National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

are gathered from the Tazkira Hidáyat, written by Mír Kháluddín of Yárkand shortly T.H.
after the Khojá's death :—
Khoja Hidáyatulla, usually called Hazrat Afák = "Most High Presence," was the
son of Khoja Muhammad Yúsuf, the son of Khoja Muhammad Amin, the son of
Hazrat Makhdúmí Ázam. He held entire dominion, spiritual and temporal, over the
Moghol States of Káshghar, Yárkand, Khutan, Aksú, Kúchá, and Turfán, and had
many disciples in Khitá, Bulghár, Urús, and Hindustan. He held a fifth part of
Mogholistán in jágír = demesne, and received tithes from his disciples in foreign
lands; from Kashmir and Badakshán, and the Tungáni in Khitá notably.
Amongst the people of Káshghar he was held as a Prophet second only to
Muhammad, and in his miraculous powers of healing the sick and restoring the dead
he was reckoned the equal of Hazrat Ísá = "Lord Jesus." His bearing exercised
a marvellous effect upon the people, and his appearance amongst them produced the
most extraordinary manifestations of fascination. Some wept with joy, some sang
with delight, others danced and leaped and whirled around, and others again fell
senseless to the ground, whilst all were irresistably attracted to him by an ecstatic
devotion of spiritual love. His miracles are said to be countless; yet in his early
career scoffers and unbelievers were not wanting.
Abdurrashíd, the Ruler of Yárkand, was his enemy, and appointed a partizan, one
Mullá Abdulla, to the office of Cázi in the city. He took every opportunity to
destroy the Saint's growing influence, and in his Court of Justice used to denounce
Afák as a hypocrite and rogue who, in the garb of a darveah, took the property
of the people to keep his retinue of slave boys in gilded crowns, and to deck his
concubines innumerable in silks and brocades. The speech of the bold tongued
Cazi was reported to Afák, but he merely remarked with meek resignation that God
would in due time visit him with due reward. Shortly after this the railer was
present at an entertainment given by the object of his vituperation, and was choked
by a bone sticking in his throat. His friends fell at the Saint's feet, and offering all
his wealth, and the sinner's repentance, implored him to save the man's life.
Afák bid his neighbour hit the Cázi's blow on the throat, and as he did so the
bone was ejected to the dying man's relief. Of the company some laughed, some
wept, and others fainted, but the scoffing Cázi recovered, and through very shame
retired into private life at Aksú. From this he afterwards returned as a partizan and
favored servant of the Saint's son and successor.
Mirzá Sháh Mahmúd, a Jarás noble of Yárkand, was another prominent scoffer.
He was a debauchee and opium-smoker, and reviled the sanctity of Afák, saying "were
he really a man of God he would have cured me of my evil ways." His brother,
Gházi Beg, was an equally infidel railer. But both very soon met a just retribution.
The one died from an overdose of his favorite drug, and the other of a severe colic
whilst out hunting even before they could carry him home. It was by such miracles
as these that Afák's sanctity was proved and established. During his reign Afák
warred twelve years with the Kirghiz and Kalmák before he acquired the sole
sovereignty. Attended by Mullá Alím of Yárkand he accompanied Yolbárs Khan
on his fatal campaign against Khitá, and gained many disciples amongst the
Tungáni there.
In his time Muhammad Amín Khán, Ruler of Yárkand, went against his
brother, Khudábanda, at Aksú. He fell sick on the way, and was brought back in
a júrghát = "horse litter," but died before reaching his home. His friends at once
took the body to Afák, and the Khán's mother, Begum Pádsháh, falling at the Saint's
feet, presented twenty thousand tanga = four thousand rupees in cash, and promis-
ing ten thousand more implored his intercession to restore her son to life. Afák
was at breakfast at the time, and taking a spoonful of gruel from his bowl applied it
to the mouth of the defunct. A perspiration presently broke out over the body, the
limbs began to move, and on the third day the dead man was riding about as usual.
It was such miracles as this that gained for Hazrat Afák the reputation of a second
Hazrat Ísá.