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Moslems |
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1.
Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir Shah-e-Hamdan
2.
Sayed Abdul Qadir Jilani
2.
Sheikh-Ul-Alam Hazrat Noor-Uddin Wali
3.
Sultan-Ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sheikh Hamza
Makhdum
4.
Hazrat Payam Uddin alias Baba Rishi
(Tang-Marg)
5.
Bulbul-e-Kashmir Hazrat Bulbul Shah
6.
Hazrat Mir Muhammad
Hamdani
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Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir Shah-e-Hamdan ::
Many saints came to the valley of
Kashmir to preach and to propagate
Islam, to name a few were: Bulbul Shah,
Syed Jalal Uddin Bukhari, Syed Taj Uddin,
Syed Hussain Samnani, and Yousuf. But
the one who lit the torch of monotheism,
in reality was Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir
Sahah-e-Hamdan. Parentage
His name was Ali, and titles were
Amir-e-Kabir, Ali Sa'ani, and Mir.
Besides them, the Chroniclers had
mentioned several other titles:
Qutub-e-Zaman, Sheikh-e-Salikan-e-Jehan,
Qutub-Ul-Aktab,
Moih-Ul-Ambiya-o-Ul-Mursaleen,
Afzal-Ul-Muhaq-e-qeen-o-Akmal-Ul-Mudaq-e-qeen,
Al-Sheiyookh-Ul-Kamil,
Akmal-Ul-Muhaqqiq-Ul-Hamadani etc.
He traced his patrimony through his
father, Syed Shahab Uddin, to Imam
Zain-ul-Abedein and finally to Hazrat
Ali. His mother, Syeda Fatimah, with
seventeen links, reached the Prophet.
His date of birth is disputed. To some
it is 12, Rajab-Ul-Marjab 714 Hijri
(12th October 1314) and to others is 12,
Rajab 713 (12th October 1313). The
former date appears more probable.
Education
Syed Hamdani came from an educated
family. He was intelligent and quick of
mind, and read the holy Qu'Oran, under
the care of his maternal uncle, Hazrat
Ala-Uddin and from him too he took his
lessons on subjects outer and intrinsic
for a period of thirteen years.
Spiritual Training
Hazrat Ala-Uddin, then, entrusted him to
Sheikh Abul Bracket for Spiritual
training, and after his demise he
proceeded to Sheikh Mahmud Mizdiqani, a
renowned saint of the time. The saint
put him to severe tests and thus removed
pride and haughtiness from him and
inculcated in him virtues of humility.
Order
He belonged to the Kibroya branch of the
Suharawardy Order and received the role
of the spiritual heir from Sheikh Abul
Miamin Najam Uddin Muhammad-bin-Mohammad
Azani.
Payers and Meditation
After studies, external and internal, in
order to train his self; he went into
seclusion and spent six years. He did
not utter a single word relating to
material life. After the period, he
again went to Hazrat Abul Barakat who
attended to the cleansing of heart and
physical exercise. He ordered him to go
to Muhammad Mizdiqani. After the last
rites of Hazrat Abul Barakat he
presented himself to Hazrat Mahmud
Mizdiqani on the fourth day.
Travels
Travelling is very essential in mystical
life. Under the orders of his teacher
Mahmud Mizdiqani, he set out on journey
and spent better part of it in it.
Ghulam Sarvar writes about his travels.
Sheikh Mahmud Mizdiqani Said, "Travel
about the world, meet the saints, draw
benefits from them as much as you can."
consequently, he undertook the Haj
thrice and traveled for twenty or twenty
one years. During these journeys he saw
the Islamic and other countries and met
the holy men there.
Preaching of the Deen
He quarreled with Amir-e-Temur and so
moved to Kashmir with seven hundred
Syeds and his followers, during the
reign of King Shahab-Uddin. He had
already sent two of his followers: Syed
Taj Uddin Samnani and Mir Syed Hasan
Samnani to take stock of the situation.
The ruler of Kashmir became the follower
of Mir Syed Hasan Samnani and because of
the Kings concurrence he entered Kashmir
with a large following. The King and
heir apparent, Qutub Uddin, received him
warmly. At that time the Kashmir ruler
was on war with Firoz Tughlaq and
because of his efforts the parties came
to terms.
Shah Hamdan started the propagation
movement of the Islam in Kashmir in an
organized manner. The Kashmiri Muslims
were unaware of the Deeni spirit before
his arrival there. The reason being, the
people, who had initiated the Movement,
were saintly by nature and carried a
deep influence of the Hinduism and the
Buddhism. In-spite of having been turned
Muslims they still observed many local
rites and practices. Shah Hamdan did not
stay in the valley permanently but
visited on various occasions. First
during the reign of Sultan Shahab Uddin
in 774 Hijri he came, stayed for six
months and left it. Second, he visited
in 781 Hijri when Qutub Uddin was the
ruler, stayed for a year and tried to
extend the Movement to every nook and
corner of Kashmir, returned to Turkistan
via Ladakh in 783 Hijri. Third, he
visited in 785, with the intention to
stay for a longer period but had to
return earlier owing to illness.
During his travels he met one thousand
and four hundred saints and made
numerous followers. The valley of
Kashmir was fortunate for he decided to
make it the center of his activities.
