The Complete Biography of Hazrat Usman Harooni : Life, Miracles & Legacy | Hazrat Usman Harooni History

Khwaja Usman Harooni (6 May 1107 – 3 December 1220; Urdu: عثمان ہارونی) was a renowned Sufi saint (wali) of Islam and an early master of the Chishti Order in India. He was the spiritual successor of Hazrat Shareef Zandani, serving as the sixteenth link in the Chishti silsila (spiritual chain), and the mentor of the celebrated saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer.

Usman Harooni was born in the town of Haroon, near Nishapur in present-day Iran. Different sources record his birth year as 1096, 1116, or 1131 CE (490, 510, or 526 AH). He was also affectionately known by the honorific titles Abu Noor and Abu Mansur.

Introduction of Hazrat Usman Harooni:

Hazrat Khwaja Usmani (may Allah have mercy on him) was a descendant of Hazrat Ali through eleven generations. His blessed birthplace was the town of Haroon, near Nishapur in the province of Khorasan. His devotion to worship and spiritual struggle was so great that he would complete the recitation of the Holy Qur’an in just two days. In a single night, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni’s sanctity and spiritual greatness can be gauged by the fact that he underwent the most severe forms of spiritual discipline seventy times, yet never once did he eat to his fill or drink to his satisfaction. He used to rest very little at night.

Books of biography and spirituality mention that he possessed such spiritual authority that whatever he uttered would come to pass. He constantly observed fasting, and his fasts were so prolonged that he would break them only after five days. His spiritual power was so immense that whomever his gaze fell upon would, in an instant, rise to high stations of spirituality. His miracles and divine unveilings were so numerous and extraordinary that human intellect is left in astonishment, and to describe them in full would require a separate volume.

Early Education

Hazrat Usman harooni received his basic education at home from his parents. Their residence served as a place of teaching, where people would gather to gain foundational knowledge of the Qur’an and Shariah under the guidance of his parents. After completing his early religious education, Hazrat’s father entrusted him to the Khanqah of Hazrat Shareef Zandani for further spiritual training.

Spritual Teacher of Khwaja Usman Harooni:

Hazrat Usman Harooni was Spiritual disciple of Shareef Zandani . Hazrat Usman Harooni stayed in the khanqah of his spiritual guide, Hazrat Hajji Sharif Zandani, for three continuous years, remaining fully engaged in worship and rigorous spiritual discipline. During this period, he attained the highest stage of perfection. Hazrat Hajji Sharif Zandani not only appointed him as his deputy and successor but also entrusted him with that sacred spiritual knowledge (ma‘arif) which had been transmitted, heart to heart, through the elders of the Chishti Order. Once he was taught this knowledge, all the doors of both outward and inward wisdom were opened upon his blessed being

After attaining perfection in spirituality, Hazrat was honored with immense love and respect. His revered teacher, Hazrat Shareef Zindani, placed upon his head the Chishti turban, which had four corners. While bestowing it, the teacher explained that the turban carried four corners because He was to uphold and embrace four essential principles throughout his life. He said

O Usman! When the blessed turban of the Chishti Order has been placed upon your head, you must also act upon these four principles:

1. Renunciation of the world and abstaining from the false attractions of worldly life.

2. Abandoning greed and desire.

3. Avoiding the temptations of the ego (nafs).

4. Remaining constantly engaged in the remembrance of Allah.

For the elders have said that only that person is worthy of wearing this turban of the Chishti path who abandons everything besides Allah. When the Holy Prophet ﷺ first placed this turban upon his sacred head, he adopted poverty (faqr) and humility, and this spiritual tradition continued after him. When this spiritual light reached me, I too embraced poverty and humility. Now, as I have placed this blessed turban upon your head, it is incumbent upon you to follow the footsteps of the great saints, show kindness, and treat the creation of Allah with compassion.

Spreading Divine love and Teachings of Islam

After being blessed with the turban and spiritual initiation of the Chishti path.  You devoted yourself to the services of humanity.  You often spent most of your time  traveling to different cities, spreading the teachings of Islamic and imparting the knowledge of spirituality to the peoples.

In order to spread the message of Islam, you journeyed to sacred and renowned lands such as Makkah, Bukhara, and Samarkand.In Makkah, you spent some time serving as a caretaker, providing water for the pilgrims..

In Makkah, you also met a venerable saint, Khwaja Umar Nafsi. You narrate that one day you went to a cave to meet him. When you entered, you saw him deeply engaged in worship, so you sat quietly, waiting. After completing his devotion, he turned to you and said: 'For seventy years, I have remained absorbed in the remembrance of my Lord, and in all this time I have never spoken a word to anyone. Even now, I am speaking to you only by the command of Allah. Listen carefully: when your Lord wills something, it comes into being. And when His Divine Jealousy encircles you, the fire of that jealousy surrounds you. Therefore, you must never turn your attention to anyone other than Allah. For any thought that enters your heart apart from Him will surely be consumed in the fire of His jealousy.

 It signifies that when Allah loves a servant, He does not allow the servant’s heart to be shared with anyone or anything besides Him. Thus, any thought or attachment that enters the heart apart from Allah is consumed by the “fire of Divine Jealousy.”

