From Hyderabad to Paris: A Journey of the Heart to Fazal Manzil

Coming from the same spiritual Silsila (lineage) of Shah Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan — the noble path that also nurtured the spiritual journey of Hazrat Inayat Khan — and from the same beloved city, Hyderabad Deccan, my journey into the world of Tasawwuf began early in life. Raised in a Khanqah family, the teachings of the great spiritual masters were an inseparable part of my upbringing. My teenage years were marked by a sincere and heartfelt search for inner truth. It was during my exploration into Western Sufism that I discovered the remarkable legacy of Hazrat Inayat Khan — a man who not only carried the light of Indian Sufism across the world but adapted its language and form for the Western heart and mind. His journey first took him to America and eventually to Europe, an epic spiritual voyage. The deeper I read into his works and life, the more inspired I became. What moved me profoundly was not only his message but also the sense of spiritual closeness I felt. Hazrat Inayat Khan belonged to the Chishti-Kaleemi Silsila, tracing his spiritual lineage to Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan — the very same spiritual chain our family is also blessed to be part of. He received his early spiritual training in Hyderabad under the guidance of Hazrat Hashim Madani, whose dargah near Purana-Pul I was fortunate to visit. The Ziyarat there filled me with immense peace and a feeling of deep-rooted spiritual connection.

Encouraged by my father and spiritual master, Shaikh Sabir Pasha Chishti Balqi and his Mashaykh friends and through his Sufi companions, I learned more about the evolution of the Kaleemi-Fakhri Silsila. One such respected elder shared with me a touching detail — that before Hazrat Pir Wilayat Inayat Khan took on the responsibilities of his father’s legacy, he performed a 40-day chilla (spiritual seclusion) at the Dargah of Fakhruddin Suhrawardi in Khajaguda, Hyderabad. This deeply affirmed how intertwined our spiritual lineages are.

During a visit to Delhi, I had the blessing to visit the Bargah Sharif of Hazrat Inayat Khan. But it was after moving to Germany that I had the chance to fulfill a long-standing desire — to visit Fazal Manzil, the spiritual residence of Hazrat Inayat Khan, located in Suresnes, Paris. I had the honor of making this sacred journey accompanied by Dr. Irshad Balkhi, Founder of Maktab-e-Sufi Germany, whose presence added depth, reflection, and blessing to the experience.

Fazal Manzil: A House of Light: -

Fazal Manzil is not just a house — it is a living sanctuary of spiritual history. The moment I stepped in, I felt a powerful stillness, as if the walls still whispered the echoes of his Zikr. There is a small Hisar (enclosure) preserved inside, said to be written by Hazrat Hashim Madani before Hazrat Inayat Khan embarked on his westward journey — a precious relic connecting India and the West through a spiritual bridge.

The library of Hazrat Inayat Khan contains many rare and old books from the Chishti Nizami order, including one of the most famous books — Tareeq-e-Mashaykh-e-Chisht — a reminder of our continued connection to the Silsila through knowledge and heritage The Sama-Khana (room for spiritual music) was serene and one could imagine the Sufi gatherings, the music, the Dervishes in remembrance. Most sacred of all, I visited the room where Hazrat Inayat Khan meditated, received seekers, and gave Bay'ah (spiritual initiation) to Mureeds. It was here that he started the Sufi Summer School, where seekers from all over the world gathered — united not by culture, language, or nation — but by the heart’s longing for Divine connection.

A Voice from the Heart: Keepers of the Spirit: -

During this sacred Ziyarat, we were blessed to meet Ms. Hind Wakach, a Mureed in the Inayat Silsila and the in-charge of Fazal Manzil, accompanied by her husband Majid Wakach. Their presence radiated warmth, humility, and spiritual depth. With heartfelt hospitality, they guided us through every corner of Fazal Manzil, sharing rare insights and sacred memories. Ms. Hind showed us the original music notes of Hazrat Inayat Khan — compositions he used for singing and Zikr. Then, in an unforgettable moment, Miss Hind herself sang one of his most cherished pieces:

Sub'ḥana Dhī Al-Mulki wal-Malakuti, Sub'ḥana Dhi Al-Izzati Wal-Aẓamati wal-Haibati wal-Qudrati wal-Kibriyai wal-Jabaruti.