Prior to him the Yogis propagated Islam
and Rishis on whom the local effects
ruled strongly than the pristine Islamic
spirit. The intrinsic had over powered
the Shairah. His greatest contribution
was that he synchronized the intrinsic
with the Shairah. The Kashmiris in-spite
of being Muslims believed in many
un-Islamic rites, practices and beliefs.
Shah Hamadan in his native land
Syed Ali Hamdani spent twenty years of
his life in his native land and engaged
in the spiritual training of his
followers, preaching, counseling, and
religious discourses.
Art and Crafts
Shah Hamadan was a Multi-dimensional
personality. He was a social reformer
besides being a preacher. Among the
seven hundred followers, who accompanied
him to Kashmir, were men of arts and
crafts who flourished here? They
popularized Shawl-making, cloth-weaving,
pottery and calligraphy. Allama Iqbal
admits that because of Shah Hamadan the
wonderful arts and crafts turned Kashmir
into a mini Iran and brought about a
revolution in the thinking process of
the people.
According to Daira-e-Maarif-e-Islamia
Shah Hamadan's greatest contribution was
the character building of the people to
liberate them from the fear of the new
system and their love for the older one.
He imbibed true awakening and taught the
Shairah. The Kashmiri people still had
some of the Hindu beliefs; visited the
temples and revered the Brahmins. The
rulers wore Hindu dresses, and observed
practices Un-Islamic in nature. On his
instructions the rulers abandoned
Un-Islamic dress and took to long cloaks
similar to the ones wore by the Turkish
rulers. Orders of the Shairah were made
popular and people were inspired to
learn more about Islam. For purpose of
building the character of the Muslims he
practiced truthfulness and fearlessness.
He even scolded the contemporary rulers
on their Un-Islamic activities. Sultan
Qutub Uddin had two real sisters as
wives. He reprimanded him and asked to
divorce one of them. He obeyed. He made
Islamic teachings known to the people in
Kashmir, improved their beliefs, made
efforts for the building of their
character and laid down a fool-proof
system for the propagation of the Islam.
Shah Hamadan's followers and colleagues
Shah Hamadan's efforts reached far and
wide and benefited a large number of
people. The number of his followers was
large. A few to mention were: Noor Uddin
Jafar Rustaq Bazari Badakhshi, Khawaja
Ishaq Khatlani, Sheikh Qiwam Uddin
Badakhshi, Mir Syed Husain Samnani, Mir
Rukn Uddin, Syed Fakhar Uddin,
Qutub-e-Amjad Syed Muhammad Qureshi,
Syed Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Muhammad Aziz
Ullah, Syed Muhammad murid, and Pir
Muhammad Qadri etc.
Books
Shah Hamadan, besides being a mystic
saint and an effective preacher, was a
man of letters and wrote about a hundred
pamphlets in Arabic and Persian:
Zakhira-Tul-Malik, a famous book, has
been translated in many languages. It is
impossible to mention all the titles of
his books here, how ever, a few of them
are: Sharah Nasoos-Ul-Hukm Farisi,
Asrar-Ul-Nuqt, Risala Nooriya, Risia
Islahat-e-Ilam-Ul-Qafia-o-Qaeda,
Moudat-Ul-Qurabi, Rouzat-Ul-Firdous,
Firdous-Ul-Akhbar, Manazil-Ul-Salikeen,
Khulasit-Ul-Manaqib, Chehl Asrar, and
etc.
Revelation and Miracles
Once a king invited him. He declined.
The king grew furious; ordered to mould
a horse from copper, heat it, put the
saint on it, and brings him to him. The
order was obeyed. The king's servants
heated the horse but it soon grew cold
(under the will of God). The king
repented for his conduct and begged of
his forgiveness.
Illness and Death
On return from his third visit to
Kashmir he reached Kinar via Pikhanli
and was received as a royal guest. He
fell ill there and died after five days
on 6, Zil Haj 786 Hijri.
Compiler, Hasan, in the Tar-eekh-e-Hasan
mentions the date of expiry in the
Persian couplet, which means:
The great Syed Sirdar (Ali Hamadan) went
to the paradise to take rest. Hasan
mentions the year of the death in this
couplet.
He was buried at Kolab in Khatlani where
people gather in large numbers to pay
their homage to him.
The Monastery (Khanqab-e-Mualla)
His room where he stayed for the first
time, is a part of a great building,
named as Khanqah-e-Mualia rose by Sultan
Sikandar from 1394 to 1417 AD. The
building is a beautiful model of wooden
architecture of Kashmir, with engravings
on walls. Friday prayers are said here
where hundreds gather to pray. The
sacred relics include the Prophet's
flag, the pillar of the Prophet's tent,
and Shah Hamadan's walking stick.
During his life the place acquired the
distinction of being the center of the
spiritual light. People revere the place
and some call it the second Ka'aba out
of extreme devotion. |
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Sayed Abdul Qadir Jilani
:The
Great defender and the leader of the
saints were born of pious parents of Hasani lineage, in the year 478 Hijri at
Gilan in Persia. He was Syed from both
sides, from father as well as mother.
His father Syed Abu Saleh, was an
illustrious and God - fearing man. Once
he was engrossed in meditation by the
bank of a river he saw an apple floating
down the river. He picked it up and ate
it. It struck to him that he ate the
apple without paying for it so he set
out in search of the owner, on the bank
of the river and at last reached the
owner of the apple orchard, Abdullah
Somai whom he requested to tell him the
price of the apple, Abdullah Somai
replied that it was an expensive thing.
