaikh, the money being for the benefit of the dervishes (sufis), and the land for his use. Smiling, Shaikh al Islam (Fariduddin) said: ‘Give me the money. I will dispense it to the dervishes. But as for those land deeds, keep them. There are many who long for them. Give them away to such persons.’”