Syedna Imam Jaffar Sadiq

Introduction of Imam Jaffar Sadiq

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA: Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu is the Sixth Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakatiyah Ridawiyyah Nooriyah. Much has been said in his praise by many great scholars. BIRTH: He was born on a Monday, the 7th of Rabi ul Awwal in either 80 or 83 Hijri in Madinah Munawwarah. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol.1, Page 217] HIS NAME: His name was Jaafar bin Muhammad, and he was also known as Abu Abdullah and Abu Ismaeel. His titles were Saadiq, Faadil and Taahir. HIS MOTHER: His mother’s name was Umm-e-Fardah who was the daughter of Hadrat Qasim Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu, the grandson of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu and Hadrat Qasim’s Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu mother, A’asma Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu is the daughter of Hadrat Abdur Rahmaan, the son of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. HIS FEATURES: He was very handsome and had a radiant appearance. He had the perfect height, and was tan in complexion. He encompassed the exemplary qualities his forefathers. Haafiz Abu Nuaim Isfahani narrates in Khalifatul Abraar on the authority of Umar bin Midqaam, “When I used to look at Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu then I used to immediately feel that he was from amongst the descendants of the Prophets” EXCELLENCE: He was without doubt the true successor to the Muslim empire and one of the greatest Imams of his era. Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was a great Aabid and Sufi. Many secrets of Tasawwuf were explained by him. It is in Tabqaatul Abraar, that he received the authority of Hadith from his blessed father, from Imam Zuhri and Naaf'i and ibn Munkadir etc. and Sufyaan Sawri, Ibn Ainiyyah, Shu’ba, Yahya Al Qataan, Imam Maalik and his son Imam Moosa Kaazim (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen) attained this authority of Hadith from him. Allama Ibn Hajar Makki Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu writes in Sawaa’iq Muhariqa . “The exalted Imams such as Yahya Bin Saeed, Ibn Jareeh, Imam Maalik ibn Anas, Imam Sufyaan Sawri, Sufyan bin Ainiyyah, Imam Abu Hanifa and Abu Ayoob Sajistani (ridwaanullahi ta aala alaihim ajmaeen) took Hadith from him.” [Masaalik as-Saalikeen] HIS CHARACTER: He was a very exalted and pious personality. His inner and outer appearance exuded brightness and radiance. He addressed the poor and the downtrodden with great love. Once he called all his servants and said, “Let us give our hands in the hands of one another and promise that whichever one of us first receives salvation on the day of Qiyaamah, he will intercede for the rest of us.” On hearing this, they said, “O Ibn Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam! For what reason do you need our intercession, when your beloved forefather Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam will intercede for the entire creation?” He then said, “I am ashamed to take my deeds and stand before my forefather, the Holy Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam.” Once Hadrat Dawood Taa’ee Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu came to Hadrat Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu and said, “Beloved descendant of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam please give some advice, as my heart has become dark.” Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “O Abu Sulaiman! You are great Zaahid of your era. What need do you have for my advice?” Hadrat Dawood Taa’ee Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “O descendant of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, You have been blessed with excellence amongst people and to advise everyone is compulsory upon you.” He then said, “O Abu Sulaiman! I fear that on the day of Qiyaamah, my forefather Muhammadur Rasoolullah SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam will hold me by my collar and ask, ‘Why were you slow in fulfilling your right to submission?’ What will I say then? Thus, this deed (of advice) does not depend on ones stature or family lineage, but it deals with good deeds which are done in the Court of Allah.” Hadrat Dawood Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu heard this and began to weep. He then said, “O Allah! When such a great personality, who is the descendant of a Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, and whose reality is filled with light and wisdom, and whose great grandmother is Bibi Faatima, is so afraid of his future and condition, then what right does Dawood Taa’ee have do be proud of his deeds?” [Masaalik as-Saalikeen]  HIS IBAADAT: He was well known for his ibaadat, and his striving in the Court of Allah. Hadrat Imam Malik Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu says, “I spent a very long time serving him, and I always found him in one of three Ibaadats. Either he was in namaaz, or engrossed in recitation of the Quran, or he would be fasting.” He never narrated any Hadith Shareef without wudhu. [Tazkirat al-Awliyah]   HIS DUA: He was without doubt a faithful servant of Allah, and he always attained everything that he asked for from the Court of Allah. Abul Qasim Tabri narrates from Wahab, that he heard Laith bin Sa’ad Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu saying, “I was on my way to Hajj by foot in 113 Hijri and I reached Makkah Muazammah. I reached Jabl Abu Qais close to the time of Asr Salaah. There, I saw a pious man sitting (in seclusion), making dua. He was saying ‘Ya Rabbi Ya Rabbi’ so many times, that breathing became difficult. Then in the same way, he said ‘Ya Hayy Ya Hayy’ then ‘Ya Rab’bahu Ya Rab’bahu, then in the same say, he said ‘Ya Allah Ya Allah’ in one breath continuously. He then said ‘Ya Rahmaanu Ya Rahmaanu, Ya Raheemu Ya Raheemu’ and then he went on to say ‘Ya Arhamar Raahimeen’. He then said, “O Allah I desire to eat grapes. Please bless me with some, and my clothes have become old and tattered Please give me new ones.” Hadrat Laith says, “By Allah, he was still competing his dua, when I saw a basket of grapes kept before him, whereas it was not event the grape season and I did not see an grapes near him before his dua. I also saw that there were two pieces of cloth kept near the grapes. I have never seen such beautiful material before. He then sat down to eat the grapes. I went up to him and said, Huzoor! May I also have a part in this?, and he asked how this was so, so I said, I was saying Aameen as you made the dua. He said, ‘Well then, step forward and join me.’ I also began to partake in the grapes. They were so tasty, that never have I eaten such delicious grapes. I ate until I was satisfied, but the basket still remained as it was before, full of grapes. He then offered on piece of cloth to me, and I said that I had no need for it, so he tied one around his waist, and he draped the other over his shoulder. He then descended from the mountain and I followed him. As he drew close to Saffa and Marwa, a beggar called out to him and said, ‘O Descendant of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam! Give these clothes to me and Allah will dress you in the clothes of Jannat.” He immediately gave the two pieces of cloth to the beggar. (On seeing this), I enquired about the identity of this pious man from the beggar, who informed me that he was Hadrat Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. I then looked for him so that I may listen to some words of wisdom from him and attain his blessings, but he had disappeared from my sight.” [Tazkirat al-Awliyah, Page 12] Once, some people saw that Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was wearing a very expensive robe. One of them walked up to him and said, “Huzoor! It is not good for the Ahle Bait to wear such expensive clothing.” He caught hold of the man’s hand and thrust it into his sleeves. The man was amazed when he found that a Hadrat was wearing clothes make from sacks under his robe. Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu then said, “The one inside is for my Creator and the one on top is for the creation.” A man once lost his purse which contained one thousand dinaars. Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was walking close to him, so he held the hand of the Imam and accused him of stealing his money. Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu asked how much he had in his money bag, and the man said that he had one thousand dinaars. Hadrat took him home and gave him one thousand dinaars from his wealth. The next day, the man found his money bag, and came rushing to Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu to return the money he had taken from him. Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “We do not take back what we have already given.” The man then asked some people who this person was, and he was told that it was Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. When he heard this, he became very sad and regretted his behavior. [Tazkirat al-Awliyah] DEBATE WITH AN ATHEIST: Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu spent a lot of his time spreading the word of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. He always spoke against those who did not believe in Allah. An atheist from Egypt came to Hadrat Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu whilst he was in Makkah. Hadrat Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu asked his name and he said that his name was Abdul Malik and he was also known as Abdullah. On hearing this Hadrat said, “Malik, whose servant you are, is he from the Kingdom of the Skies or the Kingdom of the earth, the Lord that is the Lord of your son, is he the Lord of the skies or the Lord of the Earths?” The atheist could not answer this question. Hadrat then said, “Did you ever journey under the earth? Do you know what is beyond it?” He replied in the negative and said, “I think there is nothing beyond it.” Hadrat then said to him, “Thinking is not sufficient! However, have you ever flown into the skies and journeyed beyond the skies?” Again he replied in the negative. Hadrat said, “Did you ever travel the entire East and West and did you realise anything about the future from this?” Again he answered in the negative. Hadrat said, “I am amazed, that you are not aware of the earth and what is beneath it, and the sky and what is beyond it, and in this state of ignorance, you still have the arrogance to reject the existence of Allah. O Ignorant man! There is no argument for one who is naive about that which is a reality. The sun, the moon, the night and day, are all in a specific pattern. Verily they are within some divine control. If they were free, then they would move as they willed and would sometimes go to an appointed spot and not return. Why is it that the night does not take the place of day and the day does not take the place of night? Do you not ponder upon the reality of the skies and the earth? Why does the sky not come to the earth and why is it that the earth is not flattened by the sky? There is definitely ONE, who has all this in His Divine Control. It is He (Allah) who is All Powerful. It is He, who is our and their Lord.” When the atheist heard this, he immediately accepted Islam and had faith in the existence of Allah.   HADRAT BAYAZEED BUSTAAMI: Hadrat Ba Yazeed Bustaami Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu used to distribute water in the Darbaar of Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. Hadrat placed his saintly sight on Hadrat Bayazeed Bustaami Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu once, and he became one of the greatest mystics of his time. He then served in the Court of Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu and became one of the greatest Awliyah. IMAM-E-AZAM ABU HANIFA: Hadrat Imam Azam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu attained great blessings from Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. It is narrated that once he asked Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu concerning who is an intelligent person. Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “He who can differentiate between good and evil is an intelligent man.” Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “Even animals have the ability to differentiate. It can differentiate between those who love them, beat them or instill fear in them?” Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu then said, “O Hadrat! Would you please explain who is truly intelligent?” Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said, “An intelligent person, is one who can differentiate between two good things and two evils, so that he may choose the better of two good things and that he may be able to repel the worse of two evils.” SHAYKH-E-TARIQAT: He was the mureed and Khalifa of Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Baaqir Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu and attained great blessings from his beloved father.   BOOKS AND TREATIES: Hadrat has also written books on numerous topics, as mentioned by scholars like Imam Kamaaludeen etc.  