History

Mainly erected under Mahmud Begada's reign (1442–51), it has been built on the location where the holy man and religious Muslim leader Ahmed Khattu Ganj Baksh (or Shaikh Ahmad Khattri)lived and died (in 1446). He was the spiritual guide of the sultan Ahmed Shah. He is said to have been one of the fourth Ahmed who founded the city of Ahmedabad. His Roza or Maqbara is one of the biggest mausoleum of India, competing with the Taj Mahal. The complex became a retreat place for sultans and later an imperial necropolis.

Hazrat Shaikh Ahmed Khattu (R. A.) was born at Delhi (738 A. H./1338 A D ) , during the reign of Mahammed Taghlg, in a family engaged in military service, and in distant relationship with the Sultan of Delhi, the child was named Malik Nasiruddin. His father Malik Ikhtiyaruddin was a man of means and position.

When Malik Nasiruddin was about four years old, one evening as usual had gone out to play along with his elder brother and a nurse. Suddenly a dust storm took the City in its grip and it plunged into darkness. The boy Nasiruddin and his nurse found them on the outskirt of the City when the storm subsided, but separated from the elder brother. By now it was night and the nurse could not decide as to what to do. By chance a caravan had camped there. The nurse took the bay to the camp and sought shelter with the caravan which was readily given for the night. Next morning, the caravan left for Dindwana, a place near Khattu and Nagaur in Rajasthan. The nurse instead of returning home of her master, decided and accompanied the caravan taking the boy with her and reached Dindwana.
A childless weaver, by name Najib, was in search of a suitable boy for adoption. He managed to get possession of Nasiruddin and adopted him. Meanwhile, a noted Saint of tha day, Baba Ishaq Maghrebi (R. A.) who had settled at Khattu, was grief striken duo to unexpected death of his adopted son Baba Kivamuddin. He was offered in a divine message, an even worthier child and was asked to look out for him Since then he and his friends were in look out for the promised boy.
Luckily Mawlana Saddruddin had gone to Dindwana and had occasion to visit the residency of Najib. Ho found Nasiruddin there, who answered all description given of the promised boy by Baba Ishaq. The Mawlana took possession of the child and brought him to Khattu. Baba Ishaq named him Ahmed.Baba Ishaq brought up Shaikh Ahmed in a luxurious way, with the care of a mother. At the same time, Ahmed was being carefully imparted learning, both spiritual and temporal. He studied sciences and arts of the day. along with standard authentic religious books. Baba Ishaq initiated him into doctrines of Silsila-e-Maghrabia, i.e. Western African Sufistic Order, founded by Abu Madyan Shuyeb (d. 597 A.H. ), in which, in times to come, Ahmed attained such distinction that he was given the title of "Chiragh" (The Lamp). His surpassing learning and piety also secured for him, the designation of "Qutub-al-Aqtab", "The Pole star of Pole Stars". Besides all his intellectual and spiritual achievements he was also a skilled archer and a great wrestler.

Baba Ishaq Maghrebi bid farewell at Khattu on Wednesday the 17th Shaaban, 781 A H. /1379 A. D.) at the age of 120 lunar years. It was a big blow for young Ahmed. In his selection as Sajjadanahin, Baba Ishaq had bypaseed inmates of the Khankah, who now became indifferent to the new Head of the Khankah. Ahmed was aware of it. However he continued to stay in Khattu, but devoted most of his time in seclusion’ prayers and in wanderings, bare footed and. even without a lota (Pot). At times he took himself in mountains for the same To achieve a higher spiritual level, he decided to engage himself in a Chilla and on the third day of the demise of his spiritual. Master, he locked himself in a room, to avoid disturbance and started with a Chilla of 40 days (a period of intense and continuous prayers) and a lived only on a few dates and a jug of water. After forty days, on Idd-ul-fitr, the local subehdar was compelled to break open the door, only to find Shaikh Ahmed extremenly weak and a bare skeleton. He was taken to the Idgah for prayers in a Palki and the whole congregation rushed to pay homage fo the Saint, when the prayers were over.

In the year 790 A. H \ 1388 A. D. Hazrat Shaikh thought of going on Pilgrimage to Mecca. The Rajah of Mahim welcomed the Saint and provided him with a ship. While the ship was on its way to Jeddah from Aden, while taking bath in the sea, he was on the point of drowning, but he was miraculously saved by the crew of the ship. Finally he reached Mecca, people were much impressed of his piety and learning.. Here he came in contact with eminent divines and Royal personages, from Egypt.

