Journey to Mysticism goes through Uzbekistan
Islamabad, Pakistan: Housing the history of Sufi Islam and Mysticism, Uzbekistan offers a journey to those who wish to find roots of spread of Islam in subcontinent. Islam was not spread in subcontinent through invasions rather true Islam travelled to this part of Asia with pious and devout Olia E Karam (Those pious people who spread the message of Islam through practicing). Majority of such Olia E Karam travelled to Asia from Central Asia. Majority of Silsila E Aulia E Karam (Linage of spreaders of Islam) links with Uzbekistan. One can surely say that Tasawwuf—science of spirituality (Sufism) is gift from Samarkand, Bokhara, Balkh, Baghdad, Hamadan and Badakshan.
Silsila Naqshbandia has a long history of its formation. The Naqshbandi Golden Chain had been changing from century to century. From the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Razi Allahuta’ala anhu) to the time of Hazrat Bayazid al-Bistami (Razi Allahu ta’alaanhu), it was called as-Siddiqiyya. From the time of Bayazid al-Bistami (Razi Allahu ta’ala anhu) to the time of Sayyadina Abdul Khaliqal-Ghujdawani (Razi Allahu anhu), it was called at-Tayfuriyya. From the time of Sayyadina ‘Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujdawani (Razi Allahuta’ala anhu) to the time of Hazrat Shah Naqshband (Razi Allahu ta’alaanhu) it was called the Khwajaganiyya.
From the time of Hazrat Shah Naqshband (Razi Allahu ta’ala anhu) through the time of Sayyadina Ubaidullah al-Ahrar (Razi Allahu ta’alaanhu) and Sayyidina Ahmad Faruqi (Razi Allahu ta’ala anhu), it was called Naqshbandiyya. Naqshbandiyya means to “tie the Naqsh very well.” The Naqsh is the perfect engraving of Allah’s Name in the heart of the murid (disciple). From the time of Sayyadina Ahmad al-Faruqi (Razi Allahu anhu) to the time of Shaykh Khalid al-Baghdadi (Razi Allahu anhu) it was called Naqshbandi-Mujaddidiyya. From the time of Sayyidina Khalid al-Baghdadi (Razi Allahu anhu) until the time of Sayyadina Shaykh Ismail Shirwani (Razi Allahu anhu) it was called the Naqshbandiyya-Khalidiyya.
People who have knowledge of Sufi Islam know importance of Hazrat Muhammad Bahauddin Bukhari Naqsbandi, Hazrat Mahmood Andjir Faghanewi, Hazrat Arif Revgeri, Hazrat Muhammad Bobo Samasi, Hazrat Ali Ramitani, Hazrat Amir Kulal and Hazrat Abdul Khalik Gidjduvani. You can find last resting places of all such icons of Sufi Islam at one place if you embark on a journey to Uzbekistan for “Ziyarat”.
In Islam, ziyara or ziyarat is a form of pilgrimage to sites associated last prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his family members, descendants, his companions and other venerated figures in Islam such as Sufi Saints and Islamic scholars.
Uzbekistan is planning to enhance scope of “Ziyarat Tours” for people of Pakistan because millions of followers of Sufi Islam wish to travel to last resting places (graves) of those who enlightened people of subcontinent through teaching of Islam.
While talking to Dispatch News Desk (DND), News Agency Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Pakistan Furqat Sidiq said that Uzbekistan would host “Ziyarat Tours” with pleasure and there is a great scope to enhance people to people contact through such visits and travel packages. Ambassador of Uzbekistan in Pakistan Furqat Sidiq who is proactive to enhance bilateral relations and trade during his talk with DND News Agency said that Uzbek Embassy in Islamabad would love to guide people and arrange visas if they wish travel to resting places of saints like Hazrat Muhammad Bahauddin Bukhari Naqsbandi, Hazrat Mahmood Andjir Faghanewi, Hazrat Arif Revgeri, Hazrat Muhammad Bobo Samasi, Hazrat Ali Ramitani, Hazrat Amir Kulal and Hazrat Abdul Khalik Gidjduvani.
He stated that there is direct flight link with Tashkent from Lahore and tourist visas for visiting Uzbek city is not a problem.
It may be mentioned that Uzbekistan Airways is the only flight service that directly connects Pakistan with Central Asia countries having Tashkent Airport as Travel Hub. Uzbekistan Airways links Central Asia with Europe and North America therefore one can also visit Uzbekistan as a transit while journey to Europe or North America through Uzbekistan Airways.
