What was the reaction of Sufi saint on the offerings ?
What was the reaction of Sufi saint on the offerings ?
Official answer
The Sufi saint refused the offering and expressed his displeasure.
His reaction:
- He did not accept the gift of gardens and land.
- He lamented, asking, "What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands?"
- He noted that none of his spiritual masters had ever engaged in owning such property.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark: the saint did not accept the gift and lamented ('What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands?').
- 2.Full credit for either the refusal or the reason that his spiritual masters never owned such property.
Hint
State that he refused, and add the words he used while lamenting.
Quick oral answer
He rejected the gift outright, lamenting 'What have I to do with gardens and fields and lands?' and pointing out that none of his spiritual masters had ever owned such property.
Common mistakes
- 1.Saying the saint accepted the land — he explicitly refused it.
- 2.Mixing up this reaction with Shaikh Fariduddin's response (who took only the money).
- 3.Giving a vague 'he was unhappy' without quoting his actual lament or reasoning.
Analysis and explanation
The extract records the response of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya to a ruler's lavish land grant.
Concept:
- Chishti saints upheld a life of poverty (faqr) and detachment from worldly possessions; accepting land tied one to material and political affairs.
Exam pointer:
- Capture both the action (refusal) and the sentiment (his lament and reference to his masters).
Wider significance:
- By declining, the Shaikh preserved the spiritual authority and moral distance that made Sufis respected mediators, independent of court patronage.
Interesting facts
The compilation of a Sufi master's spoken words was called malfuzat; Amir Hasan Sijzi's 'Fawa'id al-Fu'ad' is a famous example.
Chishti saints preferred simple living and often relied on unsolicited, unasked-for offerings (futuh) rather than fixed endowments.
Question details
Q35 of 41 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 12
- Subject
- History
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section D
- Marks
- 1
- Chapter
- Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (c. 8th to 18th Century)
- Topic
- Sufi Saint's Reaction to the Gift
- Bloom's level
- understand
- Syllabus topic
- Theme 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions — Chishti Renunciation and Attitude to Property
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
Why did the Sufi saint refuse the land?
He believed owning gardens and fields was contrary to the practice of his spiritual predecessors, who had never engaged in such worldly activity.
What does this reaction reveal about Chishti values?
It reflects the Chishti ideals of poverty (faqr), renunciation, and deliberate distance from wealth and political power.