KARAAMATS: Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu is an example for Muslims in every way. His greatest Karaamat was his firmness on the Shariat. His every step was in accordance with the Sunnat of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam. A few of his Karaamats are being quoted below. A MANSION IN JANNAH: Once, a man came to Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu before journeying for Hajj. He gave Hadrat 10,000 dirhams, and asked him to purchase a mansion for him before he returned. Instead of purchasing a mansion, Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu distributed the entire 10,000 dirhams in the way of Allah. After the man returned from Hajj, he went to meet Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. Hadrat Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu told him that he had purchased his mansion and then handed the title deed over to him. The title deed read as follows : “One wall of the house is adjoined to the house of the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam, the other wall is adjoined to the house of Hadrat Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu, the third wall is adjoined to the house of Imam Hassan Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu and the fourth wall is adjoined to the house of Imam Hussain Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu.” The man took this title deed, and asked his family members to place it in his grave when he passed away. After his demise, his family members found the title deed on the top of his grave and on the rear of the title deed the following words were written,   “Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was honest and loyal in what he said.” [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol.1, Page 220]   AMAZING INCIDENT: Once, he was on his way to Hajj, when he stopped to rest under a date tree which was completely dried out. At the time of Chasht, he asked the tree to present him with some dates. Immediately, the tree became green and lush and full of dates. Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu then ate from it. A villager was passing by and saw this. He saw this great karaamat and said that it was magic. Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said,   “This is not magic. Almighty Allah has blessed me with such a quality, that he accepts all my duas. If I make dua, even you can be transformed into a dog.” Hadrat had not yet completed what he was saying, when the villager began to resemble a dog. He quickly repented and asked Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu to forgive him. Hadrat made dua for him, and he was transformed to his normal self. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol.1, Page 223]   KHALIFA MANSOOR: Khalifa Mansoor once sent one of his ministers to summon Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu to his Court. He informed his servants that when Imam Jaafar arrived, they should wait for him (Mansoor) to remove his crown. The moment he did this, they should martyr Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. When the minister heard this, he was not pleased and thus tried to explain to Mansoor, how wrong it was to kill a pious person, who is also a Sayyid. The Khalifa did not take heed and had Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu summoned. When Hadrat Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu arrived, the servants waited for their cue, so that they may martyr Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu. Instead, Mansoor woke up from his throne and rushed towards the Imam. He brought him towards his throne and allowed him to sit on it with great respect, whilst he sat on the ground in front of the great Imam. The servants and ministers were surprised to see this sudden change in plan. Mansoor then asked the Imam if he had any requests. Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said,"In future you should not summon me to your court, as I wish to remain engrossed in Ibaadat." When he heard these words, his body began to tremble and he allowed the Imam to leave with respect. When the Imam left, the minister asked about the sudden change in plan and Mansoor said, "When Imam Jaafar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu entered my court, I saw a huge python with him. The python had its one lip over my throne and one under my throne, and it spoke to me and said that if I tried to ever harm the Imam, then he would consume me with my throne, and that is why I behaved in the manner which I did." HIS CHILDREN: He was blessed with six sons and one daughter. Their names are :   1. Hadrat Ismaeel 2. Hadrat Muhammad 3. Hadrat Ali 4. Hadrat Abdullah 5. Hadrat Ishaaq 6. Hadrat Moosa Kaazim 7. Bibi Umm-e-Fardah (Ridwaanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een)   HIS KHULAFA: If one studies the books of history, then one will learn about his Khulafa, and how exalted each one of them was and how they had attained his blessings. Some of them are:   1. Hadrat Imam Moosa Kaazim  Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu 2. Hadrat Imam Azam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu 3. Hadrat Sultaan Bayazeed Bustaami Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu   WISAAL: He passed away during the rule of the second Abbasi Khalifa Abu Jaafar Mansoor bin Abul Abbas As Safah on a Friday, the 15th of Rajab or 24 Shawwal 148 Hijri at the age of 68 in Madinatul Munawwarah. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol.1, Page 217] MAZAAR SHAREEF: His Mazaar Shareef is in Jannat al-Baqi in Madinatul Munawwarah. Pearls of Wisdom by Imam Jaffar Sadiq He would often make the following dua : "O Allah bless me with respect which is in your obedience and do not disgrace me due to my shortcomings. O Allah let me assist him through your grace and Mercy, whose sustenance you have decreased, for you have blessed me in abundance." There is not provision greater than piety. There is nothing better than silence, and there is no enemy more dangerous than ones ignorance and there is no disease worse than lies. He who has attained the closeness to Allah divorces himself from everything in the world. There is no Ibaadat without repentance, since Allah has caused repentance to be above Ibaadat. He who sits in the companionship of all types of people will not be safe. One who walks on the wrong path will always arouse suspicion. Whoever attacks a matter without knowledge cuts off his own nose. Intellect is the guide of the believer. The perfection of intellect is in three (things): Humbleness for Allah, Good certainty, and silence except for good. Ignorance is in three (things): Arrogance, the intensity of dispute, and the ignorance about Allah. Certainly, knowledge is a lock and its key is the question. When the believer becomes angry, his anger should not take him out of the truth; and when he becomes satisfied, his satisfaction should not bring him into falsehood. Some manners of the ignorant are: the answer before he hears, the opposition before he understands, and the judgment with what he does not know. One who cannot keep his tongue in control will always be disgraced. Stay away from five kinds of people: 1. A liar, as he will also betray you, 2. A witless person, as he will try to benefit you, but will always cause you harm, 3. A miser, for he will cause you intense loss in order to gain even the slightest benefit, 4. A coward who will leave you in distress during a difficult situation, 5. A man who is involved in illicit dealings, for he will sell you for one morsel and will still be hopeful of even less than that. Dishonest and untruthful people never find favor while jealous people never find content. Rude and vulgar people never find acceptance and brotherhood in leadership or amongst citizens. Whosoever holds affection towards the creator then he is horribly frightened of the creation. For the sake of the creator save yourself so that you may become a true worshipper ('Aabid) and that which fate had decreed, has occurred then accepts that as well. Do not keep the company of an open sinful person since you would be overcome by sin and disobedience. Consult and seek advise from only those who are constantly obeying Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. To seek forgiveness is simple but to leave sin is difficult. The concealment of sins is the direct consequences of mans destruction. Not to show greed to somebody else’s wealth is also a form of charity. The eye of the heart opens with ibadat (prayers) and its access is infinite (La Makan – up in the 'Arsh and beyond) and nothing in the entire World remains a secret to him. Man has also such power that he can gaze into the future and it only awakens when the 5 other senses are asleep and the mind is free from observations. Changing perceptions in this World. Somewhere clouds are forming or pearls. At others tears are changing the rays into darkness while still darkness is changing into light. A man has freedom of deeds and actions but these are also restricted because according to his comprehension he may be suspicious or doubtful of its might or force. Too much credence and ecliance is destructful and excessive criticisms unfortunate. Holding the power of revenge yet drinking up ones anger is an excellent form of Jihad. Strokes of misfortune or temptation are a rank, therefore the specific of truth are involved with it. Nafs (desires) are in direct conflict with Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala therefore the best opposition to you nafs is becoming friends with Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. The reality of Taqwa is this, that if you have expose what’s in your heart, place it on a tray and take it to the market then you should not be ashamed of a single item you have displayed. Jihad with ones wealth is better than Jihad with a sword. Food is the sustenance of the body while contentment comforts the soul. Fortunate is he whose heart becomes knowledgeable, whose body becomes patient and he is content with what he has present. Respect the young for they have lesser sins to their name because of their age in comparison to you. Revelation is not made for destruction but as an examination. Kindness or favors is incomplete without these 3 things – If you regard it as minor it becomes great – or you keep it hidden or concealed this it becomes whole and sufficient or by doing it quickly one finds pleasure in it. Sin is a sore; if it is not stopped it spreads. To complain is to stop being patient. The person who keeps the company of all types of people is not safe. The person who traverses upon the wrong path is accused and suspicion descends upon him. The person who cannot control his tongue becomes disgraced. A criminal and a remorseful sinner become submissive. Flatterers are the origin of pride and arrogance. Someone once asked who is better, a patient dervish or a grateful wealthy person? He said: The patient dervish because the heart of the rich is stuck in his pocket while the heart of the dervish is stuck on Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. Prayers without repentance are not appropriate for Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala has made repentance the preamble upon prayers. Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu was once asked who is an intelligent and wise person. Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu answered: That person who can differentiate between good and bad. Imam Ja‘afar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said that the ability exists in animals as well because they can distinguish between those that hit it and those that feed it. Imam Abu Hanifa Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu requested to be told who it is. Imam Ja'afar Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu said: A wise and intelligent person is he who can distinguish between 2 good and 2 bad so that he may choose the better from the 2 good or 2 bad. One sin is one too many and one thousand good is one thousand too few. Besides the fervor of Sufism there is no other road to follow the Qur'an and Sunnah. The poverty of the 'Ulema is by choice while that of the ignorant is forced or uncontrolled. A mans fortunes are also in his enemy being clever. A boastful worshipper is a sinner and a sinner is he who finds every possible excuse not to worship. It is happiness for him who, though he sees a pleasurable thing yet he does not desire it with his heart. Our religion is completely respected. That person who does not consider this will be very disappointed. A very great Zahid (One who remembers Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala excessively) is he who withdraws from the people. Although there is excellence in congregation there is safety in seclusion. Complete satisfaction of the stomach and starving are both hindrances of worship. To openly display your animosity is better than to hypocritically agree. In difficult times the search for rest and peace enhances that difficulty. Imam Jafar Sadiq & An Atheist Sailor An atheist sailor once said to Imam Ja’far Saadiq , “There’s no such thing as Allah .” (Allah Forbid!). The Imam asked him, “You’re a sailor. Have you ever endured a storm in your travels?” “Yes, I remember such a day clearly. Our ship got caught in terrible weather.” “And what happened?” “The ship sank and none of my crew survived.” “How did you survive?” The man explained, “I got hold of a wooden board and slowly made my way closer to the shore. It was still far off when the board suddenly slipped from my fingers – and in desperation, I kicked my arms and legs violently until… somehow, I ended up on land.” Imam Ja’far Saadiq then asked, “Then listen, when you were on the ship, you were relying on it to deliver you to land, right? And, when you only had the plank, you placed your full dependence on that piece of wood alone; but once you no longer had even that – and in that state of utter helplessness, knowing fully well that there was no one there to support you – did you hope that someone might still be able to save you if they so wished?” The sailor replied, “Yes, I had that hope.” “And who was that being you were hoping for to save you?” The sailor went silent; and the great Imam finally said, “Know that at that moment, that very being you had faith in to save you was only Allah .” These words greatly pleased the sailor, and he then accepted the deen of Islam. [Tafseer Kabeer, Vol. 1, Page 221] Lesson: Allah exists, and His existence is clear. Our minds turn to Him even unintentionally, because believing in Him is a natural thing.