Syed Abu Saleh replied that he had not
much by way of worldly material but he,
could serve him for its compensation.
Abdullah Somai then asked him to Work
for a year in the orchard. In course of
time the duration was extended several
times. In the end Abdullah Somai
admitted that he had served him in
excess of the price and desired to
reward him. Abu Saleh hesitated in
accepting it but when Abdullah Somai
persisted, he relented. He said he had a
daughter, blind of eyes, handicapped of
hands and feet and wanted to give her in
marriage to him. In this way Abdullah
Somai was married to his daughter, Syeda
Fatimah. To his astonishment Abu Saleh
found her wondrously beautiful and
wholesome. He complained to his
father-in-law that he found her exactly
the opposite to what he had described
her. Abdullah Somai insisted on the
truthfulness of his statement. She was
blind because she had not seen a man who
could marry her. She was mute because
she had not uttered a word repugnant to
the Shairah. She was deaf because she
had not heard anything inconsistent with
the Shairah. She was handicapped of hand
and feet because she had never moved in
the direction of evil. The Great
defender's father died soon after and
the little orphan was reared up by his
mother and under the benevolent care of
his grand father, Abdullah Somai.
Childhood
During infancy he never sucked milk
during the day and had it after it was
dark. When hungry he never cried like
other children but remained composed in
the cradle. As he was an orphan his
initial education started under the
supervision of his mother. Having
completed, his primary education he
sought his mother's permission to go to
Baghdad for higher education. His mother
was old still she allowed him to go and
thus he set out to Baghdad in the year
488 Hijri.
Some chroniclers say he was 14 when he
set out to Baghdad. His mother sewed 40
gold coins in his quilt so that he might
spend then when needed. The dacoits
struck the caravan on the way, and
looted all the travelers of their
belongings and wealth. They asked him
what he had. He replied that he had 40
gold coins. The dacoits took his reply
for a joke and took him to their chief.
The Chief of the dacoits asked him the
same question and he again replied that
he had 40 gold coins on him. He demanded
him to show, upon whom he tore away, the
quilt and produced the gold coins. He
was surprised and asked him why he had
given the hidden gold coins. He could
have kept them and they could have never
known about them. The boy replied that
he was travelling to Baghdad to receive
education. His mother had instructed him
to speak the truth and he had done it.
This left a deep effect on the Chief of
the dacoits and he gave up looting.
Higher Education
He received lessons on Islamic
Jurisprudence form Abu Said Makhzoomi,
Tradition from Abu-Bakra-bin-Muzaffar,
and Commentary from the renowned
Commentator, Abu Muhammad Jafar. Having
thus qualified he engaged himself in
teaching.
Teaching
He became a teacher and took to teaching
in the seminary of his teacher, Qazi
Abu-Said-Mubarak. Soon he became popular
with his pupils. His fame spread far and
nears. Pupils flocked to him. In the
morning he taught lessons on Tradition
and Commentary, and in the after-noon
held discourse on Mysticism and the
virtues of the Qu'Oran. The number of
students increased so much that the
seminary could no more contain them. He,
therefore, decided to extend the
premises of the seminary. The students
and the people willingly came forward
with their wholehearted contributions.
The campus buildings were ready in 528
Hijri and thereafter it came to be known
as Madarsai-e-Qadriya.
Judicial Sentences and Ermons
The Sheikh (The Great Defender) besides
teaching engaged himself in Judicial
Sentences and Sermons in the service of
the Religion; delivered his sermons
thrice a week. His oratory drew
multitude of crowds, which sometimes
exceeded sixty or seventy thousand
people.
Truthfulness and Fearlessness
The Sheikh was truthful and fearless.
The Caliph Al-Muqtazi once appointed
Ibne-Marjam the Qazi. Ibne Marjam was
known for his cruelties. The people were
panicked. They approached the Sheikh. He
addressed the Caliph from the pulpit
that he had posted a man Qazi who was
extremely cruel. When he reached before
his Creator on the last day what excuse
he would put forward for appointing him.
God is merciful and kind to the people.
The Caliph trembled and at once sacked
Ibne Marjam form the post.
Generosity
Whatever Presents, valuables his
followers or disciples offered him he
distributed them among the poor and the
needy and gave precedence to other's
needs to this own. None returned empty
handed from his gate. He was therefore,
called leader of the saints, the Helper,
the Great defender, and Darling of God.
God filled his heart with profound love
for the poor, the needy, and the
helpless.
Propagation of Islam
He propagated Islam through his writings
and speeches and remained aloof from the
government and politics. He, therefore,
ruled over the hearts of the people. The
kings were envious of him. Not only did
he propagate Islam through pen and word
of mouth but saved also the Muslims from
complete extinction. The world so
remembers him with the little.
Mohi-uddin, the life-giver
Books
He wrote a large number of books in
defense and service of Islam. His book
Ganiat Ul Talibeen is on the orders
from the Tradition. Mansharah-ul-ghaib
deals with Mysticism. Fateh-Rabbani is
the collection of his sermons and
addresses
Maktoob-e-Subhani comprises of his
letters. In verse he wrote fourteen
moving odes and a Persian works.