Miracles of Hazrat Usman Harooni

One day while you were traveling to a city , you saw a fire temple in which some people were worshiping fire ,making circle arround the fire . After watching this You sent your disciple "Fakharuddin" to get fire from them so they can cook at night. His disciple went and asked for fire but he was rejected. Seeing your disciple empty handed , you went yourself to temple and explained the teaching of pure islam to them and asked them a question why are you worshiping this fire when it can not give any benefits or cause harm to you . They replied why should we not worship this fire when our forefathers have regarded it as god? . Hazrat Usman said if this is truly your God , then put your hand in it and witness the results. They replied it's nature is to  burn , how can anyone dare to put their hand into it , Upon hearing their words, Hazrat Khwaja Harooni gently took a child sitting nearby into his arms and, without hesitation, leapt into the blazing fire. After a short while, you emerged safe and sound, without a trace of harm. Astonished by this divine miracle, the people present fell at your feet in reverence and, overwhelmed by the truth, embraced Islam.

The spiritual perfection of Hazrat Usman Harooni

The spiritual perfection of Hazrat Usman Harooni (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) can be understood from this: whenever he stood in prayer, a voice from the unseen would call out, “O Usman, We have accepted your prayer. Ask for whatever you wish.” In reply, he would say, “O Lord, I seek only Your knowledge and recognition (ma‘rifah).” The voice would then respond, “We have granted this to you; be at peace.” Hearing this, he would fall into prostration and supplicate again, “O my Lord, forgive the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ.” At that moment, inspiration would come that thirty thousand sinners of the Ummah had been forgiven.

Thus, during each of the five daily prayers, he would pray for the forgiveness of the sinners of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ. In this way, every day, through his supplications, about one hundred and fifty thousand sinners of the Ummah were granted forgiveness.

Visit of Land of India

For the land of India, it is a matter of great honor that it was once blessed by the footsteps of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (may Allah’s mercy be upon him). As mentioned in the book Al-Kanz al-Asrar, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni once came to Delhi to meet his spiritual son, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. At that time, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin was residing in Delhi. However, Hazrat Usman Harooni only stayed for a few days in India before returning.

It is also quoted that Harooni visited India during the rule of Sultan Iltamish; before returning to Arabia for Hajj. In Belchi, near BeharSharif, India, he stayed and prayed there. People has aslo build a memorial Mosque in name of Hazrat Usman Harooni there.

Shrine of Hazrat Usman Harooni

In the later part of his life, Hazrat Usman Harooni withdrew into seclusion in the holy city of Makkah. It was in this sacred city, in the year 617 AH (1220 CE), that he departed from this world and attained union with the Truth. His blessed shrine in Makkah remains a place of reverence and visitation for seekers and devotees.

Khwaja Usman Harooni Shrine in Belchi Sharif (Bihar, India)

It is said that when Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA) came to India, a pious woman took the oath of allegiance (bay‘at) at his blessed hands. Her spiritual devotion was so deep that she expressed her final wish — to have her grave made at the feet of the saint. However, destiny had other plans. Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA) later traveled to the holy city of Makkah, where he departed from this world in 617 AH (1220 CE) and attained union with the Divine.

Since the devoted woman could not journey to Makkah, she could not fulfill her wish in the physical sense. Yet, according to spiritual traditions, Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (RA) manifested himself spiritually once again in Belchi Sharif, located in Nalanda District, Bihar, India, where his sacred presence was revealed, and he is believed to have passed away there in a spiritual sense.

Because of this divine mystery, two shrines are attributed to him —

one in Makkah al-Mukarramah, where he is believed to be buried,

and another in Belchi Sharif (Bihar, India), which remains a famous site of spiritual reverence and visitation for devotees.

Urs (Anniversary) of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (Urs Date)

The Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) is celebrated every year on the 5th of Shawwal, marking the day of his departure from this world in 617 AH (1220 CE) in the holy city of Makkah al-Mukarramah. This annual commemoration is observed with deep reverence in several regions, including Belchi (Bihar Sharif, India), Ajmer, and Makkah, where devotees gather to honor his life and teachings.

In Belchi, Bihar Sharif, at the sacred site known as Usmani Chillah, the Urs is celebrated on the 15th and 16th of Shawwal each year. This place is regarded as a center of his spiritual blessings and mystical power. The celebrations include gatherings of dhikr (remembrance of Allah), recitation of Durood and Salaam, and the distribution of food and offerings (langar). Devotees from various spiritual traditions participate with great devotion and love.

In Ajmer, too, special gatherings are held to commemorate his Urs, where his spiritual teachings and his connection with Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti are remembered with respect and affection.

In Makkah, the site of his final seclusion (chillah) once stood as a sacred place of meditation and worship. Although the physical structure suffered damage in the early 21st century, the place remains spiritually significant, attracting pilgrims who come to pay homage to this great saint.

The Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Usman Harooni is not merely a memorial — it is a celebration of divine love, spiritual unity, and the timeless message of service and humility that he embodied throughout his life.

Summary Table

Birth & Lineage	Born in Haroon (Iran), descendant of Hazrat Ali
Spiritual Initiation	Disciple of Shareef Zandani, received four-edged cap and Khilafat
Ascetic Practices	Rigorous worship, Quran recitation, self-denial
Travels & Teaching	Influential journeys across Muslim world; mentoring Khwaja Moinuddin
Miracles (Karamats)	River-crossing, grave intercession, divine responses in prayer
Teachings	Emphasis on contentment, love, selflessness, inner discovery
Passing & Urs	Died 1220 in Mecca; memorial shrine in Meccah; annual Urs traditionally held
Legacy	Founder figure of Indian Chishti Sufism through his disciple