It was the fourteenth of Ramadan (1401 AH / 1981 CE), the day was Friday and every corner of the astana ‘aliya of Siyal Sharif was overcrowded due to the sheer number of visitors. Khawaja Qamar al-Din prayed the Salat al-Jumu‘a in his mosque and said farewell to all his servants and followers with abundant prayers. On this day, he opened his fast at his home with his family contrary to his normal practice. He spent the night in Siyal Sharif. The son of Sahibzada Ghulam Nasir al-Din had been in Lahore under medical treatment. A programme was made to go to Lahore to enquire about his health. After eating the predawn meal of suhur, Khawaja Qamar al-Din paid his respects at the shrine of Shams al-‘Arifin and after offering prayers began the last journey of his life.
About a few miles from Sargodha, on the Sargodha Lahore Road is a bridge of Chack Eleven. The lifelong driver of Khawaja Qamar al-Din, Ghulam Haider – who had been driving for his murshid for forty five years – was driving the car. It was seven in the morning and the sun had risen, there was light everywhere. From in front of the Chack Eleven Bridge, Ghulam Haider saw a lorry coming towards him. The lorry was coming from the wrong direction, the careful driver just as before moved the car further left, however the lorry did not correct its direction. To this, Ghulam Haider took the car off-road. However, the lorry driver did not control his lorry. Suddenly a thunderous accident occurred that completely destroyed the car. The driver, Ghulam Haider, died on the spot offering the sacrifice of his life at the feet of his Shaykh.
Another servant, Allah Bakhsh, who was due to get married a few days after, was sitting on the back seat. He was also crowned with the crown of martyrdom. The other two companions, Haji Muhammad Nawaz – who was a close servant to Khawaja Qamar al-Din – his arm was broken and the fourth companion, Muhammad Aslam, was severely injured.
Khawaja Qamar al-Din was sitting on the front passenger seat next to the driver. After hearing the noise of this collision, people from all around gathered. Khawaja Qamar al-Din was taken out and the ankle-bone of his right leg was fractured. The blessed face and other parts of the body seemed completely fine. When he was taken out of the vehicle and sat down, a person came forward and offered water. Khawaja Qamar al-Din refused to drink and stated, “I am fasting.” Then he was laid on a bedstead and taken to Sargodha District Hospital on the back of a van.
The news of this painful tragedy spread like wild-fire in all directions. Crowds and crowds began to gather at the hospital.
We, at Bhera, were informed in the evening of this accident; however, the giver of this news also told us that Khawaja Qamar al-Din was fine and well. The next day early in the morning, I along with my relatives went to Sargodha to enquire of his state and health. At that moment, the doctors were dressing his wounds. The entire grounds of the hospital were filled with devotees and followers. Everyone’s tongues were uttering words of gratitude, for Allah (most high) had protected and saved their kind leader from this severe accident.
We were all so happy that the arrow of fate was mistaken. However, fate itself was smiling at our naivety. For two days, Khawaja Qamar al-Din remained under medical treatment at Sargodha District Hospital. When the President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq heard of this tragedy, he became restless. Every ten to fifteen minutes, he himself was phoning the hospital to find out about the state of Khawaja Qamar al-Din and he kept on emphasising to the doctors that there must be no shortfall in his medical treatment.
On the seventeenth of Ramadan, the doctors advised that for further treatment Khawaja Qamar al-Din must be taken to CMH (Combined Military Hospital) in Lahore. Eventually, he was taken there and when the doctors saw the colour of his fingernails, they became worried and said, “You have come late.” Despite the great efforts of the doctors at CMH Lahore, the decree of Allah (most high) had been fulfilled and that great personality, who spread light shining as the full moon above the horizon of life for a quarter of a century, became concealed from our eyes, left this temporary world and was honoured to present himself in the eternal court of his true Beloved. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
Time remained preoccupied in search for such a leader in order to enlighten its night of sorrow, but, this struggle did not bear any fruit. The Muslim nation will always keep the memory of this leader close to their hearts who guided it with great courage during every type of difficulty and calamity. The circles of disciples and followers will always remain restless for a glimpse of the luminous face of their Shaykh.
The one who always loved and was affectionate towards students, who recognised the status and positions of the scholars, who fulfilled the rights of the respect and honour of the Prophetic Household, the protector of the dignity of the Prophetic Companions, the grieved lover of the beauty of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), the one who would not be distanced from the remembrance of Allah (most high) for a moment, the light of the eyes of the people of the heart, the guide of the people of wisdom and intellect, the leader of the caravan of love and affection, the Shaykh of Islam and the Muslims, Khawaja Muhammad Qamar al-Din (Allah be well pleased with him); outwardly, he is hidden and concealed from our eyes, however, the lamps of his devotion and love will always shine.
Civilian societies and various governments have honoured Pir Sahib’s service to Islam. The government of Pakistan awarded him the Sitara lmtiaz (Star of distinction), Al-Azhar University honoured him with a gold medallion in 1993. He served on various government bodies as well as being the judge on the Shariah bench of the supreme court. Apart from being the head of the great Chishti order with thousands of Mureeds and hundreds of scholars, teachers and Imams, he was a simple man. He lived in a small room next to the library situated in the centre of the college, he never ate from the langer (free meals). His meals came from his home, which was a hundred yards from the college. Furthermore, he never took a salary from the college. He lived off his inherited 100 acre estate. Undoubtedly he was an example of a true Muslim. He died on the 7th of April (10th Dhul Hijjah) l998 in Islamabad. Thus set the sun, which had been shining for nearly half a century; teaching, preaching and writing Quran and Hadith.
He was 73 years old then but still taught full-time despite having diabetes. He began his day by praying Fajr with the congregation and then having breakfast. From 8:30am till 11:30am he would teach in the girls college, annexed to the main college. Thereafter he would take our Hadith class till 2:30pm. He would read the Hadith and explain it’s meaning, analysing it grammatically and highlighting any moral and spiritual lessons and divulge its literary and grammatical intricacies. All this in beautifully spoken Urdu punctuated with couplets from Rumi’s Mathnavi, or Hafiz Shiraz’s Gulistan or Urdu couplets from Iqbal who he admired enormously. Hearts were moved and tear glands stimulated. Since the spoken words came from a sincere and loving heart, they entered straight into the hearts! His encyclopedic knowledge coupled with the divine love created a special atmosphere in the classroom, which captivated the hearts and minds of his students.