Death
He busied himself for forty years in the
service of the Faith from 521 to 561
Hijri During this period hundreds
embarrassed Islam because of him and
organized several teams to go abroad for
the purpose. He arrived in India in 1428
AD. And stayed at Multan. His Qadriya
order still exists in India. He died in
561 Hijri at the age of 91 years.
His Sayings
Knowledge is useless without action. Be
a doer and not an illiterate
deliberately. One who knows and acts
accordingly is a viceroy of Allah.
Lo! On one who committed the Qu'Oran to
memory but did not follow it.
Allah is such a name that eases every
difficulty and relieves of all kinds of
worries and grief's and this is a great
name.
Whoever keeps Allah his friend, he is
under His protection and passes his
lives under His benign benevolence.
Beggar is he who perpetually engages
himself in prayer and in contemplation.
He is truthful, capacious, and
courageous; regards his self-the
meanest; what he does not know, tries to
know; teaches the ignorant, and advises
the careless.
The faithful is he who seeks lawful
living, and is not a fatalist. If
succeeds in getting a job, he shall get
lawful living and compensation for
search of a living.
For patience he said; the faithful
perseveres in difficulty and distress
and does not forsake the Shairah;
submits to the will; is not perturbed
from poverty and grief but remains
composed, patient, and thankful.
The patience of a beggar as against the
thankfulness of a rich man and the
beggar's thankfulness as against the
rich man's patience is larger.
The war of the inner is better than that
of the outer.
Don't complain of Allah's slave (men).
Think great so long as you live.
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Sheikh-Ul-Alam Hazrat Noor-Uddin Wali ::
His year of birth is disputed. Some say
it was 779 Hijri while others hold it as
757 Hijri. It is futile to go into the
discussion here but under modern
research the year 779 is more probable.
Place of Birth
This too is a matter of dispute. People
generally believe that he was born at
Kemoh Kolgan but his poetic works don't
corroborate it and assert that his place
of birth was Khi-Jogipura in the Kulgam
tehsil.
"There, at Khi-Jogipura I was born
because of His kindness. I am Nands Sanz
Muslim."
Parentage
From both sides (mother and father) he
came down from the royal family of
Kishtwar which descended from Maharaja
Vikramajit. Sheikh-Ul-Alam himself,
mentions his lineage in his verse:
My Father and mother belonged to the
Sanz family. Ogra Sanz and his son
Durpita Sanz were my ancestors. His son
Zanga Sanz who was killed in a battle
succeeded Durpita Sanz. He left behind a
son: Hambar Sanz. The later had two
sons: Salar and Salu. I am the son of
Salar Sanz."
Some hold that Sheikh-Ul-Alma's father
Salar Sanz paid allegiance to Yasmin
Rishi, embraced Islam, and assumed the
name Sheikh Salar but the Sheikh
contradicts the tradition in his verses.
His father's spiritual guide and teacher
were Syed Husain Samnani.
His Mother
Sheikh-Ul-Alma's mother was 'Sidrah' who
was en-trusted to be brought up by the
village chowkidar according to the
custom. Her parents died in the meantime
and the Chowkidar married her away to a
young man of the village who died in a
short while. After this on the advice of
Yasmin Rishi or Syed Husain Samnani she
was remarried to the neo-Muslim, Sheikh
Salar Uddin.
Titles
Noor Uddin is remembered by the titles:
Sheikh-Ul-Alam, The Savior of Kashmir,
Nanda Rishi and Suneha Nand.
Birth and Bringing-up
According to a tradition Lalla Arifa
used to visit his mother during her
pregnancy and took care of her. For the
first three days he did not take a feed
of milk. Lalla Arifa then fed him on her
breasts saying; "You never hesitated in
coming to this world then, why do you
hesitate in taking the milk?"
The historians on Kashmir unanimously
believe that he belonged to Owaisia
Order but Hasan refers to Vaqa'eh
Kashmir, that he drew spiritual
sustenance from Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir
Shah-e-Hamdan, Syed Husain Samnani, and
Mir Muhammad Hamdani. It is also said
that Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir entrusted him
to Syed Husain Samnani at an early age.
The letter, kept in the Khanqah-e-Mullah,
indicates that Mir Muhammad Hamdani
admitted him to his guidance for
training and education in spiritual
meditation and divine rites.
Sheikh-Ul-Alam was, in fact, the source
of all knowledge, intrinsic as well as
exterior. He was never educated or
trained at a seminary or a monastery but
whatever he attained was the result of
his sincere, and severe attempts in
pursuing meditation and prayers,
although he was not literate, yet he was
a poet, a philosopher, a Rishi. A
saintly mystic, the flag bearer of
Kashmir, and the protector of the
Kashmiri culture all combined in one.
His early life
Symptoms at the time of his birth:
Averse to taking milk for the first
three days, the first feed of milk on
Lalla Arifa's breasts and reforming his
step brothers. Drawing copiously from
Syed Husain Samnani and Mir Muhammad
Hamdani, great and perfect saints of his
time indicated that he would attain the
lofty sainthood in future.
