Hazrat Hasan Ukhra Syed Mohammad Azeem Barkhiya, known as Qalander Baba Auliya is the founder of the Azeemia Spiritual Order.

BIRTH:
Qalandar Baba Auliya founder of Silsila Azeemia was born in 1898 in the town of Khorja, District Buland Shehr, Uttar Pardesh, India. Muhammad Azeem was the name given to him by his parents. He had a taste for poetry and wrote using the pen name of Burkhiya. His family lineage goes back to Hazrat Imam Hassan Askari

EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL TRAINING:

He gained his primary education from the local school of the town, matriculated from the city of Buland Shehr and was admitted to the Muslim University, Aligarh for intermediate. Allah the Almighty makes proper arrangements for the training of the selected. Qalandar Baba Auliya was no exception. During his stay in Aligarh an inclination towards sainthood developed in him and he start spending most of his time in the shrine of Maulana Kabli situated in the cemetery. He used to go there early in the morning and would come back late in the evening.

He gained his primary education from the local school of the town, matriculated from the city of Buland Shehr and was admitted to the Muslim University, Aligarh for intermediate. Allah the Almighty makes proper arrangements for the training of the selected. Qalandar Baba Auliya was no exception. During his stay in Aligarh an inclination towards sainthood developed in him and he start spending most of his time in the shrine of Maulana Kabli situated in the cemetery. He used to go there early in the morning and would come back late in the evening.

The second part of his training (lasting nine years) was spent under the vigilant guidance of his maternal grandfather Baba Tajuddin Nagpuri who was a saint. After the partition of the subcontinent he moved to Karachi. He chose journalism as a career and was appointed the sub-editor of the Daily Urdu Dawn.

In 1956 when Qutab-e-Arshad hazrat Abu'al Qalandar Ali Suharwardi (Hazrat Jee) visited Karachi, Qalandar Baba Auliya requested him to accept him as one of his disciples. Hazrat Jee told him to come to his hotel room at 3:00 am. It was freezing cold when he reached the hotel at 2:00am and occupied the doorsteps. Exactly at 3:00am Hazrat Jee opened the door and admitted him in. he asked him to sit before him and blew at his forehead three times. The first blow caused him to witness the Realm of the Souls. The second blow revealed the Realm of Angels and Divinity, and the third enabled him to behold the High Throne (Arsh-e-Mualla). Hazrat Abu'al Faiz Qalandar Ali Suharwardi completed the course of teachings of Qutab-e-Arshad in three weeks and declared him as his Khalifa (delegate).

Further spiritual education was imparted to him by the holy soul of the blessed Shaikh Najamuddin Kubra (D: 1189CE). This enabled him to rise to the point where he received the highest form of the Secret Knowledge (Ilm-e-Ludduni) directly from the Holy Prophet. He was accorded the opportunity of appearing before the Lord Creator, Allah the Almighty Himself, Who then taught him knowledge of His mysteries and secrets. He passed away on 27 January 1979 in Karachi, Pakistan.

Definition of a Qalander:
A Qalander is a person whose perceptive faculties go beyond the physical realm. He ascends from the material realm to the heights where he witnesses the Divine Unity. This is the zone of Taqveen or the Divine Administration. The Qalander experiences the ecstasy and joy of the nearness of the Creator (Whole). Thus he perceives the whole Truth. Such persons are called the friends (Aulia) of God.

'Hasan Ukhra' is the Title granted by the Prophet Mohammed (SAW).

'Mohammed Azeem' is the name given by his parents. The Azeemia Spiritual Order or Silsila-e-Azeemia is named after him.

'Burkhiya' is the pen name, which he used as a poet.

'Qalander Baba Auliya' is the alias with which most of the people are familiar. The terrestrial and celestial angels know and address him using this title.

OCCUPATION:
After marriage, Qalander Baba settled in Delhi. He became a freelance journalist for different newspapers and magazines. He also proofread and corrected the works of the contemporary poets. People who were interested in Tassuvuf (spiritual knowledge or Sufism) approached him and held discussions with him on the subject.

After migrating to Karachi he opted repairing of domestic electrical appliances till he had the job as the sub editor of the daily newspaper Dawn. He also worked for the monthly Naqqad for some time. He edited many magazines, and also published many stories in serial form.

INITIATION:
In 1956, the then Master of the Sohrwardi Order, Hazrat Abul Faiz Qalander Ali Sohrwardi visited Karachi. Qalander Baba Auliya went for an audience with him and requested to be initiated. Hazrat Abul Faiz asked him to come at 3 O’ clock in the morning. In the bitter cold of the early morning, he sat on the steps of the Grand Hotel on McLeod Road, Karachi; exactly at 3 O’ clock Hazrat Abul Faiz opened the door and asked him to come inside. He instructed Qalander Baba to sit in front of him and then he blew on Qalander Baba's forehead 3 times. With the first breath the realm of spirits was revealed. With the second blowing of the breath, angels and the Divine Attributes was revealed and with the third breath the highest realm was revealed to him. Hazrat Abul Faiz Qalandar Ali Soharwardi imparted spiritual training to him in three weeks time.

After that, Qalander Baba's spiritual training was taken over by the soul of Sheikh Najmuddin Kubra. When the training was completed He transferred the spiritual knowledge to him and presented him to the Divine Presence of God.

During this period Qalander Baba Aulia did not sleep for ten days and nights. He prayed and chanted the holy verses all the time.

To spread and to be benefited with the teachings of His Divine Grace Qalander Baba Auliya, following three books have been inherited by Silsela-e-Azeemia.

1- Loh-o-Qalum (Pen and the Scripturum) A treasure of divine knowledge of mysteries and secrets of nature.

2- Rubaiyat-e-Qalander Baba Auliya a valued collection of enlightening mystic verses.

3- Tazkira-e-Tajuddin Baba (Blessed be he) An authentic work of metaphysical sciences and scientific interpretations of divinations and wonder-workings performed by spiritual people.

Additionally, Qalander Baba Auliya left countless maps and diagrams of the visible and invisible realms. He also started the publication of the monthly magazine called Roohani Digest. He also formed a Trust called The Azeemia Trust. The Trust acquired land and constructed a mausoleum over his eternal place of resting in Shadman Town, North Karachi.

URS (Death Anniversary):
Qalander Baba Auliya died on 27th January 1979 in Karachi. Every year on this date his Urs is celebrated which is attended by thousands of people from all over the country and abroad. During Urs many seminars and workshops are held. There are organized sessions of meditation under the instruction of the present Master of Silsila Azeemia; Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi.