Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s ‘Har Quom Raast Raahe’: Justice Markandey Katju Connects Sufi Wisdom with Ashoka’s Edicts and Akbar’s Sulh-i-Kul
Har Quom Raast Raahe, Deen-e-Wa Qibla Gaahe: Justice Markandey Katju on Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s Timeless Message of Religious Harmony
Description
What is the meaning of the Persian phrase "Har Quom Raast Raahe, Deen-e-Wa Qibla Gaahe"? In this article, Justice Markandey Katju recounts his visit with Salman Khurshid to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, where he urged the shrine authorities to prominently display the Sufi saint's famous words advocating respect for all religions.
Justice Katju traces the historical roots of this message, showing how Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia's teachings resonate with Emperor Ashoka's Twelfth Major Rock Edict and Emperor Akbar's policy of Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace). The article argues that India's civilizational strength has always rested on religious tolerance, pluralism, and communal harmony—values that remain crucial in contemporary India.
Har quom raast raahe, deen-e-wa qibla gaahe
By Justice Markandey Katju
On 12th October 2025, my friend Salman Khursheed, former Union Minister and senior advocate, Supreme Court ( whom I have known for about 45 years ), and I jointly visited the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in Delhi, during the urs of the famous Sufi saint. Details of this visit are given in the article below :
During this visit, I told Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami, the Sajjadanashin and President of the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah Management Committee, to put up several boards in several prominent parts of the dargah with these Farsi words of the famous Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia :
'' Har quom raast raahe
Deen-e-wa qibla gaahe ''
I wrote an article mentioning when and where the saint uttered these words.
The words mean :
“Every people has a pole (qibla) to which they turn"
i.e.
Every sect has its own right path of worship.
In other words, there should be tolerance and respect for all religions.
These words echo the words of the great Emperor Ashoka, who said around 260 BC in his 12th Major Rock Edict inscribed in Girnar, Junagadh, Gujarat ( which I have seen ) :
'' ”Thus, saith his Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King:
The beloved of the Gods (Devaanaam Priya), King Piyadassi, honours all religions. Religions other than one’s own should also be honoured, and the essentials of all religions should be promoted. If one acts thus, he promotes his own religion and benefits other religions too. If one acts otherwise, he hurts his own religion and hurts other religions too. One should not extol and glorify his own religion while disparaging the religion of others, for by doing so he diminishes the value of his own religion. Whoever disparages the religion of others while extolling and glorifying his own, harms his own religion grievously. Therefore, concord is commendable.”
The substance of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia's words were also contained in the policy proclaimed by the great Mughal Emperor Akbar of Suleh-e-Kul i.e. giving equal respect to all religions and communities.
I called Syed Farid Ahmed Nizami on WhatsApp today and reminded him of my request made to him when I met him on 12th October last year. I said that Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia's words are extremely important today in a country like India, having such tremendous diversity, particularly when communal elements are trying to polarise society and sow hatred and discord between Hindus and Muslims. We must combat such nefarious forces, rising above casteism and communalism, if we wish India to remain united and progress.
He replied that he will comply with my request soon, adding a Hindi translation of the words, since they are in Farsi.
(Justice Markandey Katju is a former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, and former Chairman of the Press Council of India. The views expressed are his own.)