Prayers and Meditation
He was deeply involved in his love that
he renounced the conjugal life. The
mother persuaded him, requested him,
reminded him of her milk, and finally
frightened him; the wife beseeched him
with tearful eyes, but nothing worked
with him. Upon the demand of milk from
his mother, God so willed that it flowed
out of a stone. When the wife so
insisted, he laid the baboon thorns on
the floor of the cave and rested on them
and asked her to do the same. She left
her two children who were found dead the
following morning.
Being removed of all marital
connections, he busied himself
completely to intense practices, rites,
meditations and prayers in order to
subdue the self, renounced all material
interests pertaining to body and mined,
in order to strengthen the spiritual
powers.
Travels
He severely practiced meditation in a
cave for twelve years and lived on
vegetation from the woods; spent
sometimes on travels, and then went to
live in isolation at Vichar-naag. Later,
he traveled about in Kashmir, reached
Vargam, and lastly came to Charar-Sharif
to spend the remaining period of his
life. Here he met Mir Muhammad Hamdani,
and after some discussion received the
letter of guidance from him.
Sheikh-Ul-Alam and Rishiyat
Rishi is a person who immerses himself
into the Divine self.
Prior to the advent of Islam in Kashmir
the rishis enjoyed great influence on
the life of the people. The early
preachers of Islam followed the conduct
and manners of the yogis and rishis in
the propagation of the religion. The
reason being that in-spite of their
embracing Islam, they still followed
ways and practices of their former times
and the lay men wished to see the
holy-men in the models of rishis. The
preachers who came form outside, were
the Syeds and nearer to the rulers
whereas the Muslim rishis were natives
of Kashmir. The collisions resulted in
the progress of the Rishiyat or in order
to propagate Islam they had to rely on
the Rishiyat extensively.
The Rishiyat was deeply rooted in the
psyche of the natives of Kashmir and the
preaching of Islam was almost impossible
without its help. The Chistia order
adopted profitably listening to music
for the purpose, similarly Sheikh-Ul-Alam
employed the Rishiyat. Letter of
guidance issued by Mir Muhammad Hamdani
is the testimony, which allows him
living in isolation and meditation (for
a certain period of time). With him the
Rishiyat transformed into a movement and
he looked for such captains as to spread
Islam in Kashmir. He contacted all men
of intelligence, power, and character
and impressed them with his spiritual
powers, revelations, miracles, and
discussions and won them over for the
mission. His followers came to be known
as rishis. Baba Bam Uddin, Baba Zam
Uddin, Baba Nasir Uddin and Baba Payam
Uddin were the rishis of the Rishiyat
movement. He not only limited it to the
men only but extended it to women also.
This included Shinga Bibi, Shyan Bibi,
Bahet Bibi, Dih Bibi, Datta Bibi, and
Salar Bibi, both elder and younger ones.
Spiritual heirs of the Sheikh-Ul-Islam
of the Rishiyat movement to mention a
few, were: Sangrama Gunai, Sangrama Ved,
Baba-Qutab-Uddin, Baba-Qayam-Uddin,
Maulana-Mank-Nayak, Sozan Rishi, Khati
Rishi, Lachcham Rishi I, Machchi Rishi
II, Roya Rishi, Sidrah Rishi,
Bab-Yazd-Rishi, Baba-Gulab-Rishi,
Sidh-Sher-Kanth, Baba-Badar-Uddin, Baba-Sadr-Uddin,
and Vati Rishi.
Revelations and Miracles
Shingar Bibi was the most beautiful
woman and an expert dancer of her time.
She had mastered the art of enamouring
the people and could entrap the pious
ones in her amorous ways. She broke the
forty-year-old piety of Sozan Rishi.
Some evil-minded persons persuaded her
to detract Hazrat Sheikh Ul Alam; She
went to him in all her beauty. The Saint
cast awesome look at her and turned her
into an ugly old woman. She fell at his
feet and begged to pardon her. Hazrat
Noor Uddin pardoned her, prayed for her,
and she regained her youth and beauty.
Shinga Bibi became his follower,
embraced Islam, sought admission into
the Rishiyat movement, spent her life in
the service of the faith, in prayers,
and led a pure and pious life.
Propagation of Islam
In the manner of the rishis of Kashmir,
he propagated Islam, spoke to the people
in the Kashmiri language as against the
Persian, the foreign preachers spoke to
and for the reason their reach was
limited. Besides, he employed verse as
an effective instrument, which
popularized Islam among the common
people, and the Rishiyat emerged as
people's movement.
The Poetry
He was a great poet and had a flair for
prosody, used similes, metaphors,
hyperbolas and other forms of
expression, rich and effective with
aplomb. To express Islamic philosophy
and ideals through poetic forms is an
art effectively practiced by poets like
Sheikh Sa'adi and Iqbal only. Sheikh-Ul-Alam
stands equal to them in it. Muhammad
Asad Ullah Wani regards it the holy
Qu'Oran in the Kashmiri language similar
to Maulana Jalal Uddin's Roomi's masnavi,
the Qu'Oran in Persian.
Quotes
He gives precedence to the following in
his verse.
Good deeds, to control ones wishes, to
remove ignorance, to avoid greed and
avarice, religious tolerance,
fraternity, national integration, and
liberalism.
You enjoy in telling lies but while
speaking truth you shiver like a leaf.
It is futile to give knowledge to a
fool.
To feed an ass on jugglery is to waste
time.
There is no use to sow in a desert; and
to fry a cake of chaff is to waste oil.