Her voice was gentle yet powerful, rich in feeling and full of reverence. She sang in the same tone and rhythm Hazrat Inayat Khan once used — giving us a direct window into his spiritual practice. The way she sang transported us; it was as if time paused, and we were in the presence of something eternal. Her voice filled the room with divine presence and her kindness made the moment deeply personal. Thanks to Hind and Majid Wakach, our visit to Fazal Manzil became not just a tour, but a spiritually immersive experience.

Hazrat Noor Inayat Khan’s Veena & Other Sacred Artifacts: -

Among the deeply moving treasures at the Fazal Manzil museum is the Veena of Hazrat

Noor Inayat Khan — daughter of Hazrat Inayat Khan and a heroic figure known not only for her spiritual depth but also for her courage as a spy in the French Resistance during WWII.

The Veena an Indian classical instrument represents more than just music — it is a symbol of her Indian heritage and spiritual refinement. To see it preserved in this sacred space was to witness the blend of Sufi art, beauty, and service to humanity — a legacy she carried forward from her father. Other priceless relics housed in the museum include: -

- Original handwritten letters and calligraphy by Hazrat Inayat Khan

- Musical instruments he used for his spiritual concerts

- Photographs and clothing from his travels across India, Europe and America

- Teaching notes and manuscripts of the early Sufi Order in the West

This pilgrimage was not just a journey of the body — it was a movement of the heart, reconnecting with the roots of a living spiritual tradition that continues to nourish seekers across the globe. Fazal Manzil stands today not just as a monument to a Sufi master but as a lighthouse of love, humility and spiritual unity that transcends time, culture, and geography.

Coming from the same spiritual Silsila (lineage) of Shah Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan — the noble path that also nurtured the spiritual journey of Hazrat Inayat Khan — and from the same beloved city, Hyderabad Deccan, my journey into the world of Tasawwuf began early in life. Raised in a Khanqah family, the teachings of the great spiritual masters were an inseparable part of my upbringing. My teenage years were marked by a sincere and heartfelt search for inner truth. It was during my exploration into Western Sufism that I discovered the remarkable legacy of Hazrat Inayat Khan — a man who not only carried the light of Indian Sufism across the world but adapted its language and form for the Western heart and mind. His journey first took him to America and eventually to Europe, an epic spiritual voyage. The deeper I read into his works and life, the more inspired I became. What moved me profoundly was not only his message but also the sense of spiritual closeness I felt. Hazrat Inayat Khan belonged to the Chishti-Kaleemi Silsila, tracing his spiritual lineage to Fakhruddin Fakhr-e-Jahan — the very same spiritual chain our family is also blessed to be part of. He received his early spiritual training in Hyderabad under the guidance of Hazrat Hashim Madani, whose dargah near Purana-Pul I was fortunate to visit. The Ziyarat there filled me with immense peace and a feeling of deep-rooted spiritual connection.

Encouraged by my father and spiritual master, Shaikh Sabir Pasha Chishti Balqi and his Mashaykh friends and through his Sufi companions, I learned more about the evolution of the Kaleemi-Fakhri Silsila. One such respected elder shared with me a touching detail — that before Hazrat Pir Wilayat Inayat Khan took on the responsibilities of his father’s legacy, he performed a 40-day chilla (spiritual seclusion) at the Dargah of Fakhruddin Suhrawardi in Khajaguda, Hyderabad. This deeply affirmed how intertwined our spiritual lineages are.

