Sufism (tasawwuf) a spiritual philosophy of Islam, the essence of which is to establish a direct relationship with Allah by purifying the soul, has been flourishing among the hills of erstwhile district Doda of Jammu and Kashmir] since long.
Regarded as most backward district of the country the erstwhile Doda has traditionally been a place where religion has dominated the discourse and knitted people of different faiths together.
One may argue that massacres created fissures between communities and subsequent creation of Village Defence Committees (VDC’s) widened the gulf yet one has to agree that secularism continues to blossom.
Ask people in Chenab Valley, they would tell you that being an area where Sufism has been thriving from centuries, possibility of communities getting engaged in religious, regional, racist and gender conflicts are meager. Despite changing times, Sufism continues to enjoy supremacy in the three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban.
Historical manuscripts written mostly in Persian maintain that Sufism flourished in district Doda during the 15 century when Sufi saints from various parts in India started reaching reached this Valley.
However, tasawwuf gained prominence with the arrival of Hazrat Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi (RA) and his two sons Hazrat Shah Asrar-ud-din (RA) and Hazrat Shah Akhyar-ud-din (RA) during the 17th century. These revered saints propagated Islam and value based education among the people of all religions, castes and creeds.
Researchers maintain that before Hazrat Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi (RA) arrived in district Doda, the region had already been visited by some other great Sufi saints which included Hazrat Shah Hamdan (RA), Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) and Hazrat Zain-ul-deen Rishi (RA).
These revered saints taught people basics of Islam and pleaded with them to come out of the darkness of illiteracy and ritualism. These revered saints propagated love and brotherhood. They taught tawhid or monotheism, i.e. oneness of Allah, asked people to follow teachings of Holy Quran and the Hadith.
Historical manuscripts are witness to the fact that Sufis were able to convert large numbers of people to Islam by preaching the essence of Islam and Sufism. They taught love, brotherhood and equality.
Many of these Sufi preachers who came to district Doda and propagated Islam have a earned a distinct place for themselves across the world. Their tombs are still respected as holy places, with people from all walks of life visiting and praying for earthly prosperity and spiritual salvation. Legends about the miracles performed by the Sufi saints, who are believed to have been possession of miraculous powers, continue to be a part of social set-up in district Doda. Interestingly one can watch names of different Sufi saints inscribed on the bodies of buses, trucks, matadors and private cars to ensure safe journeys. Of the many revered saints, Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) needs a special mention. Born in a royal family of Kishtwar, he was the disciple of highly revered saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA). According to a popular legend, when Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) was a child, he fell severely ill. When the chances of his recovery started thinning, his mother began crying bitterly and started praying to the Almighty to save his son. It is believed that a man, who is believed to have been an angel, appeared before the mother of the boy. He asked her about her grief. Mother of Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) narrated the entire story and asked him, if he could help her. The man promised to help the aggrieved mother but he kept a stipulation that if her son recovers well in time, she along with her son would start propagating teachings of Islam.
She agreed and promised. The man left but not before telling her not to forget her promise. But when he recovered, his mother forgot the promise she had made with that man. When the condition started deteriorating, she began remembering her promise. Caught in a dilemma, she reached Kashmir. With the help few people, she reached to the place where Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) had been living.
When she saw him, she was stunned to find that he was the same man with whom she had made a promise. It is believed that she pleaded with the revered saint to forgive her for having forgotten her promise. Sheikh Sahib forgave her and she along with her son began preaching Islam. This is how Sheikh Zain-ud-din (RA) entered Islam and began propagating it among people of different faiths.