Speech is Silver; silence is Gold.
Abdul Ahad Azad summarizes: "The essence
of the teaching of Sheikh-Ul-Alam is
living in isolation, dependence on God,
total surrender to Him, and belittling
the world."
His personality
Sheikh-Ul-Alam left a deep effect on the
people from his speeches and actions and
indirectly moved the other mystic-saints
not belonging to the Rishiyat Order. The
cultural and social life of Kashmir
bears his imprint. He was the precursor
of the mystic poets of Kashmir who drew
heavily form him. His couplets are very
popular with the people even today.
Books
Rishi-Nama and Noor-Nama are collections
of his teachings and anecdotes.
Death
The year of his death similar to the
year of birth is a matter of dispute
with the chroniclers and biographers. It
varies from 808 Hijri, to 820 Hijri to
825 Hijri, and to 842 Hijri but the year
842 Hijri (1438 AD.) is probable. His
tomb stands at Charar-Sharif in the
district of Badgam in Kashmir and draws
large crowds. |
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Sultan-Ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sheikh Hamza
Makhdum ::
Sheikh
Hamza Makhdum, entitled Mehboob-Ul-Alam,
and Sultan-Ul-Arifeen, was born to Baba
Usman, of the Chandra-Vanshi Rajput
family, a hereditary landlord, a scholar
and a mystic saint of high order. Sheikh
Hamza Makhdum, in this manner, inherited
the mysticism.
Education and Training
He inherited the mysticism, and from the
very childhood was inclined to the
company of holy men, and to the truth.
Having read the holy Qu'Oran in the
village, he went to the seminary of
Sheikh Ismial Kabroi for higher studies.
Once he was playing instead of going to
elementary school (maktab) His father
happened to come there, grew angry, and
beat him so severely that he fell ill.
From the day he pledged that he would
never play with his Grand Father Zaiti-Rena.
He went to see Fatah Ullah (son of
Hazrat Baba Ismial) the spiritual
teacher of the Rena tribe, and learnt
the Qu'Oran for a year in the monastery
at Shamsi-Chak here he was enrolled into
the seminary of Baba Ismial Kabroi, as a
student, for higher studies. He studied
the Jurisprudence, Tradition, Logic,
Philosophy, Ethics, and Mysticism.
Prayers and meditation
The title Sultan-Ul-Arifeen indicates to
serious efforts and painstaking prayers
did. During his studies s he meditated.
Baba Davood opines that Hazrat Makhdoom
did not rest during night for years but
remained engaged in prayers.
Sultan-Ul-Arifeen says, "I was directed
to say the daruds, mention of the names,
and prayers because of His kindness and
whenever I sluggish in the conduct I was
reprimanded. "Hard work and painstaking
prayers in the early youth made him old
before time.
Propagation of the Faith
The great sage followed the Sunni
(Tradition) strictly not only in prayers
but also in table manners, dress,
manners, and etc. He scrupulously
followed the Prophet and his love for
him knew no bounds. These things helped
him to reach the highest rank. Later, he
had to forsake his love for isolation in
order to serve the people. He remarks:
"In the early days I had completely
abandoned the company of the people. God
granted me the gift of peace at heart
and composure of mind. He ordered me to
serve the people so I came and started
delivering the Message."
Generally the sages are indifferent to
the Shairah. In the case of the persons
of the Rishiyat Order, the indifference
is evident. The suppression of self,
renunciation of physical demands,
asceticism, and other local effects are
clearly visible on sages and the Islam
here. His greatest contribution was that
he delivered it in its purest form to
the people. He followed the Shairah
strictly but asked others to do it;
opposed to their reluctance of
legitimate things; joined the Shairah
with Rishiyat and asked the people to
follow into the footsteps of the
Prophet; and relieved them of their
superstitions. He made Hirdey Rishi eat
meat under his orders, wore rich dress,
declared superstitions as untrue,
opposed and exposed the hypocrites,
advised to work hard continuously,
observed personal hygiene and
cleanliness and instructed to take
lawful food and to lead pious and pure
life. These are the teachings that show
that he tried to build a society on the
pattern of the Book and Shairah.
End of Superstitions
His greatest contribution was that he
instructed the people to forsake
superstitions and Un-Islamic activities
through his speech and actions. Numerous
instances can be cited from his life.
One of them is:
Two streams flowed in Nadi-hil, and
there stood a bied tree between them.
The blasphemous held it sacred and
observed many rites. Nobody could go by
it during night. If anyone did, he was
stuck in superstitions and made
offerings for his relief. When Sheikh
reached the place he declared, "The Jins
and Satins have fled." He ordered for
the cleaning of the streams and building
of bathrooms.
He relentlessly fought against such
superstitions and practices, stayed at
the, places to make the people fearless,
got mosques built there, for instance
cleansed the stream 'Bech-nag' at Karora
and built a mosque there. Similar
practices and superstitions were
prevalent at Shinga-pal stream in
village Barar; he too stayed there and
built a mosque under the supervision of
Abdul Rashid. He too built a mosque in
village Aham. Wherever he observed
people entangled in them, reached there,
and removed their fears from his deeds.
Reforms in beliefs
The greatest contribution of Sheikh
Hamza Makhdum is the negation of the
spread of the Shiat, by Sheikh
Shamsuddin Iraqi, under state patronage.