Sayedna Imam Moosa Kaazim

HIS POSITION IN THE SILSILA: Hadrat Sayyiduna Imam Moosa Kaazim Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu is the Seventh Imam and Shaykh of the Silsila Aaliyah Qadiriyah Barakatiyah Ridawiyah Nooriyah. He was a great Aalim and is a Wali-e-Kaamil.

BIRTH: He was born in Abwa Sharif (between Makkah Mukarrama and Madinah Munawwarah), on a Sunday, either on the 7th or the 10th of Safar, 128 Hijri. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 225]

NAME: His name was Moosa, and he was also known as Saami, Abul Hassan and Abu Ibrahim. His titles were Saabir, Saaleh, Ameen and Kaazim.

HIS PARENTS: His father was Hadrat Imam Jaafar Saadiq and his mother was Umm-e-Wulad Bibi Hameeda Radi Allahu Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een .

HIS FEATURES: He was of good height, and very handsome. He was tan in complexion and some have said that he was not very fair in complexion. [Anwaar-e-Sufiyah, Page 92]

SHAYKH-E-TARIQAT: He is the mureed and Khalifa of his father, Hadrat Imam Jaafar as-Saadiq Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu.
 

HIS EXCELLENCE: Hadrat Moosa Kaazim was such a blessed personality, that whomsoever took his name as a wasila, they found that all their duas were accepted. It is for this reason, that the people of Iraq referred to him as Baabul Hawaa'ij (The Door at which all their problems were answered).

Hadrat Imam Shafi'i Radi Allahu Anhu says that

 

The Mazaar Shareef of Imam Moosa Kaazim is a great means of acceptance.
 

Hadrat Imam Jaafar as-Saadiq Radi Allahu Anhu says,

 

"From all of my children, the most exalted is Moosa Kaazim. He is a pearl from amongst the pearls (treasures) of Allah."
 

He was an Aabid and Zaahid, and spent his days keeping fast, and his nights in the ibaadat of Allah. He was also known as Abdus Saaleh, due to the lengthy nights that he used to spend in the Ibaadat of Almighty Allah. He was known as Kaazim (one who drinks his anger), due to his humility and simplicity. He was also very generous and kind. He would go out in search of the needy in Madinah Munawwarah, and would then send people to distribute money to them in the darkness of night, and none would know from where they had received the money. He never turned any supplicant away at any time. He always fulfilled the needs of those who asked his assistance. Whenever he met any person, he would be first in making Salam. If someone spoke against him or tried to harm him, then he even took care of that person by sending him money and treating him kindly. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Vol. 1, Page 226]

Hadrat Shafeeq Balkhi who was a contemporary of Imam Moosa Kaazim says,

 

"On my way to Hajj in 149 Hijri, I stopped over at a town called Qaadisiya. I was looking at the behaviour and the manner of the people living there, when my sight fell upon a very handsome young man, who was wearing a Suf (blended cotton fabric) cloth over his clothes, and a pair of shoes. He sat away from the rest of the people. I began to think that he was a Sufi kind of person and wanted to be an obstacle in the way of the people. I thus went towards him to give him some advice. When he saw me coming towards him. He called my name and told me exactly what I was thinking. I then thought in my heart, that this is definitely a pious man, as he does not even know me, yet he called me by my name and said what was in my heart. I felt that I should meet with him and ask his forgiveness. I rushed to find him, but he had already gone away. I searched for a very long time, but could not find him. We stopped at a place called Fida during our journey, and again I saw him. He was in namaaz, and he was trembling and weeping. I walked towards him again, with the intention of asking him to forgive me, when he said, "O Shafeeq Read! Verily I am Compassionate towards him who repented and brought faith and did good deeds and then walked the straight path." He read this verse, and then walked away. I then began to think that he was from amongst the Abdaals (a station of Wilaayat), for he has read my heart twice already. Then we went to Mina, and I saw him again. He was standing at a well, with a huge bowl in his hand. He was intending to take some water. Then all of a sudden the bowl fell from his hands into the well. When this happened, he recited the following couplet: 'You are my Sustainer, when I am thirsty for water, and You are my strength when I intend to eat.' He then said, 'O Allah! O my Creator! O my Lord! You know that with the exception of this bowl, I have nothing else. Do not deprive me of this bowl.' By Allah, I saw that the water in the well reached the top of the well and he stretched out his hand and filled his bowl with water. He then performed wudhu and read four rakaats of Namaaz. After Namaaz, he filled sand into his bowl of water and began to stir it. He then began to drink the mixture of sand and water. I went close to him and said salaam. He returned my salaam. I then asked if he would bless me with some of the blessings which he has attained. He said, 'O Shafeeq! My Lord has always bestowed his hidden and apparent bounties upon me, so always intend good from your Lord.' He then handed his bowl over to me. When I drank out of it, By Allah it was a sweet drink, and never have I tasted something so delicious. The barkat of that meal was such, that I did not feel any hunger and thirst for may days. Then I did not see him until we entered Makkah Mukarramah. I again saw him late one night near the well of Zamzam, reading Namaaz, weeping and trembling. After his Namaaz he sat there for a long time and read tasbeeh. He then read his Fajr Salaah and went to the Haram to perform the Tawaaf. As he left the Haram, I followed him, but I was amazed to see him in a completely different situation to which I had seen him during our journey. I saw his friends, disciples and servants all around him. They sealed of the entire area around him as he arrived and they began to make his khidmat. Each one of them were making salaam to him with great love and respect. On seeing this, I asked one person, 'Who is this young man?' He said, 'he is Moosa bin Jaafar bin Muhammad bin Ali bin Hussain bin Ali bin Abi Taalib.' [Jaami' al-Manaaqib, Page 226/230]
 

KARAAMATS: Imam Moosa Kaazim performed many miracles. A few of his miracles are quoted below for us to attain barakaat.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNSEEN: Ishaaq bin Amaar says, that when Imam Moosa Kaazim was imprisoned, then the Saahibain of Imam Abu Hanifa, namely Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad bin Hassan (Ridwaanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een) went to meet with him, so that they ask him some important questions. Whilst they were seated with him, a prison guard came to him and said, 'I am now about to complete my duty and I am on my way home. If there is anything you need, please let me know, so that I may arrange it for you tomorrow when I return.' Hadrat Moosa Kaazim looked at him and said, 'There is nothing I need. All is well.' As he left, Imam Moosa Kaazim said, 'I am amazed by him, that he wants to know if there is anything that he can do for me tomorrow, whereas tonight he will pass away.' When Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad (Ridwaanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een) heard this, they said, 'We came here to learn about some laws relating to fard and sunnahs and he discusses Ilm-e- Ghaib (Knowledge of the Unseen).' Both of them, then sent a man to follow the prison guard to see the outcome of what Imam Moosa Kaazim said. The man sat outside the house of the prison guard, as he was instructed. When he heard the sounds of weeping and screaming, he enquired as to what had happened. The people of the house informed him that the guard had passed away. When this message reached Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad (radi Allahu anhum), they were astonished. [Tashreef al-Bashar, Page 84]

HIS FORESIGHT: Esa Mada'ini says that he worked for a year in Makkah Mukarramah and then decided to spend a year in Madinatul Munawwarah as he felt that this would be a means of achieving many blessings. He arrived in Madinatul Munawwarah and often visited Imam Moosa Kaazim whilst he was there. One day whilst he was seated in the presence of Hadrat Moosa Kaazim, the Imam looked at him and said, "O Esa! Go and see, your house has collapsed over all your belongings." Esa Mada'ini immediately rushed home and found that his house had collapsed over all his belongings. He quickly employed a man that was passing by to remove all his belongings from the house. He then realised that his jug was missing. The following day, he went to meet Hadrat Moosa Kaazim who said, "O Esa! Did you lose anything when your house collapsed. If so, let me know, so that I may make dua and Allah shall bless you with something better in its place." Esa Mada'ini answered that everything was found except a jug. Hadrat then lowered his head for a while and then raised his head and said, “You removed it from the house before it collapsed and you have forgotten about where you left it. Go to the maid of the house and ask her to give the jug to you.” He did this, and found that the maid handed over the lost jug to him. [Masaalik as-Saalikeen, Page 83]
 

HIS CHILDREN: Almighty Allah had blessed Imam Moosa Kaazim with many children. The names of his children are as follows:

Sons: Hadrat Ali Raza, Zaid, Aqeel, Haaroon, Hassan, Hussain, Abdullah, Abdur Rahmaan, Ismaeel, Ishaaq, Yahya, Ahmad, Abu Bakr, Muhammad, Akbar, Jaafar  Akbar, Jaafar Asghar, Hamza, Abbas, Qaasim

Daughters: Bibi Khadija, Asmaul Akbar, Asmaul Asghar, Faatimatul Kubra, Faatimatus Sughra, Zainab Kubra, Zainab Sughra, Umme Kulthoom Kubra, Umme Fardah, Umme Abdullah, Ummul Qaasim, Aaminah, Hakeema, Mahmooda, Imaama, Maimoona (Ridwaanullahi Ta'ala Alaihim Ajma'een).

HIS KHULAFA: The names of all his Khulafa can not be found, but His two well-known khulafa are being mentioned:

1. Hadrat Shaykh Ali Raza
2. Hadrat Shaykh Matlibi [Anwaar-e-Sufiyah, Page 93]

WISAAL: He commanded one of his servants to be the administrator of his funeral arrangements. Hadrat Sayyiduna Moosa Kaazim was poisoned by his enemies. He passed away on either the 5th or 25th of Rajab, 183 Hijri on a Friday, at the age of 55.

MAZAAR SHAREEF: His Mazaar Shareef is in a place called Kaazmeen (Kadhimiyah) in Iraq.