During a visit to Delhi, I had the blessing to visit the Bargah Sharif of Hazrat Inayat Khan. But it was after moving to Germany that I had the chance to fulfill a long-standing desire — to visit Fazal Manzil, the spiritual residence of Hazrat Inayat Khan, located in Suresnes, Paris. I had the honor of making this sacred journey accompanied by Dr. Irshad Balkhi, Founder of Maktab-e-Sufi Germany, whose presence added depth, reflection, and blessing to the experience.

Fazal Manzil: A House of Light: -

Fazal Manzil is not just a house — it is a living sanctuary of spiritual history. The moment I stepped in, I felt a powerful stillness, as if the walls still whispered the echoes of his Zikr. There is a small Hisar (enclosure) preserved inside, said to be written by Hazrat Hashim Madani before Hazrat Inayat Khan embarked on his westward journey — a precious relic connecting India and the West through a spiritual bridge.

The library of Hazrat Inayat Khan contains many rare and old books from the Chishti Nizami order, including one of the most famous books — Tareeq-e-Mashaykh-e-Chisht — a reminder of our continued connection to the Silsila through knowledge and heritage The Sama-Khana (room for spiritual music) was serene and one could imagine the Sufi gatherings, the music, the Dervishes in remembrance. Most sacred of all, I visited the room where Hazrat Inayat Khan meditated, received seekers, and gave Bay'ah (spiritual initiation) to Mureeds. It was here that he started the Sufi Summer School, where seekers from all over the world gathered — united not by culture, language, or nation — but by the heart’s longing for Divine connection.

A Voice from the Heart: Keepers of the Spirit: -

During this sacred Ziyarat, we were blessed to meet Ms. Hind Wakach, a Mureed in the Inayat Silsila and the in-charge of Fazal Manzil, accompanied by her husband Majid Wakach. Their presence radiated warmth, humility, and spiritual depth. With heartfelt hospitality, they guided us through every corner of Fazal Manzil, sharing rare insights and sacred memories. Ms. Hind showed us the original music notes of Hazrat Inayat Khan — compositions he used for singing and Zikr. Then, in an unforgettable moment, Miss Hind herself sang one of his most cherished pieces:

Sub'ḥana Dhī Al-Mulki wal-Malakuti, Sub'ḥana Dhi Al-Izzati Wal-Aẓamati wal-Haibati wal-Qudrati wal-Kibriyai wal-Jabaruti.

Her voice was gentle yet powerful, rich in feeling and full of reverence. She sang in the same tone and rhythm Hazrat Inayat Khan once used — giving us a direct window into his spiritual practice. The way she sang transported us; it was as if time paused, and we were in the presence of something eternal. Her voice filled the room with divine presence and her kindness made the moment deeply personal. Thanks to Hind and Majid Wakach, our visit to Fazal Manzil became not just a tour, but a spiritually immersive experience.

Hazrat Noor Inayat Khan’s Veena & Other Sacred Artifacts: -

Among the deeply moving treasures at the Fazal Manzil museum is the Veena of Hazrat

Noor Inayat Khan — daughter of Hazrat Inayat Khan and a heroic figure known not only for her spiritual depth but also for her courage as a spy in the French Resistance during WWII.

The Veena an Indian classical instrument represents more than just music — it is a symbol of her Indian heritage and spiritual refinement. To see it preserved in this sacred space was to witness the blend of Sufi art, beauty, and service to humanity — a legacy she carried forward from her father. Other priceless relics housed in the museum include: -

- Original handwritten letters and calligraphy by Hazrat Inayat Khan

- Musical instruments he used for his spiritual concerts

- Photographs and clothing from his travels across India, Europe and America

- Teaching notes and manuscripts of the early Sufi Order in the West

This pilgrimage was not just a journey of the body — it was a movement of the heart, reconnecting with the roots of a living spiritual tradition that continues to nourish seekers across the globe. Fazal Manzil stands today not just as a monument to a Sufi master but as a lighthouse of love, humility and spiritual unity that transcends time, culture, and geography.