He made Sheikh Shamsuddin Iraqi's
efforts in effective and strengthened
the tottering beliefs of the people.
Revelations and Miracles
Sultan-Ul-Arifin's whole life was full
of strange revelations and miracles. One
them to quote is:
One day he went to the house of a saint
Sheikh Khawaja Ishaq, and was served
with roasted birds for the breaking of
the fast (Iftar). The sage ate them,
collected their bones raised his hands
in prayer, and the bones joined
together, the birds came to fife and
flew out of the window.
Death
Sheikh Hamza Makhdum died in the Hijri
year 984 during the reign of Sultan Ali
Shah Kochak. His colleague Tahir Rafique
said his funeral prayer. He was buried
near Hari parbat. Thousands of people
visit the shrine to pay their respects
and receive his blessings. |
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Hazrat Payam Uddin alias Baba Rishi
(Tang-Marg)::
Sheikh Alam
Noor Uddin Noorani impressed upon the
Kashmiri intellectuals, powerful men,
and rulers, the reality and importance
of Islam. He employed discourses,
discussions, debates, revelations and
miracles for the purpose. He initiated a
new system Rishiyat bearing a strong
impression of the country. With the
passage of time from Sheikh-Ul-Alam Noor
Uddin to Baba Payam Uddin Baba Rishi via
Baba Zain Uddin grew stronger. There
were many sages (Rishis) but the word
Rishi simply refers to Baba Payam Uddin.
Many places are related to him such as:
Khanqah-e-Rishi, Islamabad,
Ziariat-e-Rishi (Shrine) Habba Kadal,
and a shrine, of the Rishi by the side
of the road, on the reaches of Gulmarg
hill. The Gulmarg monastery appears to
be a place of solitude and peace from a
distance. The poet describes it:
This is a land of flowers, of hills, of
beautiful scenes, of sweet smelling
shrubs, where the colorful lala flowers
bloom in abundance and the bounties of
God drop in plenty. The place is no less
than the supreme paradise because the
shrine of Hazrat Payam Uddin stands
here. The shrine and tomb are built in
the pagoda style and placed amid
wondrous scenic beauty. It has the Jama
Majid on one side and a market on the
other. One reaches the shrine through a
flight of stairs. The langar (public,
free eating place) adjoins the tomb. It
has a tradition. The king had no male
offspring. He went to the sage and
requested him for it. The sage prayed to
God and the king was bestowed with a
male child. The father and the son
became his followers. Even today the
seekers of offspring's plaster the oven
of the langar and receive God's grace.
Most of the chroniclers are silent about
him. A short mention has been made in
the pamphlet issued by the Department of
Information and Publicity of the Aqua of
the Jammu and Kashmir does not satiate
the seekers.
Baba Payam Uddin was born to a noble and
a minister of the contemporary ruler, at
Chander-nau-gaon in the region of Lar.
It is also said that Baba Payam Uddin
was himself a noble of high rank and a
trusted man of the king and lived a life
of ease and luxury. Still he liked the
company of the saints and sages and
sought their blessings.
One day he rode a horse. On the way he
saw a train of ants carrying grains. He
descended and observed them. If God
wills, He directs him with small things.
He thought that the small ants were
working hard to gather grains for
winter. He was there entrapped in the
glamour of the world unmindful of his
next life. (A'khirat), Anxiety of the
life after death sat so heavily on his
mind that he resigned his job, renounced
his home, and came to Baba Zain Uddin
who put him to prayers and meditation.
On completion of the internal training
he asked his permission to retire in
solitude at Tang-Marg in Rabnoh village.
There lived men ill of nature and low of
character that objected to his stay but
finally he won them over and improved
them.
At the time of leaving his house, his
wife was expecting a child. A son was
born in his absence, grew up, and saw
his father, and started serving him. He
ordered him to move to a village. There
he committed an act not according to
Sunni. This so much infuriated Baba
Payam Uddin that he cursed him to death.
Eventually he died.
Death
Baba Payam Uddin died on 3, Zil Haj 889
Hijri and interned at a place, 3 miles
from Tang-Marg, by the side of Gulmarg.
People from all corners of Kashmir;
visit the Shrine in large numbers. It is
believed whenever a fire breaks out in
the Shrine some severe calamity befalls
on the people of Kashmir. |
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Bulbul-e-Kashmir Hazrat Bulbul Shah ::
In the valley of Kashmir persons, who
established through their actions and
precepts, captivated the hearts of the
people, called them to the true Religion
and filled the hearts with the light of
monotheism, faith, and devotion, Bulbul
Shah stands taller among them. People
called him with the epithet of the
nightingale of Kashmir.
Parentage
His name was Syed Sheriff Uddin Abdul
Rehman and title Syed Bilal that owing
to frequent use changed into Bulbul.
Hence he came to be known as Bulbul Shah
or the Bulbul-e-Kashmir.
Order
Bulbul Shah sought allegiance to the
renowned saint, Shah Nemat-Ullah Farisi
Shirazi, of the Suharawardy Order who,
in turn, looked to Zia Uddin-Ul-Najeeb
Abdul Qahiri.