عطائے رسول، سلطان الہند غریب نواز حضرت خواجہ معین الدین چشتی اجمیری کے حالات و کرامات

 

بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم

ذی الحجہ کا مہینہ تھا پانچ سو تراسی سن ہجری اور گیارہ سو ستاسی عسیوی تھی، مکۃ المکرمہ کی سر زمین پر میدان محشر کا سا سماں تھا، چہار دانگ عالم سے فرزندان توحید اپنے معبود حقیقی کے اس فرمان “واتموا الحج والعمرۃ للہ، کی تعمیل کیلئے سر نیاز خم کئے سیل رواں کی طرح جوق در جوق جمع ہو گئے تھے ایک ہی ترانہ جو ہر زبان پہ جاری تھا ایک ہی آواز جس سے مکۃ المکرمہ کی فضا گونج رہی تھی وہ مقدس ترانہ یہ تھا، “لبیک اللھم لبیک لاشریک لک لبیک ان الحمد والنعمۃ لک والملک لاشریک لک“ خالق کائنات جل جلالہ کے یہ وفا شعار بندے دنیا و مافیہا سے بے نیاز ہر کر مناسک حج کی ادائیگی میں مصروف تھے لیکن ایک خلش جو دلوں کو بے چین کر رہی تھی وہ تھی روضۃ الرسول صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وآلہ وسلم کی حاضری کیونکہ ہادی اکرم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے در اقدس ہی تو اصل مراد اور قبولیت کا پروانہ ہے جیسا کہ سیدی اعلٰی حضرت رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ فرماتے ہیں  اس کے طفیل حج بھی خدا نے کرا دئیے  اصل مراد حاضری اس پاک در کی ہے  بشارت :۔  آخر وہ لمحہ جانفزا آ ہی گیا جب حجاج فرائض حج سے فراغ ہو کر اپنا مال و متاع اونٹوں پر لاد کر دیوانہ وار عشق و مستی میں سرشار جانب طیبہ قافلہ در قافلہ کوچ کرنے لگے اور اپنے غمخوار آقا کی بارگاہ میں عقیدت و محبت کے نذرانے پیش کرنے لگے انہی میں ایک خوب رو، خوش قامت، عاشق رسول تھا جس کی عمر تاریخ میں اس وقت چھیالیس سال بتائی جا رہی ہے اور حالت یہ تھی برہنہ سر، آنکھیں نم اور کثرت سفر کی وجہ سے پاؤں میں چھالے ہیں لیکن صورت بتا رہی تھی یہ کوئی اللہ والے ہیں۔ اپنے محسن آقا کی بارگاہ میں ہر کوئی اپنا درد دل بیان کر رہا تھا لیکن محبوب رب العالمین کا یہ عاشق ان سب سے بے نیاز ہو کر اپنے معبود حقیقی کی عبادت و ریاضت میں مشغول تھا اچانک گنبد خضرٰی سے آواز آئی۔ اے معین الدین تو میرے دین کا معین ہے میں نے تجھے ہندوستان کی ولایت عطا کی وہاں کفر و ظلمت پھیلی ہوئی ہے تو اجمیر جا تیرے وجود سے ظلمت کفر دور ہو گی اور اسلام رونق پذیر ہوگا۔“ ہر دل مخمور اور ہر چہرہ مسرور تھا اگر کسی چہرے پر پریشانی کی لکیر اور تکفرات کی سلوٹیں نمایاں تھیں تو وہ اسی عاشق رسول کا چہرہ تھا کیونکہ سلوک و معرفت کا یہ محبتوں بھرا تحفہ اسی کو عطا کیا گیا تھا۔ یہ مژدہ دلنواز اسی کو سنایا گیا تھا۔ آخر خوشخبری پہ خیران کیوں ؟ جب یہ سوال تاریخ کے ورق الٹنے والے مؤرخوں سے کیا گیا تو جواب ملا اس وجہ سے کہ وہ انجان تھا اس ملک سے۔ جس کا مژدہ سنایا گیا تھا۔ اسے معلوم نہ تھا کہ شہر اجمیر کہاں ہے ؟ سمت سفر کیا ہو گی ؟ مدینہ سے مسافت کتنی ہے ؟ راستہ کے پیچ و خم کیا ہیں ؟ ابھی وہ انہی فکروں میں گم تھا کہ گنبد خضرٰی کی ٹھنڈی ٹھنڈی ہواؤں نے اس پر غنودگی طاری کر دی خواب میں محبوب کائنات صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم تشریف لائے۔ اپنے جمال جہاں آراء کے دیدار سے مشرف فرمایا اور ایک نظر میں مشرق سے مغرب تک سارے عالم کو دکھا دیا۔ تمام بلا و امصار نگاہوں کے سامنے تھے شہر اجمیر وہاں کا قلعہ اور پہاڑیاں نظر آنے لگیں۔ سرکار نے اپنے اس عاشق صادق کو ایک جنتی انار عطا فرما کر ارشاد فرمایا ہم تم کو خدا کے سپرد کرتے ہیں آنکھیں کھولیں تو ہندوستان کا پورا نقشہ پیش نظر تھا۔ چنانچہ تعمیل آقا کے لئے چالیس اولیاء کے ساتھ ہندوستان کا رُخ کیا۔  سفر ہند :۔  مدینہ منورہ سے وہ عاشق صادق بغداد پہنچا جہاں کچھ دنوں مشائخین وقت سے صحبتیں رہیں پھر 586ھ / 1190ء کو بقصد اجمیر بغداد سے عازم سفر ہوا۔ دوران سفر چشت، خرقان، جہنہ، کرمان، استرآباد، بخارا، تبریز، اصفہان، ہرات، سبزہ وار ہوتا ہوا بلخ پہنچا جہاں کچھ ایام شیخ احمد خضریرہ کے یہاں قیام کیا۔ پھر بلخ سے روانہ ہو کر سمر قند ہوتا ہوتا غزنین پہنچا یہاں شمس العارفین عبدالواحد ‌ سے ملاقات کی اور کچھ دنوں روحانی صحبت گرم رہی پھر اپنے روحانی قافلہ کے ساتھ لاہور پہنچا حضرت ابوالحسن علی بن عثمان ہجویری المعروف داتا گنج بخش علیہ الرحمہ کے مزار اقدس پر حاضری دی اور روحانی فیوض سے مالا مال ہوا جب روانہ ہونے لگا تو مزار مبارک پر یہ شعر پڑھا  گنج بخش فیض عالم مظہر نور خدا ناقصاں را پیر کامل، کاملاں را رہنما دہلی میں آمد :۔ لاہور سے سمانا ہوتا ہوا ہندوستان کی راجدھانی دہلی پہنچ کر راجہ کھانڈے راؤ کے راج محل کے سامنے ایک بت کدہ کے پاس قیام کیا اور اپنے اعلٰی اخلاق و کردار، سادہ مؤثر نصیحتوں سے راج کھانڈے راؤ کے کاریگروں اور بہت سے راجپوتوں کو کلمہ اسلام پڑھنے پر مجبور کر دیا۔ لوگ جوق در جوق آنے لگے اور اسلام کا نور پھیلنے لگا، دیکھتے ہی دیکھتے دہلی کی سر زمین پر مسلمانوں کا ایک وسیع حلقہ تیار ہو گیا چونکہ اس مرد مجاہد کی منزل مقصود اجمیر تھی اس لئے اپنے خلیفہ حضرت قطب الدین بختیار کاکی رحمۃ اللہ تعالٰی علیہ کو دہلی میں خلق خدا کی ہدایت کے لئے چھوڑ کر عازم اجمیر ہو گیا۔  اجمیر میں آمد :۔  چند ثقہ مؤرخوں کے مطابق وہ مرد مجاہد 587ھ / 1191ء کو وارد اجمیر ہوا جہاں روز اول ہی سے باطن شکن کرامتوں کے ظہور نے ایک بوریہ نشیں درویش کی روحانی عظمت و قوت کا سکہ اہل اجمیر کے دلوں پر بٹھا دیا۔ اجمیر کے عوام و خواص کی کثیر تعداد شرک و بت پرستی کے قعر عمیق سے نکال کر فرمان باری تعالٰی ورایت الناس یدخلون فی دین اللہ افواجا کی ڈور سے منسلک ہونے لگی اور ایک وقت وہ آیا کہ شہر اجمیر کی پوری فضا کلمہ توحید سے گونجنے لگی۔ قبل ازیں کہ اس مرد خدا کی کچھ کرامتیں سپرد قرطاس کی جائیں نام و نسب اور ولادت و بچپن کا بیان بھی ضروری ہے۔ نام و نسب اور والدین :۔ تاریخ میں اس عظیم مرد مجاہد کا نام معین الدین بتایا جاتا ہے۔ جنہیں والدین پیار سے حسن کہا کرتے تھے اور غریب پروری کی وجہ سے غریب نواز کے نام سے مشہور ہوئے۔ پدر بزرگوار کا نام خواجہ غیاث الدین حسن ہے جو زہد و ورع، تقوٰی و طہارت میں ممتاز اور علم ظاہر و باطن سے بھی آراستہ تھے۔ یہ آٹھویں پشت میں حضرت موسٰی کاظم کے پوتے ہوتے ہیں۔ آپ کا شجرہ نسب ہوں ہے: سید معین الدین حسن بن غیاث الدین بن سید سراج الدین بن سید عبد اللہ بن سید عبد الکریم بن سید عبد الرحمن بن سید علی اکبر بن سید ابراھیم بن امام موسی کاظم بن امام جعفر الصادق بن امام محمد باقر بن امام زین العابدین بن حضرت امام حسین بن حضرت علی المرتضی رضوان اللہ تعالی علیہم اجمعین   اور مادر مہربان کا نام بی بی ام الورع ہے جو بی بی ماہ نور سے مشہور تھیں یہ بھی بلند کردار، پاکیزہ باطن خاتون تھیں، عبادت و ریاضت آپ کا محبوب مشغل تھا۔ چند واسطوں سے یہ حضرت امام حسن رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ کی پوتی تھیں۔ اس لئے حضرت خواجہ کی نجیب الطرفین سید کہا جاتا ہے۔ حضرت خواجہ حضرت غوث اعظم کے خالہ زاد بھائی ہیں۔ اور ایک روایت کے مطابق آپ غوث اعظم رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ کے ایک رشتے سے ماموں زاد ہوتے ہیں۔ ولادت، بچپن اور تعلیم :۔ حضرت خواجہ کی ولادت با سعادت 537ھ 1142ء کو موضع سنجر علاقہ سبحستان (جسے سبستان بھی کہا جاتا ہے) میں ہوئی۔ آپ نے متقی و پارسا والدین کی آغوش تربیت میں پرورش پائی تھی اس لئے عام بچوں کی طرح آشنائے لہوو لعب نہ تھے۔ پیشانی مبارک پر لمعہ نور اور شائستہ اطوار اس امر کی غمازی کرتے تھے کہ آپ آگے چل کر غیر معمولی شخصیت اور فکر و عمل، صلاح و تقوٰی کا روشن مینار ہوں گے۔ ابتدائی تعلیم والد گرامی کے زیر سایہ ہوئی۔ نو برس کی عمر میں قرآن پاک حفظ کر لیا پھر ایک مدرسہ میں داخل ہو کر تفسیر و حدیث اور فقہ کی تعلیم حاصل کی اور بہت قلیل مدت میں کثیر علم حاصل کر لیا۔ انقلاب اور تلاش حق :۔ جب عمر شریف پندرہ سال کی ہوئی تو والد کا سایہ شفقت سر سے اٹھ گیا ترکہ پدری سے ایک باغ اور ایک پن چکی ملی تھی جس کو آپ نے ذریعہ معاش بنایا اور خوشگوار زندگی گزرنے لگی مگر قدرت نے آپ کو اپنی مخلوق کے دلوں کی باغبانی کے لئے پیدا فرمایا تھا۔ چنانچہ ایک دن ایک مجذوب حضرت ابراہیم قندوزی باغ میں تشریف لائے اور ایک کھلی کا ٹکڑا کھلا کر دل کی دنیا میں انقلاب پیدا کر دیا۔ فوراً حضرت خواجہ نے باغ اور پن چکی بیچ کر اس کی قیمت فقراء میں تقسیم کردی اور تلاش حق میں نکل پڑے۔ کئی مقامات سے گزرتے ہوئے قریہ ہارون پہنچے جہاں حضرت خواجہ عثمان ہارونی نے آپ کو اپنے حلقہ اردات میں داخل فرما کر اپنی دو انگلیوں کے درمیان سے اوپر عرش اعظم اور نیچے تحت الثرٰی تک دکھا دیا۔ بیس سال تک اپنے مُرشد کی خدمت کرتے رہے یہاں تک کہ ایک دن پیرو مُرشد نے آپ کو ساتھ لیکر خانہ کعبہ کا سفر کیا۔ طواف و زیارت کے بعد ہاتھ پکڑ کر حق تعالٰی کے سپرد کردیا۔ جب زیر حطیم کعبہ مناجات کی تو ندا آئی “ہم نے معین الدین کو قبول کیا“ بعد ازاں بارگاہ آقا صلی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وآلہ وسلم میں حاضر ہو کر بحکم مُرشد حضرت خواجہ نے سلام عرض کیا تو روضہ انور سے اس طرح جواب ملا “وعلیکم السلام یاقطب المشائخ بروبحر“ یہ تو مُرشد برحق کے ساتھ کا واقعہ ہے لیکن جب دوسری مرتبہ اپنے مُرید خاص حضرت قطب الدین بختیار کاکی کو ساتھ لیکر حج و زیارت کے لئے تشریف لے گئے تو ایک دن کا واقعہ ہے کہ آپ حرم کعبہ کے اندر یادِ الٰہی میں مشغول تھے کہ ہاتف کی آواز سنی “اے معین الدین ہم تجھ سے خوش ہیں، تجھے بخش دیا، جو کچھ چاہے مانگ تاکہ عطا کروں“ اور جب روضہ انور کی زیارت کیلئے پہنچے تو یہ خوشخبری سنی “اے معین الدین تو میرے دین کا معین ہے ہندوستان کی ولایت میں نے تجھے عطا کی“ یہی وہ بشارت عظمٰی ہے جس سے میں نے اپنے مقالہ کا آغاز کیا تھا، اب لگے ہاتھوں حضرت خواجہ غریب نواز رحمۃ اللہ تعالٰی علیہ کی چند بصیرت افروز کرامتیں بھی ملاحظہ فرمائیں۔ کرامات خواجہ ہندالولی :۔ دوران قیامِ بغداد ایک دن خواجہ غریب نواز رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ شیخ وحدالدین، شیخ شہاب الدین سہروردی اور خواجہ قطب الدین بختیار کاکی رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہم کی ایک مجلس میں تھے۔ انبیاء علیہم السلام کا ذکر خیر ہو رہا تھا کہ سامنے سے ایک بارہ سال کا لڑکا ہاتھ میں ایک پیالہ لئے جا رہا تھا (دوسری کتابوں میں تیرو کمان کا ذکر ہے) جب بزرگوں کی نگاہیں اس پہ پڑی تو حضرت خواجہ نے فرمایا، یہ لڑکا ایک دن دہلی کا بادشاہ بنے گا۔ چنانچہ یہی وہ لڑکا شمس الدین التمش کے نام سے دہلی کا بادشاہ گزرا ہے۔ زیارتِ کعبہ :۔ حضرت قطب الدین بختیار کاکی کا بیان ہے کہ حضرت خواجہ ہر سال زیارتِ کعبہ کے لئے بقوت روحانی اجمیر سے تشریف لے جاتے تھے جب کام پایہ تکمیل کو پہنچا تو آپ کا یہ معمول تھا کہ آپ ہر شب بعد نمازِ عشاء کعبۃ اللہ شریف تشریف لے جایا کرتے تھے اور نمازِ فجر اجمیر میں ادا فرماتے تھے۔ رھزنوں کا تائب ہونا:۔ ایک مرتبہ حضرت خواجہ اپنے مُریدوں کے ساتھ ایک گھنے جنگل سے گزر رہے تھے کہ وہاں بسنے والے ڈاکوؤں نے آپ کے مُریدوں پر حملہ کر دیا اور لوٹ مار شروع کر دی۔ یہ دیکھ کر حضرت خواجہ نے جب نگاہِ جمال ان ڈاکوؤں پر ڈالی تو وہ کانپنے لگے اور قدموں میں گر پڑے۔ چھینا ہوا سامان واپس کیا اور آپ کے دستِ حق پرست پر سب کے سب مشرف باسلام ہوئے۔ بعد ازاں آپ نے ان کو چند نصیحتیں فرمائیں۔ جو نہایت گارکر ثابت ہوئیں۔ سب نے رہزنی سے توبہ کی اور پوری عُمر دین حق پر کاربند رہے اور سچائی کا دامن کبھی بھی اپنے ہاتھ سے نہیں چھوڑا۔ مقتول زندہ ہو گیا :۔ حاکم وقت نے ایک بے قصور شخص کو پھانسی دی اس کی ماں روتی پیٹتی ہوئی خدمتِ خواجہ میں حاضر ہوئی اور عرض کیا کہ میرا بیٹا بے قصور تھا حضور مجھ پر کرم فرمائیں۔ آپ عصا لیکر اس کے ساتھ روانہ ہو گئے۔ مقتول کے پاس پہنچ کر عصا سے اس کی طرف اشارہ کیا اور فرمایا اگر تو بے نگاہ قتل کیا گیا ہے تو خدا کے حکم سے زندہ ہوجا اور دار سے نیچے اتر آ۔ مقتول یہ سنتے ہی زندہ ہو گیا اور سولی سے اتر کر آپ کے قدموں پر سر رکھا اور اپنی ماں کے ساتھ اپنے گھر کو روانہ ہو گیا۔ بُت پرستوں کا تائب ہونا :۔ کلمات الصادقین میں لکھا ہے کہ ایک دن حضرت خواجہ کا گزر کفار کے ایک بُت کدے کی طرف سے ہوا۔ اس وقت سات کافر بُت پرستی میں مشغول تھے آپ کا جمال جہاں آراء دیکھتے ہی بے بس ہو گئے اور قدموں میں آ کر گر گئے فوراً توبہ کی اور مشرف بہ اسلام ہو گئے۔ آپ نے ان میں سے ایک کا نام حمیدالدین رکھ دیا۔ چنانچہ شیخ حمید الدین دہلوی ان سات حضرات میں سے ایک ہیں جنہوں نے شہرت پائی۔ آتش پرستوں کا قبولِ اسلام :۔  ایک روز حضرت خواجہ غریب نواز صحرا سے گزرے وہاں آتش پرستوں کا ایک گروہ آگ کی پرستش میں مشغول تھا یہ لوگ اس قدت ریاضت و مجاہدات کرتے تھے کہ چھ چھ مہینے تک دانہ پانی زبان پر نہیں رکھتے تھے سرکار خواجہ نے ان لوگوں سے آتش پرستی کے بارے میں دریافت کیا تو انہوں نے جواب دیا کہ ہم لوگ آگ کو اس لئے پُوجتے ہیں کہ دوزخ میں یہ آگ ہمیں تکلیف نہ پہنچائے۔ آپ نے فرمایا دوزخ سے بچنے کا طریقہ یہ نہیں بلکہ نارِ دوزخ سے بچنے کیلئے خالق نار کی پُوجا کرو پھر یہ آگ تمہیں کوئی نقصان نہیں پہنچائے گی۔ تم لوگ اتنے دنوں سے آگ کی پوجا کرتے ہو ذرا اس میں اپنا ہاتھ ڈال کر دکھاؤ ؟ ان لوگوں نے جواب دیا۔ آگ کا کام جلانے کا ہے، ہمارا ہاتھ تو جل جائے گا لیکن اس بات کا کیا ثبوت ہے کہ حق پرستوں کو آگ نہ جلائے گی۔ حضرت خواجہ نے فرمایا، دیکھو ہم خدا کے پرستار ہیں۔ یہ آگ ہمارے جسم کو تو دور کی بات ہماری جوتی کو بھی نہیں جلا سکتی۔ یہ فرما کر آپ نے اپنی ایک جوتی آگ میں ڈال دی بہت دیر تک وہ آگ میں رہی مگر اس پر آگ کا ذرا سا بھی اثر نہ ہوا یہ دیکھ کر سب مسلمان ہو گئے۔ فریاد رسی :۔  ایک دن کا واقعہ ہے کہ حضرت خواجہ قطب الدین بختیار کاکی رحمۃ اللہ تعالٰی علیہ سلطان شمس الدین التمش کے ہاتھ میں ہاتھ ڈالے مصروف سیر و تفریح تھے بعض امراء و اعیان سلطنت بھی ہمراہ تھے کہ ایک بدکار عورت نے بادشاہ کے حضور میں عرض کیا کہ آپ میرا نکاح کر دیں ورنہ عتابِ الٰہی میں گرفتار ہو جاؤنگی بادشاہ نے کہا تو کس کے ساتھ نکاح کرنا چاہتی ہے تو عورت نے حضرت قطب الدین کی طرف اشارہ کرتے ہوئے کہا اس مرد سے جو قطب الاقطان بنے پھرتے ہیں (نعوذاللہ) انہوں نے میرے ساتھ حرام کی ہے اور یہ حمل (پیٹ کی طرف اشارہ کرکے) انہیں کا ہے۔ حضرت قطب صاحب کو یہ بیہودہ بات سن کر شرم و ندامت سے پسینہ آ گیا۔ بادشاہ و امراء ششدر رہ گئے۔ فوراً قطب صاحب نے اجمیر کی طرف منہ کرکے کہا “یا پیرو مُرشد میری مدد فرمائیے“ فوراً سامنے حضرت خواجہ تشریف لاتے دکھائی دئیے حضرت قطب صاحب اور بادشاہ قدم بوس ہو گئے۔ سرکار خواجہ نے فرمایا کیا بات ہے ؟ تم نے مجھے کیوں یاد فرمایا ؟ حضرت قطب صاحب نے سارا ماجرا بیان کیا تو سرکار خواجہ نے اس عورت کے پیٹ کی طرف اشارہ کرتے ہوئے فرمایا اے بچے سچ سچ بتا تو کس کا بچہ ہے۔ بچہ فوراً اپنی ماں کے پیٹ سے بول اٹھا کہ میں ایک چرواہے کا بچہ ہوں۔ میری ماں نہایت بدکار عورت ہے۔ چنانچہ عورت نے بھی اعتراف کرکے معافی مانگی۔ پرتھوی راج اور حضرت خواجہ :۔ جب حضرت خواجہ اجمیر میں مقیم ہوئے اور وہاں آپ کی ذات بابرکت سے کرامتوں کا مسلسل ظہور ہونے لگا اور لوگ اسلام کی صداقت کے معترف ہونے لگے پرتھوی راج کی دفاعی کوششوں کے باوجود حضرت خواجہ کا اثر بڑھنے لگا تو پرتھوی راج دل سے حضرت خواجہ کا دشمن ہوگیا، جوگی جے پال کی ناکامی اور اس کے قبول اسلام کے بعد پرتھوی راج کی آتش عداوت تیز ہوگئی اور وہ حضرت خواجہ کو اجمیر سے نکالنے کا منصوبہ بنانے لگا جب وہ اپنے منصونے کو عملی شکل دینے کا ارداہ کرتا اندھا ہو جاتا اور جب باز آتا بینائی واپس آ جاتی اس کرامت کو بار بار دیکھنے کے باوجود بھی شرک و بُت پرستی کی ظلمت اس کے دل سے نہ نکل سکی بالآخر اپنے کیفر کردار کو پہنچا۔ مجلس کرامات :۔ حضرت خواجہ ایک مجلس کا تذکرہ فرماتے ہیں جس میں خواجہ عثمان ہارونی خواجہ اوحدالدین کرمانی اور حضرت خواجہ بھی موجود تھے۔ گفتگو اس بارے میں شروع ہوئی کہ جو شخص بھی اس مجلس میں ہے وہ اپنی کرامت دکھائے یہ سنتے ہی خواجہ عثمان ہارونی نے مصلے کے نیچے ہاتھ ڈالا اور مٹھی بھر اشرفیاں نکال کر ایک درویش کے حوالہ کرتے ہوئے فرمایا کہ جاؤ درویشوں کے لئے حلوہ لے آؤ۔ شیخ اوحدالدین نے قریب ہی پڑی ہوئی ایک لکڑی پر ہاتھ مارا تو فوراً وہ لکڑی سونا بن گئی۔ میں پیچھے رہ گیا جو پیر و مُرشد کی وجہ سے کوئی کرامت ظاہر نہیں کر سکتا تھا شیخ نے میری طرف رُخ کرکے فرمایا تم کوئی کرامت کیوں نہیں دکھاتے ؟ اس مجلس میں ایک بھوکا درویش تھا جو شرم کی وجہ سے سوال نہیں کرتا تھا میں نے اپنی گدڑی میں سے جوکی چار روٹیاں نکالیں اور اس درویش کے حوالہ کر دیں۔  رام دیو کا قبول اسلام :۔ جب حضرت خواجہ اجمیر میں اناساگر کے قریب مقیم ہوئے وہ انا ساگر جس کے گرد و نواح میں ہزاروں بُت خانے تھے جن پر سینکڑوں من تیل اور پھول صرف ہوتے صُبح و شام تک پرستاروں کا ہجوم رہا کرتا تھا۔ برہمنوں اور پرستارا صنام کو حضرت کا قیام ناگوار گزرا جب راجہ اور اہل شہر کی کثیر تعداد مندروں میں پُوجا کیلئے حاضر ہوئی پجاریوں کا سردار رام دیو (دوسری کتابوں میں شادی دیو آیا ہے) ایک جماعت کثیر کے ساتھ حضرت کی بارگاہ میں آیا تاکہ اس مرد درویش کو یہاں سے نکال دیا جائے لیکن حضرت خواجہ کے جمال باکمال پر نظر پڑتے ہی لوگوں کے جسموں پر لرزہ طاری ہو گیا۔ بید کی طرح کانپنے لگے۔ حضرت کی نگاہِ کرم کی تاثیر نے رام دیو کے دل کی کیفیت بدل دی بصد خلوص و عقیدت آگے بڑھا اور دستِ حق پرست پر اسلام قبول کرلیا۔ حضرت خواجہ نے اس کا نام شادی دیو رکھا۔ تلک عشرۃ کاملۃ یہ آپ کی دس کرامتیں مکمل ہوئیں ویسے تو آپ کی بے شمار کرامتیں ہیں اور الحمدللہ !! آج بھی آپ کی تربیت گہوارہء کرامت بنی ہوئی ہے۔ خدا کی رحمتیں ہوں اے امیر کارواں تم پر

Hadrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Chishti Ajmeri Alaihir raHmat al-Mannan

..:: Golden Words of Wisdom ::..
by Hadrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz
Chishti Ajmeri Alaihir raHmat al-Mannan

 

1. To look lovingly towards your parents is also a reason to gain the pleasure of your creator.
2. An 'Aarif (order of saints) picks one foot and lands on the Arsh (throne of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala) and with the other comes back again.
3. There is only one thing present in the entire universe and that is the noor (light) of Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala every thing else is absent.
4. There is only one veil standing between man and his creator and it is called nafs (soul).
5. Do not be disillusioned by the enormity of the universe.
6. The distinctions between the Haram and a Monastery are superficial.
7. If love is not an automatic guide then one will never reach ones destination.
8. Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala is an all incorporating goodness and his divine decree is goodness for us.
9. Hoarding of wealth and food for profit has become a destructive disease in the body of the nation. To fight and eradicate this disease lies within each citizen.
10. No nation can ever achieve progress until the men and the women do not go ahead shoulder to shoulder.
11. Belief in the law, unity and discipline and its principles should be adopted you will become. Trustworthy in this World.
12. Organise your nation according to the economics, political, education and important laws and conditions. Then you will definitely see, you would become such a nation that everybody will accept you and respect you.
13. Freedom does not mean to be unbridled not does it mean you can do as you please or choose as you wish or say as you will, for freedom is a great responsibility which should be used with great care and intelligence.
14. O! Young people, if you are going to use your strength and power in unnecessary pursuits then at a later stage you are going to reject it.
15. The waters of the streams and rivers when flowing make a lot of noise but when it meets with the sea then there is no more noise. One must ponder over the different stages of it’s behaviour.
16. If a person has these 3 qualities then he is Allah’s wali (friend):
    
     
    • He is generous like the sea, every creation is blessed alike with his favours.
    • He is affectionate like the sun whose light is everyone?
    • He is hospitable like the earth, which is hospitable in exactly the same way towards all. So much of damage caused by sin has never been seen, as much as the damage caused by a brother being disrespectful and despicable towards another brother

Hazrat Syed Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai

Hadrat Sayyid Shah Abd al-Latif Bhittai
Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan
 

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689–1752) (Sindhi: شاھ عبدالطيف ڀٽائيِ, Urdu: شاہ عبداللطیف بھٹائی) was a Sufi scholar, and is considered one of the greatest poets of the Sindhi language. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai was born in 1689 in Hala Haveli's village Sui-Qandar located near Hyderabad, Pakistan. Shah Abdul Latif was son of Syed Habibullah and grandson of Syed Abdul Quddus Shah. He settled in the town of Bhit Shah in Matiari, Pakistan where his shrine is located. His most famous written work is the Shah Jo Risalo, which is a master-piece of Sindhi Literature as well. The major themes of his poetry include Unity of Almighty, love for Prophet, Religious tolerance and humanistic values. For his works, he is regarded as a 'Direct Emanations of Rūmī's spirituality in the Indian world.'

Names of Bhittai

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is known by several honorific names - Lakhino Latif, Latif Ghot, Bhittai and Bhitt Jo Shah. Shah Abdul latif's deepness of poetry affiliated with the relationship between the Almighty and human is cause of his visits at different places of the regions surrounded to him and he always feel the circumstances carried out in his premises and he feels the people mind he had such a calm and sharp mind and such things made him the greatest poet of the world, if one could seriously understand his preaching.

 

The Early Life

Most of the information that has come down to us has been collected from oral traditions. A renowned Pakistani scholar, educationist, and a foremost writer of plays, dramas and stories, Mirza Kalich Beg has rendered a yeoman service to Sindhi literature by collecting details about the early life of Shah Bhitai, from the dialogues that he has constantly held with some of the old folks, still living at that time, who knew these facts from their fathers and grandfathers for they had seen Shah Latif in person and had even spoken to him.

