A’lahazrat: Mazra e Chisht O Bukhara O Iraq O Ajmer Kaun Se Kisht Pe Barsa Nahiñ Jhaala Tera ---- Be It The Meadows Of Chisht, Bukhara, Iraq, Or Ajmer City Which Of The Sown Fields, Have Not Received Your Rains Of Mercy?
If a nobody can reach millions of followers on social media in our times, then I don't see how 9 million people would be an exaggeration. You also have to remember that it wasn't just single individuals converting, but entire families, tribes, etc.
To understand this properly, we need to look at the context of Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz (رضي الله عنه) time. By the 12th century, Muslims were already present in India, particularly in coastal areas like Kerala and Gujarat, due to trade. The Indian subcontinent’s population back then is estimated to have been around 80-100 million, but it wasn’t like modern India where religion is more consolidated. Hindu society was divided by caste, and north India was ruled by different kingdoms like the Rajputs and Chauhans. When Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz رضي الله عنه came to Ajmer from Nishapur, it’s said that he did so following a dream where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) commanded him to go there. He wasn’t just a Sufi saint, he was a muhadith, a scholar who even taught hadith in Madinah for 3 years. Stories like Shadi Dev tell us that many people would embrace Islam simply by seeing his radiant face. ----- Now, the figure of 9 million!! Let’s be real, there weren’t any systems back then to record such numbers. No censuses, no official records. So, where does this number come from? It’s based on oral tradition, passed down through generations. It’s not hard evidence, you ain't gonna find sanad, but such stories about awliya are widely accepted in Islamic tradition. Just like the various karamat attributed to Abdul Qadir Jilani رضي الله عنه, one of which claims that 70,000 people would convert in a single gathering. These stories symbolize the incredible influence these saints had, rather than serving as precise historical accounts. At the same time, we can’t ignore the sociopolitical context of the period. The arrival of figures like Muhammad Ghori and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate created an environment where many people were open to exploring Islam. Conversions weren’t forced but were often motivated by dissatisfaction with the caste system or the appeal of Islamic values like equality and justice. That said, the majority of conversions associated with Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz رضي الله عنه weren’t political, they were spiritual. He focused entirely on dawah and tazkiyah So, did he convert 9 million people? Maybe, maybe not. But what’s undeniable is the massive impact he had on the spread of Islam in the subcontinent. Even today, the 600 million Muslims in this region (including Pak and Bangla) benefit from the seeds of faith he planted. His teachings still inspire Muslims and even command respect from non-Muslims. Whether or not you accept the exact number is up to you. It’s not a matter of creed or law. accepting it as a sign of his karamah is optional. Rejecting it doesn’t diminish his legacy either. But considering his incredible piety, knowledge, and the fractured society of his time, it’s not impossible that millions were influenced by him. ----- May this urs mubarak of Sultan-ul-Hind rekindle the spirit of dawah among us and inspire us to follow in his footsteps. Ameen.
Do we have credible references about Khwaja Sahab converting 9 Million People to Islam? Some say it is Impossible from a historical & statistical Point of View
