Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) was born in 569 A.H. in a town called "Aush" or Awash in Mawar-un-Nahar (Transoxania). Khwaja Qutbuddin's (alaihir rahmah) original name was "Bakhtiyar" but his title was "Qutbuddin". The name "Kaki" to his name was attributed to him by virtue of a miracle that emanated from him at a later stage of his life in Delhi. He also belonged to the direct lineage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam), descending from Hadrat Imam Hussain (radi Allahu anhu). Hadrat Khwaja Bakhtiyar Khaki (alaihir rahmah) was one and half year old when his father passed away. His mother arranged for him very good education and training.

When Hadrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (alaihir rahmah) came to Isfahan, 40 days before his demise, he took oath of allegiance on his hands and got Khilafat and Khirqah (dress of a religious mendicant) from him. Thus, he was the first spiritual successor of Hadrat Khwaja Ghareeb-o-Nawaaz, Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (alaihir rahmah). Thereafter, his spiritual master asked him to go to India and stay there. He said: "I appoint him as my Sajjada Nashin at Delhi along with the sacred relics of our Khwajgaan-e-Chist."

When Khwaja Qutbuddin (alaihir rahmah) intended to kiss the feet of his Peer-o-Murshid (alaihir rahmah) and seek his permission to depart, Hadrat Khwaja Saheb (alaihir rahmah) understood it and asked him to be nearer, and when Khwaja Bakhtiyar (alaihir rahmah) stepped up and fell at his Peer's feet, Khwaja Mu?inuddin (alaihir rahmah) raised him up and embraced him affectionately. A Fateha was then recited and Khwaja Muhinuddin (alaihir rahmah) advised his mureed: "Never turn your face from the right path of Sufism and Truth. Prove yourself to be a brave man in this Divine Mission." When he again fell at the feet of Khwaja Muhinuddin (alaihir rahmah) overwhelmed with love and grief at this tragic hour of parting, he was again raised and embraced affectionately by his Peer-o-Murshid (alaihir rahmah). Following this order, he went to Delhi and stayed there. It was the period of Sultan Shamsuddin Iltutmish.

Hardly twenty days had passed when news was brought by a messenger that Hadrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaaz (alaihir rahmah) disappeared into the eternal Divine bliss of the Almighty Allah.

Hadrat Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) used to offer 95 Rakaats of Salaah during the 24 hours of day and night, along with 3 000 Durood Shareefs every night upon the soul of the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). During the first 3 nights of his first marriage, he could not maintain the Durood Shareef. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) sent a visionary message to a pious person named Rais Ahmed, asking Hadrat Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) the reasons for his not reciting the Durood Shareef. Hadrat Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) divorced his wife as a mark of repentance and thereafter broke off all worldly ties and devoted his full time to the devotion of Almighty Allah and the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

It is narrated that in the early stages of his life, Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin (alaihir rahmah) would take a nap, but in the last part of his life he kept awake all the time. He had also committed the Quran to memory and used to recite and finish it twice daily. Whenever anything came to his Khanqah, he quickly distributed these to the poor and needy. If there were nothing, he would request his attendants and mureeds to distribute plain water as a humble token of his hospitality.

Sheikh Nur Bux has written in his book entitled "Silsilatuz'zah": "Bakhtiyar Aushi was a great devotee, mystic and friend of Allah. In private and public he was indulged in the remembrance of Allah. He was habituated to eat little, sleep little and speak little. He was a towering personality in the world of mysticism."

He had no parallel in abandoning the world and suffering poverty and hunger. He kept himself engrossed in the remembrance of Allah. Whenever someone came to him he would come back to his senses after a while and was then able to talk with him. After a very brief exchange he would show his inability to continue any longer and slipped into the same state of absorption once again.

Once Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin (alaihir rahmah) was coming back with his relatives and disciples after offering Eid Salaah that he, all on a sudden, halted at a place in silence. After a while his relatives submitted: "Today is the Eid day. Many people would be awaiting his arrival." Having heard this Hadrat Khwaja (alaihir rahmah) came out of his lost state and uttered, "From this piece of land I have the smell of the perfect men."

Thereafter, he came home and after the meal was over, he asked the people to call the owner of the land to him. When the owner came to him, he purchased that piece of land from him. Later, Hadrat Bakhtiyar (alaihir rahmah) was buried in the same soil.

Death also came to him in an unusual manner. It is stated that once in an assembly of Sama (Qawwali) he happened to hear a verse of Hadrat Ahmad Jam with the meaning: "Those who are killed with the dagger of surrender and pleasure get a new life from the Unseen."

Hadrat Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) was so much absorbed in and inspired with this verse that from that day on he kept on reciting it in a state of unconsciousness and gave his life in the same state. He remained in this state of Wajd for 3 consecutive days and expired on the 4th day. He passed away on the 14th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 633 A.H. On account of his extra-ordinary death, Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) is known as "Shaheed-e-Mohabbat" or Martyr of Allah's Love.

The Mazaar Shareef of Hadrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhityar Kaki (alaihir rahmah) lies near Qutb Minar at old Delhi.

He also enjoys the following titles in the Sufi world: Qutub-ul-Aqtaab, Malik-ul-Mashaa'ikh, Rais-us-Saalikin, Siraj-ul-Awliya, etc