"The next day I sat down, and listened to the Story of the 'Vairagis.' Their salmon-coloured clothes were covered with dust. Their hair-bands were worn out. They had let their hair grow quite long. The lonely ones never talk to anyone about their being. These 'Nanga' are content and happy. They move about unmarked amongst the common folk." ........Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai

He was born around 1689 CE (1102 A.H.) to Shah Habib in the village Sui-Qandar a few miles to the east of the present town of Bhit Shah (named after him), on Safar 14, 1102 A.H. ie November 18, 1690 CE. He died at Bhit Shah on Safar 14, 1165 A.H., i.e. January 3, 1752 CE. In his memory, every year, on 14th Safar of the Hijri Calendar, an Urs is held at Bhit Shah, where he spent the last years of his life and where his elaborate and elegant mausoleum stands.

Shah Abdul Latif got his early education in the school (maktab) of Akhund Noor Muhammad in basic Persian (the government language at that time) and Sindhi (local spoken language). He also learned the Qu'ran. His correspondence in Persian with contemporary scholar Makhdoom Moinuddin Thattavi, as contained in the Risala-e-Owaisi, bears witness to his scholastic competence.

"Beloved's separation kills me friends, At His door, many like me, their knees bend. From far and near is heard His beauty's praise, My Beloved's beauty is perfection itself." .....Bhitai 

 

Bhitai's Ancestry

Shah Abdul Latif's lineage has been traced back directly to the Beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam, through Imam Zain-ul-Abideen Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, son of Imam Hussain Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho. His ancestors had come from Herat in Central Asia, and settled at Matiari. Shah Abdul Karim 1600 CE, whose mausoleum stands at Bulri, about 40 miles from Hyderabad, a mystic Sufi poet of considerable repute, was his great, great grandfather. His verses are extant and his anniversary is still held at Bulri, in the form of an Urs.

His father Syed Habib Shah, lived in Hala Haveli, a small village, at a distance of about forty miles from Matiari and not far from the village of Bhitshah. Later he left this place and moved to Kotri, where Shah Latif spent some part of his adolescent life.

Education

Young Shah Abdul Latif was raised during the golden age of sindhi culture. His first teacher was Noor Muhammad Bhatti Waiwal. Mostly, Shah Latif was self-educated. Although he has received scanty formal education, the Risalo gives us an ample proof of the fact that he was well-versed in Arabic and Persian. The Qur'an, the Hadiths, the Masnawi of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, along with the collection of Shah Karim's poems, were his constant companions, copious references of which have been made in Shah Jo Risalo. In his poems he writes about Sindh and its neighbouring regions, he mentions distant cities such as Istanbul and Samarqand, he also writes about Sindhi sailors their navigation techniques voyages as far to the Malabar coast, Sri Lanka and the island of Java.

Appearance and Characteristics

In appearance, Bhitai was a handsome man, of average height. He was strongly built, had black eyes and an intelligent face, with a broad and high forehead. He grew a Sunnah beard. He had a serious and thoughtful look about himself and spent much time in contemplation and meditation, since he was concerned about his moral and spiritual evolution with the sole purpose of seeking proximity of the Divine. He would often seek solitude and contemplate on the burning questions running through his mind concerning man's spiritual life:

Why was man created?
What is his purpose on this earth? What is his relationship with his Creator?
What is his ultimate destiny?

Although he was born in favoured conditions, being the son of a well-known and very much respected Sayed family, he never used his position in an unworthy manner, nor did he show any liking for the comforts of life. He was kind, compassionate, generous and gentle in his manner of speech and behaviour which won him the veneration of all those who came across him. He had great respect for woman, and he exercised immense reserve in dealing with them, in an age when these qualities were rare. He hated cruelty and could never cause physical pain to any man or even to an animal. He lived a very simple life of self-restraint. His food intake was simple and frugal, so was his dressing which was often deep yellow, the colour of the dress of sufis and ascetics, stitched with black thread. To this day, his relics are preserved at Bhitsah (where his mausoleum stands), some of which include a "T"-shaped walking stick, two bowls, one made of sandal-wood and another of transparent stone, which he used for eating and drinking. His long cap and his black turban are also preserved.

"Cloud was commanded to prepare for rain, Rain pattered and poured, lightning flared. Grain hoarders, hoping for high prices, wring their hands, Five would become fifteen in their pages they had planned. From the land may perish all the profiteers, Herdsmen once again talk of abundant showers, Latif says have hope in Allah's blessed grace." ......Bhitai 

 

Quest for Religious Truths

In quest of religious truths, Shah Bhitai travelled to many parts of Sindh and also went to the bordering lands. He kept himself aloof from the political scene of favouritism and intrigues which was going on at the height of the power and rule of Kalhoras in Sindh. Instead of visiting towns and cities, in political canvassing, to serve the purpose of the rulers and elite of the land, though he was much respected by the members of the dynasty and could have benefited from it, he went to hills, valleys, the banks of river, and the fields, where he met the ordinary simple people, the sufis (mystics). He went to the Ganjo Hills in the south of Hyderabad for contemplation, and then to mountains in Las Bela in the south of Sindh and Balochistan. For three years, he travelled with these sufis in search of the truth, peace, and harmony, to Hinglay, Lakhpat, Nani at the foot of the Himalayas and to Sappar Sakhi. At several places in the Risalo, mention has been made of these sufis and of his visits to these wonderful, holy and peaceful places. The two surs, Ramkali and Khahori, describe them under various endearing names and a detailed account of the sufis' lifestyle is given. He also travelled to such far away places as Junagardh, Jesalmere and parts of the Thar desert.

"In deserts, wastes and Jessalmir it has rained, Clouds and lightning have come to Thar's plains; Lone, needy women are now free from care, Fragrant are the paths, happy herdsmen's wives all this share." ..........Bhitai 

Piety and Asceticism

By the time he was a young man of twenty one years, he began to be known for his piety, his ascetic habits and his absorption in prayers. Observation and contemplation were chief traits of his character. A number of people flocked round him adding to the already large number of his disciples. This aroused jealousy of some powerful, ruthless, tyrannical persons - landlords, Pirs, Mirs, and Rulers - who became his enemies for some time. Later, seeing his personal worth, and the peaceful and ascetic nature of his fame, abandoned their rivalry. At this time he was living with his father at Kotri, five miles away from the present site of Bhitshah. It was here that his marriage was solemnised in 1713 CE with Bibi Sayedah Begum, daughter of Mirza Mughul Beg. She was a very virtuous and pious lady, who was a proper companion for him. The disciples had great respect for her. They had no children.

In the true ascetic spirit, Shah Latif was now in search of a place where in solitude, he could devote all his time in prayers and meditation. Such a place he found near Lake Karar, a mere sand hill, but an exotic place of scenic beauty, four miles away from New Hala. This place was covered by thorny bushes surrounded by many pools of water. It was simply and aptly called 'Bhit' (the Sand Hill). On the heaps of its sandstones he decide to settle down and build a village. As it was sandy, he along with his disciples dug out the hard earth from a distance and covered the sand with it to make the ground firm. After months of hard labour, carrying the earth on their heads and shoulders, the place was now fit enough for the construction of an underground room and two other rooms over it, along with a room for his old parents. A mosque was also built and the houses of his disciples properly marked out. In 1742, whilst he was still busy setting up a new village, Bhit, he got the sad news of the death of his dear father.. Soon after this Shah Latif shifted all his family members from Kotri to Bhitsah, as the village now began to be called. His father was buried there, in accordance to his will, where his mausoleum stands only eight paces away, from that of Shah Abdul Latif, towards its north.

The Seven Queens of Sindh

The women of Shah Abdul Latif’s poetry are known as the Seven Queens, heroines of Sindhi folklore who have been given the status of royalty in the Shah Jo Risalo. The Seven Queens were celebrated throughout Sindh for their positive qualities: their honesty, integrity, piety and loyalty. They were also valued for their bravery and their willingness to risk their lives in the name of love.

Perhaps what Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai saw in his tales of these women was an idealised view of womanhood, but the truth remains that the Seven Queens inspired women all over Sindh to have the courage to choose love and freedom over tyranny and oppression. The lines from the Risalo describing their trials are sung at Sufi shrines all over Sindh, and especially at the urs of Shah Abdul Latif every year at Bhit Shah.

The Seven Queens mentioned in the Shah Jo Risalo are:

• Marvi
• Momal
• Sassi
• Noori
• Sohni
• Sorath
• Lila

The Final Years

For the last eight years of his remarkable life, Shah Latif lived at Bhitshah. A few days before his death, he retired to his underground room and spent all his time in prayers and fasting, eating very little.

Laggi Laggi wa'a-u wiarra angrra latji, Pa-i kharren pasah-a pasand-a karrend-i pirin-a jay.
Wind blew! The sand enveloped the body, Whatever little life left, is to see the beloved.

After 21 days in there, he came out and having bathed himself with a large quantity of water, covered himself with a white sheet.

He suffered from no sickness or pain of any kind. The date was 14th Safar 1165 Hijra corresponding to 1752 CE. He was buried at the place where his mausoleum now stands, which was built by the ruler of Sindh, Ghulam Shah Kalhoro. His name literally means 'the servant of the Shah'. He, along with his mother, had adored and revered Shah Latif and were his devoted disciples. The work of the construction of the mausoleum was entrusted to the well-known mason, Idan from Sukkur. The mausoleum, as well as the mosque adjoining it, were later repaired and renovated by another ruler of Sindh, Mir Nasir Khan Talpur.

Korren kan-i salam-u achio a'atand-a unn-a jay.
Countless pay homage and sing peace at his abode.