After he left for Medina. The journey was hazardous and tiresome and he had gone very weak. For two days, he was without food and had offered five daily prayers with only one Vazu (ablution). He had walked down the most of the distance. When the caravan reached the outskirts of Medina, and the top of the tomb of the Messenger of Allah emerged on the horizon, he jumped down from the camel back and ran towards it chanting praises of the Holy Messenger. He stayed near the tomb in a masjid declining all offers of hospitality from the people saving that for that day he was the guest of the Apostle of Allah. No sooner had he entered the mausoleum the Chief Muzawar approached him with dates wrapped in a handkerchief and while giving them, observed that they were form Rasulallah, as he was his guest for the day. His slay at Medina was full of thrilling spiritual experiences which he used to narrate to his audience in his later years with great feeling. At the time of departure from Medina, he was again favored by Rasulallah with a 10 gaz of cloth for the turban, through the Muzawar with direction that he should wrap it onhis head and preach the people.
During his stay in Arabia and the journey, he came into contact with many mystics, divines, scholars and Royal personages especially from Egypt. He returned to Khattu and entered the Town by night time, but entry could not remain unnoticed and the whole town rushed to his residence and spent the rest. of the night wilh him on great festivity. After sometime, he left for Delhi and settled down at Khan Jahan Masjid, built by Khan Jahan Jaunan Shah. He concentrated on acquiring greater learning and knowledge. He had a very sharp intellect and prodigious memory. He could answer questions in detail with reference without referring lo books.
Sultan Ahmed Shah, in the year 1411 A. D. ascended the throne of Gujarat. The very next year, with the advice and blessings of his spiritual guide Shaikh Ahmed, laid the foundation of the City of Ahmedabad on the eastern bank of River Sabarmati. The Saint had suggested that four Ahmeds, whose piety and righteousness were beyond question should take part in (the ceremony. Accordingly the Saint lined the Western boundary; the Sultan drew (he eastern boundary and, Qazi Ahmed and Mulla Ahmed did the rest of the boundaries.
At this period the Saint was at the, peak of his glory. Thousands of visitors Hindus and Muslims, rich and poor, government officers and merchants - Thronged in his drawing room. He maintained a large open kitchen and fed hundreds of people every day. The annual expenditure of the Kitchen was 1,25,000 Tankas. And thus he became famous being called Ganj Baksh. i.e. bestower of treasures, Hazrat Kutub-e-Alam, great grandson of Hazrat Makhdum-0-Jehania, whose tomb is at Vatva near Ahmedabad used to visit the Saint twice a year and The Saint gave him two coins every time Once on request, he readily gave him the prayer mat and on further request gave him earthen ware meant for Wazu and had granted him permission to initiate disciple in Magrebi Silsila.
Hazrat Shah Alam ( R, A. ) held the Saint in high respect and studied under him. He regularly paid visits to Sarkhez. He received the sama sufistic robe and secrets at the age of seventeen years from Hazrat Shaikh, which his great, great grandfather had deposited with the Saint Iong ago. Hazrat Shaikh had reached a fairly advanced age. Many a times he uttered that the boy had not yet come. Ultimately he adapted a newly born child whose parents were converts to Islam and had died immediately on his birth. He named the child Shaikh Safahuddin. Later he succeeded the Saint as his Sajiadanashin at the age of 24 years.
The glorious career of Hazrat Shaikh ultimately came to an end on the festival day of Idd-ul-Fitr, in the year 849 A. H: he offered the prayers and returned home, but suddenly he vomited and blood was found in it. It also came out from his nose. He realized that his end was in sight. He confined himself in seclusion, busy with prayers. Aspirants for his sajjadanashini indulged in a big controversy. Sultan Muhammed Shah " Zar Beksh called on the saint, and inquired whether the Saint had appointed anybody as his successor, and recommended Mawlana Abdul Hai, a pious and a learned person. Pointing towards Shaikh Salahuddin, the Saint replied that the boy would carry on all rituals after him. The Sultan observed that he was still very young, on that the Saint got annoyed and in rage observed, "Do you mean that just because the Dervish would lay six feet under the earth, he would be dead? No, he would continue to take care of the boy". Sultan at once realized his error. He bid adieu and went back. On Thursday, 14th Shwwal. 849 A. H./ 14-1-1946, the Saint bade farewell to this world and thus came an end of one of the six foremost saints of India. He lived III lunar years, and saw, in all 9 (nine) regimes of the Sultans of Delhi and of Gujarat. People requested Sultan Mohammed Shah to lead funeral prayers, but he proposed Mawlana Mohammed -bin-Qasim, the Pesh Imam of the Jama Masjid to perform funeral rites. The Saint was buried near Jama Masjid amidst a huge crowd.

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