He became a disciple of Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) who sent him to Ashmuqam, a village located in Anantnag district of South Kashmir. He began teaching Islamic tenants to the people in that area. Soon his name gained prominence all over the state and people started visiting him from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The other Sufi saint who is highly revered across the state is Hazrat Syed Farid-uddin-Qadri (RA) popularly known as Shah Saheb. His shrine is located in the midst of Kishtwar town. Historical records maintain that Syed Muhammad Farid-uddin Bagdadi (RA) was born in the family of Syed Mustafa, a descendant of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) of Baghdad, in the year 1689. Although historians have a conflict over the date of birth of Shah Saheb (RA) but according to noted writer, scholar and intellectual Wali Mohammed Aseer (Kishtwari), when Shah Saheb came to Kishtwar in the year 1664, he was 75 year old.
"After completion of his studies, he set out on an extensive tour, offered pilgrimage at Mecca. During the pilgrimage, he met Sheikh Jalal Uddin Al-Maghribi (RA) in Mecca and Sheikh Mohi-uddin-Qadri (RA) in Egypt," added Aseer.
He maintained that thereafter Shah Saheb (RA) reached Sindh where from he traveled towards Agra. "From Agra, Shah Saheb (RA) in 1664 reached Kishtwar which was being ruled by Raja Jai Singh; when he reached Kishtwar, he was accompanied by his followers namely Dervish Muhammad, Shah Abdal, Syed Baha Uddin Saani and Yar Muhammad," added the noted litterateur. According to "Focus on Jammu and Kashmir" written by Aseer Kishtwari, Shah Saheb (RA) began propagating Islam. The book says that Shah Saheb built a monastery and busied whole heartily in the service and propagation of Islam.
After the death of Raja Jai Singh, his son Kirat Singh succeeded him, embraced Islam and assumed name of Saadat-yar Khan. Seeing their King turning to Islam, a large number of his subjects followed their King and turned to Islam. According to a popular legend, Shah Saheb reached Kishtwar via Deeng-batal. At Deeng-batal, a daughter of the landlord was greatly impressed by the piety of the sage and married him and assumed the name Roshan-dil. Shah Saheb (RA) stayed there for seven days [years?].
He consummate his marriage for the third time with the daughter of Shah Noor Ali, a convert who was at that time a lumberdar of village Nagri of Doda town. Shah Saheb (RA) gave her the name Mai Malahat. From there he traveled went to Bhandar-kot and thereafter reached Kishtwar.
According to a popular legend, when a blind man came and prayed for the eyesight. Shah Saheb told him that it is nice to pray both for eye-sight and subjugation. Legend says that Shah Saheb touched his face with his hand and the man not only received the eyesight but insight also. It is also believed that once upon a time, when the King approached him for stopping the earthquake, he prayed to the Almighty and the earthquake subsided. Shah Saheb had three children. Syed Anwar Uddin who died at an age of two and a half years; Syed Akhyar-ud-din (RA) and Syed Asrar-uddin (RA) were saints bestowed with revelations and miracles. Syed Asrar-uddin was a born saint and exhibited wondrous revelations at an early age which his father Shah Saheb (RA) did not approve of.
One day he gave him a bowl full of water and asked him to drink water from it. The son declined. He reiterated by saying "This is your father’s order". Hazrat Asrar-uddin (RA) held the cup, covered his head with a sheet and drank it. He died soon after.
His other son Hazrat Akhyar-uddin proceeded to Gurdaspur, under the orders of his father to be admitted as a follower by Syed Badar-Uddin Sa’mani. He returned to Kashmir after the death of his father and stayed at the Shrine of Sultan-Ul-Arifeen Sheikh Hamza (RA) for seven years and died there.
His shrine stands in the center of Kishtwar town, while Syed Asrar-uddin’s tomb is on the other side of the town facing Chowgan. Syed Akhyar-uddin (RA) has been buried in the outer adjoining room of the Shrine. These Sufis and saints have left yet their shrines continue to hold a significant place in the hearts of the people. These shrines have kept the spirit of communal harmony alive. Shah Saheb used to say "The true seeker should tread the highway of love fearlessly and patiently." "If one cannot drink up the entire ocean One can drink to one’s limit
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