"Tell me the stories, oh thorn-brush, Of the mighty merchants of the Indus, Of the nights and the days of the prosperous times, Are you in pain now, oh thorn-brush? Because they have departed: In protest, cease to flower. Oh thorn-brush, how old were you When the river was in full flood? Have you seen any way-farmers who could be a match of the Banjaras? True, the river has gone dry, And worthless plants have begun to flourish on the brink, The elite merchants are on decline, And the tax collectors have disappeared, The river is littered with mud And the banks grow only straws The river has lost its old strength, You big fish, you did not return When the water had its flow Now it's too late, You will soon be caught For fishermen have blocked up all the ways. The white flake on the water: Its days are on the wane." ......Bhitai [translated by Prof. D. H. Butani [1913-1989] in The Melody and Philosophy of Shah Latif

The Urs Sharif

The URS is a Grand event in Sindh, where people from almost every village and town of Sindh and from different cities of other provinces of Pakistan - rich and poor, young and old, scholars and peasants - make a determined effort to attend. The Urs commences every year from 14th Safar (2nd month of Hijra calendar) and lasts for three days. A literary gathering is also held where papers concerning the research work done on the life, poetry, and message of Bhitai, are read, by scholars and renowned literary figures. His disciples and ascetics, gather around and read passages from his Risalo. Scholarly debates and exhibitions of his work and traditional Sindhi artifacts are also organized.

"Sleeping on the river's bank, I heard of Mehar's glory, Bells aroused my consciousness, longing took its place, By Almighty! fragrance of Mehar's love to me came, Let me go and see Mehar face to face." .....Bhitai

Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri (Baba Bulleh Shah)

Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri
Baba Bulleh Shah Alaihir raHmah

Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri also known as Hadrat Baba Bulleh Shah Alaihir raHma is universally admitted to have been the greatest of the Panjabi mystics. No Panjabi mystic poet enjoys a wider celebrity and a greater reputation. His kafis have gained unique popularity. In truth he is one of the greatest Sufis of the world and his thought equals that of Jalal al-Din Rumi and Shams Tabriz of Persia. As a poet Bulleh Shah is different from the other Sufi poets of the Panjab, and represents that strong and living pious nature of Panjabi character which is more reasonable than emotional or passionate. As he was an outcome of the traditional mystic thought we can trace some amount of mystic phraseology and sentiment in his poetry but, in the main, intellectual vedantic thought is its chief characteristic.

He was born in a Saiyyid family residing at, the village Pandoki of Kasur in the Lahore district, in the year A.D. 1680. This was during the twenty-first year of Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign. According to C. F. Usborne he passed away in A.H. 1171 or A.D. 1785 (i.e. in the short reign of Alamgir the Second) at the ripe old age of 78.

A large amount of what is known about Bulleh Shah comes through legends, and is subjective; to the point that there isn’t even agreement among historians concerning his precise date and place of birth. Some "facts" about his life have been pieced together from his own writings. Other "facts" seem to have been passed down through oral traditions.

Baba Bulleh Shah practiced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538 – 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629 – 1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640 – 1724) Alaihim ar-RaHmah.

Baba Bulleh Shah lived in the same period as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet , Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689 – 1752). His life also overlapped with the legendary Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1722 – 1798), and the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739 – 1829), better known by his pen-name, Sachal Sarmast (“truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones”).

After completing his education, it is said that Baba Bulleh Shah went to Lahore. Of the two traditions, one says that, as was customary in those days, he came to Lahore in search of a spiritual teacher, while the other relates that he went there on a visit. Each of these two contradictory traditions has a legend to support it. The first relates that while he was busy searching the intellectual circles of Lahore to find out a competent master he heard of Shah Inayat’s greatness and decided to make him his Murshid. He turned his steps towards the house of the Shah, and found him engrossed in his work in the garden. Having introduced himself, Baba Bulleh Shah requested that he might be accepted a disciple and taught the secret of God. Thereupon Hadrat Shah lnayat Alaihir raHmah said:

Bullhia rabb da pan ai
edharo puttan odharo lan hai.

O Bulleh! the secret of Almighty Allah is this; on this side He uproots, on the other side He creates.

‘This’, says the tradition. ‘so impressed Baba Bulleh Shah that, forgetting his family and its status, he became Inyat Shah’s disciple.’

The second tradition says that Shah Inayat was the head gardener of the Shalimar gardens of Lahore. When in Lahore, Baba Bulleh Shah visited them, and as it was summer, he roamed in the mango-groves. Desirous of tasting the fruit he looked round for the guardian but, not finding him there, he decided to help himself. To avoid the sin of stealing, he looked at the ripe fruit and said; ‘ALLAHu Ghani’. On the utterance of these magic words a mango fell into his hands. He repeated them several times, and thus collected a few mangoes. Tying them up in his scarf he moved on to find a comfortable place where he could eat them. At this time he met the head gardener, who accused him of stealing the fruit from the royal gardens. Considering him to be a man of low origin and desirous of demonstrating to him his occult powers, Baba Bulleh Shah said ironically: ‘I have not stolen the mangoes but they have fallen into my hands as you will presently see.’ He uttered ‘ALLAHu Ghani’ and the fruit came into his hand. But to his great surprise the young Saiyyid found that Inayat Shah was not at all impressed but was smiling innocently. The great embarrassment of Bullhe Shah inspired pity in the gardener’s heart and he said: ‘You do not know how to pronounce properly the holy words and so you reduce their power.’ So saying, he uttered ‘ALLAHu Ghani’, and all the fruits in the gardens fell on the lovely lawns. Once again he repeated the same and the fruit went back on to the trees. This defeat inflicted by the guardian, whom the young Saiyyid Bullhe Shah considered ignorant and low, revolutionized his whole thought. Falling at the feet of Inayat Shah he asked to be classed as his disciple and his request was immediately granted.

The above two traditions, though different in detail, come to the same conclusion, that Baba Bulleh Shah, impressed by the greatness of Inayat, became his disciple. Bullhe Shah in his verse often speaks of his master Inayat Shah and thanks his good luck for having met such a murshid.

Bulleh Shah ve nic kamini
Shah inayat tari.

 Says Bulleh Shah, O Almighty the Lord Inayat has saved me, low and mean.

And:

Bullhe Shah di suno hakait
hadi pakria hog hadait
mera murshid Shah Inayat
Uh langhaai par.

Listen to the story of Bullhe Shah, he has got hold of the peer and shall have salvation. My teacher, Shah Inayat, he will take me across.

In an account of the Panjabi poets it would perhaps be out of place to speak at great length of Shah Inayat who wrote in Persian. But the influence exerted by him through his teachings and writings has linked him with Panjabi literature. Baba Bulleh Shah the Rumi of the Panjab, came most directly under his influence and, having learnt from him, was inspired to write his remarkable poetry. It will therefore, be proper to give a short account of this wonderful man.

Hadrat Shah Inayat Qadiri and his School

Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Inayatullah, generally known as Shah Inayat Qadiri, was born at Kasur in the Lahore district, of Arais parents. The arias in the Panjab were gardeners or petty cultivators. They are known to be Hindu converts to Islam and are therefore considered inferior.

He was educated after the manner of his time and gained a good knowledge of Persian and Arabic. As he was born with a mystic disposition he became a disciple of the famous Sufi scholar and saint Muhammad Ali Raza Shattari. After he had finished his studies he was created a khalifa. Later on he received the khilafat of seven other sub-sects of the Sufi Qadiri. Soon after this event he left Kasur and migrated to Lahore .The author of Bagh-i-Awliya-e-Hind says that the great enmity of the Hakim Hussain Khan compelled him to migrate, but his descendants assert that it was the order of his teacher that brought him to Lahore. Here after having quelled the jealousy of his famous contemporaries, he established a college of his own. To this college came men of education for further studies in philosophy and other spiritual sciences of the time.
Inayat Shah was a well-known Qadiri Sufi of his time. From the historical point of view the Qadiri Sufis can be traced back to the Sufi Saint Abdul Qadri Jilani of Bagdad. Jilani is also known by the names Peer Dastgeer and Peeran-e-Peer. Bulleh Shah himself has also given a hint that his "Master of Masters" was born in Bagdad but his own Master belonged to Lahore:
My Master of Masters hailed from Baghdad,
but my Master belongs to the throne of Lahore.
It is all the same. For He himself is the kite
and He himself is the string.

Such was the man whom Baba Bulleh Shah made his Murshid. This action of Baba Bulleh Shah, however, was highly displeasing to his family. His relatives tried to induce him to give up Inayat and find another murshid. But Baba Bulleh Shah was firm and paid no attention to them or to their wailings. The following will sufficiently demonstrate the indignation of the family:

Bulleh nu samjhawan aiyaan bhena te bharjhaiyaan
Aal nabi ullad Nabi nu tu kyun leekaan laaiyaan
Manlay Bulleya sada kehna chad de palla raiyaan

To Bulleh sisters and sisters-in-law came to explain (advise). Why, O Bulleh, have you blackened the family of the Prophet and the descendants of Ali? Listen to our advice, Bulleh, and leave the skirt of the aria.

To this reproach Baba Bulleh Shah firmly but indifferently replies:

Jehra sanu saiyad akkhe dozakh miln sazaiya
Jehra sanu rai akkhe bahishti piga paiya
Je tu lore bag bahara Bullhia Talib ho ja raiya.

He who calls me a Saiyyid, shall receive punishments in Hell, he who calls me an arai shall in heaven have swings; O Bulleh, if you want pleasures of the garden become a disciple of the aria.

Raeen saain sabhan thaain rab diyaan be parwaiyaan
Sohniyaan pare hataiyaan te khoojiyaan lay gall laiyaan
Arain and masters are born at every place, God does not discriminate against anyone.
Wise people don't care for such differences, only the ugly ones do

Je tu loorain baag baharaan chaakar hoo ja raiyaan
Bulleh Shah di zaat ki puchni shakar ho razaiyaan
If you seek to the gardens of heaven, become a servant to the ‘Arains’. Why ask about the caste of Bulleh Shah? Instead be grateful in the God's will.
Baba Bulleh Shah seems to have suffered at the hands of his family, as he has once or twice mentioned in his poetry. In the end, being convinced of the sincere love and regard of their child for Inayat Shah, the family left him alone. It is said that one of his sisters, who understood her brother, gave him her support and encouraged him in his search for truth.

After the demise of Hadrat Shah Inayat, Baba Bullhe Shah returned to Kasur. He remained faithful to his Beloved and to himself by not marrying. The sister who understood him also remained single and kept him company in his last years. He died in A.D. 1758 and was buried in Kasur, where his tomb still exists.

May Allah SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala elevate his Status and bless with a part from the Divine Love of Hadrat Sayyid Abdullah Shah Qadiri that he had for HIM (Almighty) and accept our remembrance of the Great Wali and the Sufi Master and make it a medium for us to receive his divine mercy and blessings… Aameen!!