Sufi Master Hazrat Shaykh Khwaja Shamsuddin Azeemi (Urdu: خواجہ شمس الدین عظیمی) is the patriarch of the Sufi Order of Azeemia. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Roohani Digest, an Urdu magazine published monthly in Pakistan. Shaykh Azeemi was born in India on October 17, 1927. His forefathers, ethnic Persians (Tajiks) came from Central Asia Khurasan from the province of Herat, nowaday in Afghanistan to India. One of his forefathers went to Panipat. At the time of the Indian Partition of 1947, he moved with his family to Pakistan, where he was initiated into the Suhurwardia Sufi Order. Even early on during his childhood, Shaykh Azeemi was intrigued by the metaphysical. Eventually this quest led him to the door steps of Qalander Baba Auliya (1896-1979), who became his Spiritual Master or Murshid. Shaykh Azeemi spent 14 years under his guidance during which time he went through different spiritual stages, or maqaam, through practicing muraqaba (Sufi meditation), dhikr (devotional acts) and ihsaan (self-awareness).[1]

In 1962, Shaykh Azeemi started writing articles on telepathy, parapsychology, color meditation and healing in various Pakistani newspapers and magazines. The most famous of them was his advice column, "Roohani Daak", in the Urdu Daily Jang. People from all walks of life would write to him for advice on their life's problems. As a result of its success, the Roohani Digest was launched in 1978. He has written over 40 books, with many of them having been translated into Arabic, Persian, English, Russian and other languages.[2]

His main focus has always been to popularize muraqaba, as he states that muraqaba is the quickest and surest way that leads to self-awareness, which in turn leads to God-awareness. For this purpose, he has set up Muraqaba Halls, which conduct muraqaba throughout Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Thailand and the Russian Federation.[3]

Shaykh Azeemi also promotes muraqaba as improving concentration and a sense of well-being, helping to improve health. He often prescribes meditation of a specific color for achieving the health related benefits. His students come from different faiths and backgrounds.[4]

Shaykh Azeemi is married and lives in Karachi, Pakistan with his family of nine adult children (five sons and four daughters). His eldest son, Waqar Yousuf Azeemi, Ph.D., is the current editor of Roohani Digest and a speaker as well as an author.[5]