Moinuddin Chishti (1141 - 1236) also known as Gharīb Nawāz (Benefactor of the Poor), was an imam, Islamic scholar and philosopher from South Asia. Chishti introduced and established the Chishti Order of Sufism in the Indian subcontinent. The initial spiritual chain or silsila of the Chishti order in India, comprising Chishti, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, Fariduddin Ganjshakar and Nizamuddin Auliya—each successive person being the disciple of the previous—includes the great Sufi saints of Indian history. Various Mughal emperors were followers of Chishti.

Early life and background

No reliable information is available regarding his life before he settled in Ajmer.

Moinuddin Chishti is said to have been born in 536 AH/1141 CE in Chisht in a city between Afghanistan and Iran and is thought to be a "sayyid", a direct descendant of Muhammad. His parents died when he was fifteen years old. He inherited a windmill and an orchard from his father. During his childhood, Chishti was different from other children and kept himself busy in prayer and meditation. He later disposed of his property and other belongings and distributed the money to the poor. He renounced the world and left for Bukhara in search of knowledge and higher education.

Moinuddin Chishti is the name of a Chisti Sufi who was the preceptor of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. He shares the name of the Sufi Saint buried in Ajmer.