Arrival in the Kashmir Valley
Bulbul Shah's native town is a matter of
controversy among the writers. Dr. SN
Naz thinks, he was from the region of
Tamkastan of the ancient Iran, some
relates him to Baghdad; still others
trace him from Turkistan. He reached
Kashmir with his friend Mullah Ahmad.
Some hold, he came to Kashmir with one
thousand refugees out of the fear of the
Mangols. Others believe, he entered the
valley in 1324 AD. During the reign of
Ranchan Shah. We think his arrival
during the reign of Ranchan Shah, a Bodh
ruler, is more probable. Rancher Shah
was a seeker of Truth. Hinduism could
not satisfy him and found the answer
with Bulbul Shah. His meeting with
Bulbul left a deep mark on him and he
learnt the teaching of Islam from his
precepts and actions. He embraced Islam
under the assumed name Sadar Uddin, and
along with him thousands became Muslims.
Ranchan Shah shared a greater
responsibility in the propagation of
Islam. He ordered for the construction
of a monastery for Bulbul Shah, came to
be known as the Khanqah-e-Bulbul Shah
which formerly stood in the Mohalla
Bulbullinko. In addition to it, he
raised a mosque and several other
buildings which don't exist now and of
which we read in books only.
The nobles who turned to Islam included
the commander of the Kashmir forces,
Ravan Chandra. He adopted Bibi Lalla,
the saint, as his daughter and foretold
that she would be a great saint. This
proved true.
Education
Hazrat Syed Bulbul Shah was a great
scholar, a man of letters, and a
theologian. Besides, he had reached the
lovely end in intrinsic and spiritual
learning. He illuminated the darkness of
the hearts with the torch of the faith.
Travels
He resigned the worldly matters for
meditation, prayers, and travels, which,
at last, landed him into Kashmir.
Revelation and Miracles
Once it grew very cold in Kashmir. The
water in the river Jhelum froze hard.
People suffered for want of water.
Bulbul Shah himself went in search of
water but the Jhelum water was so hard
that it refused to break. He saw towards
the sky and said, "Where is the sun to
melt the snow from its heat?" It is
said, the sun rose and frozen snow
melted.
Bulbul Shah was a wonderful and
impressive man. Whatever he said did it
built a place of peace and quiet in the
form of a monastery from where ran the
stream of benedictions and Faith that
lit the entire valley.
Death
He died on 7, Rajab 722 Hijri (1326 AD)
The following couplet, when computed,
gives 722 Hijri as his date of death.
Saal-e-Tarikh-e-Vasl-e-Shah
Bulbul-e-Quads Guft-e-Khas Ilah.
(Meaning: The divine nightingale
mentioned the year of the death of
(Bulbul) Shah 727 Hijri. |
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Hazrat Mir
Muhammad Hamdani ::
Hazrat
Mir Muhammad Hamdani, the son of Hazrat
Shah Hamdani, was born in 1372 AD. And
received the rank of the spiritual heir
from his father. It is said that Shah
Hamadan bequeathed him that he would
continue the mission and not leaves
Kashmir. He also gave two letters to
Maulana Sirahi with the instructions to
hand them over to Khawaja Ishaq Khatlani
and Noor Uddin Jafar Badakhshi after his
death. These two holy men went to see
Mir Muhammad Hamdani to condole him on
his father's death that demanded the two
documents from them. Khawaja Khatlani
handed him over the will but kept the
document of the heir apparent with the
remark that he would do so only when he
proved himself capable of it. This
transformed him internally, spent three
years with the Khawaja Sahib, and later
learnt intrinsic conduct from Noor Uddin
Jafar Badakhshi. Having been qualified
for the post, he succeeded to the seat
of his father.
Under instructions of his father, he did
not severe his relations from Kashmir
but entered into two marriages to
strengthen them, and thus set up two
links, spiritual as well as material. He
completed work of his father and stayed
here for eleven years. Like his father
he took great pains in sinking down the
Islamic faith and the removal of
Un-Islamic practices, rites, and beliefs
from the Kashmiri Muslims.
His efforts resulted in the blooming of
Islamic mysticism, based on Sunni and
the Book. He observed Shareiah more than
the Tariqat (Intrinsic)
He never liked any digression. This
saved the Kashmiri Muslims from the
extremes. His persuasions made Sultan
Sikandar to enforce the orders of the
Sunni in letter and spirit. Music,
dancing and gambling were banned.
Sultan Sikandar was his devotee. He
ordered for the construction of mosques,
monasteries, and seminaries. His Prime
Minister and Commander-in-Chief, Soh
Bhatt, became Muslim and assumed the
name Serif Uddin who, being a new
Muslim, pulled down many temples out of
frenzy. When the matter came to the
notice of Hazrat Mir Hamdani, he forbade
him to do so and introduced him to the
Qu'Oranic induction, meaning: There is
no compulsion (on people) in matters of
their Faith.
Syed Muhammad wrote a booklet on
mysticism. Once he disagreed with Syed
Muhammad Hissari on the subject:
mysticism, so he penned down his ideas
on the following night. Besides, he
wrote several other pamphlets. Risala
Sikandari is well known.
The torch of the faith, having lit up
the darkness, went out at Khatlani in
1450 AD. Thousands of Kashmiri Muslims
bade him farewell with tears in their
eyes. The Khanqah-e-Mullah (the
monastery) is a living monument
emanating peace, love, and fraternity to
the people around. |
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