Sufi Pakistan : Syed Ghulam Haider Shah - (1838-1908)

Hazrat Syed Ghulam Haider Shah (1838-1908), a renowned sufi, contributed a lot to the spread of Islam and to develop a through and deep belief on its teachings. Al-though century has passed yet his principles, teachings and attitude towards life is providing guidance to large number of masses, all over the world. His impressive religious personality has turned jalalpur Shareef into a symbol of light and inspiration

BIRTH and Early Life:

In the Year in 1838, Hazrat Syed Ghulam Haider Shah was born in a beautiful hilly town, Jalapur Shareef, situated on the western bank of River Jehlum, near Kahwera saltmines in district Jehlum.

The grand father (Syed Sakhi Shah) and father (Syed Juma Shah) of Syed Ghulam Haider Shah have been renowned for their steadfastness and trustworthiness in the region.

His mother, from a Syed family of Khewah (Gujrat), had been very pious, a resolute lady and very considerate towards poor and needy ones.

Since his childhood Syed Ghulam Haider Shah had decent habits, clear thinking and complete faith and confidence in the supremacy and authority of Allah.

Learned Holy Quran from Mian Khan and his uncle Hzrt Syed Imam Shah. Among other teachers were Mian Mohammad Kamil and Mufti Ghulam Mohaiuddin, who were distinguished scholars in the region at that time.

As he reached his youth, Allah blessed him with strong and healthy built. He had fair wheatish complexion and attractive black eyes, full of confidence and conviction. His father used to impress upon him to lead a life with chastity. He honoured father’s advice and through out his life, avoided even minor touch with anyna-mahram lady.


Marriage:

He got married at the age of sixteen. After two years he had to witness the bereavement of his father, who was at the same time a spiritual tutor and with whom he was deeply attached. Before the demise, his father instructed and advised him, “Lead simple, chaste and respectable life. Always remember the Supreme Authority, Allah and Sunnah (practice and preaching of holy prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) should be the conduct of life. Be-caring and considerate to relatives and also towards needy and poor. Be respectful to elders and loving and caring towards younger. Most visit every day, the shrine of Hzrt Syed Meer Shakir Shah commonly known as Syed Miran Shakir for spiritual guidance and strength”.

Hazrat Syed Miran Shakir, whose shrine is about three miles up-hills from Jallalpur Shareef, is the eldest son of well known Hazrat Syed Shah Muhammad Ghaus, who is buried in Lahore between Akbari and Dilli Gate.
The obedient son acted according to the will of his father. He led simple, contented and pious life according to the guide lines set by the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He strived to gain know ledge and be beneficial for people. Because of his generosity he is remembered as Gharib-Nawaz (generous to poor). Despite his own early moderate economic conditions, he used to give alms to any beggar visiting his doorstep and helped the travelers and needy ones, irrespective of their religion or creed.

Silsilah-e-bait:

Syed Ghulam Haider Shah mostly used to spend evenings and occasionally nights at Hazrat Miran Shakir’s shine that used to be deserted at nights. One night the heard a voice, instructing him to see Syed Ghulam Shah of a nearby town Haranpur for silsilah-e-bait (spiritual link). When he met Syed Ghulam Shah Haranpuri, he said,” Your bait is not easy for me, I will lead you to Hazrat Khawajah Shamsuddin Sialvi (a well-known Sufi and religious scholar of his times)”.

As both of them reached Sial Shareef, a town in district Jhang, Syed Ghulam Shah Haranpuri introduced him to Hazrat Khawaja Shamsuddin Sialvi, “He is a Syed from Jalalpur and is desirous of bait”. Khawajah Shamsuddin Sialvi, as if waiting for such a pious, devout and capable figure, welcomed him and entered him to silsilah-e-bait. This bait resulted in his spiritual growth and uplift. Gharib Nawaz developed too much attachment and attraction for his Murshid (Spiritual guide) Khawajah shamsuddin Sialvi and used to visit to Sial Shareef, he was awarded Khilafat and permission to accept hait from any follower. He also studied books of Sufism, e.g., Muraqa Shareef Kashkaol, etc. from his Murshid.

The virtues, purity and piousness of Syed Ghulam Haider Shah earned great respect from Khwajah Silavi, who used to instruct a number of salikeen and mureedain to go and seek bait of Syed Ghulam Haider Shah, Jalalpuri instead of his own. He used in his bait and that of Syed Jalalpuri’s bait.

His Life Routines:

Gharib-Nawaz Syed Ghulam Haider Shah, used to spend most of his time remembering Allah, offering prayers, even not missing nowafils (Non-obligatory worship), acquiring knowledge, study of sufi literature and guiding and helping visitors. At the same time he was very attentive towards the welfare and betterment of his family, followers and other matters of daily life. He maintained Langar (free meals for followers, travelers and needy ones). He used to keep himself abreast of political situation of the country and about the international affairs. He was very nervous over the deteriorating political conditions of Muslims in general and riots of 1907 in Bengal and Punjab. In Islam there is no Rehbaniyat, thereafter participated both in religious as well as in worldly activities. Every worldly deed becomes a religious activity when it is performed according to guide lines and teachings of Islam and remembering and fearing Almighty Allah all the times.

Gharib-Nawaz Syed Ghulam Haider Shah led simple, clean and graceful life. He was very generous and consistent in his commitments. He used to preach and practice love for Allah, His Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), Murshid and mankind and regarded it as a part of faith. He desired his family and followers to be pious, cooperative, knowledge and prolific. He hardly used to become angry with any one. He was always a well wisher and never wished bad for anyone. Almighty Allah, the Merciful, mostly rewarded whenever he prayed for the betterment of any one, who visited him and requested for pray. Hazrat Syed Mehr Ali Shah Golarvi was peer-bhai (brother in spiritual order) and contemporary of Syed Ghulam Haider Shah. Both had great respect and regard for each other and worked jointly for the cause of Islam.

Wissal:

In 1905, Hazrat Syed Ghulam Haider Shah, handed over Khilafat to his Younger son Hazrat Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah and advised to help and guide people, continue Langar Shareef and contribute in construction of facilities for the visitors and followers.

On afternoon of the 5th July 1908 (5th Jamadi-us-Sani, 1326 Hijra), following minor temperature he passed away for heavens. Malik Muhammad Din had written the biography, “Ziker-e-Habib” of Syed Ghulam Haider Shah. Many scholars and learned people expressed sorrow and grief by written articles, poems and verses. Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal, also wrote quatrain indicating his high stature and date of expiry in Persian.

It translates as, “Every one who visits the grave of peer Haider Shah, described it as the glory of Koh-e-Toor (where Allah manifested His glory to Prophet Moses).

An angel descended, from heaven and kissed his grave, when asked about his year to expiry, the angle replied, Maghfoor, (meaning pardoned and exonerated one; the digit sum of the letters of Maghfoor is 1326, the year according to the lunar calendar).

After Syed Muzaffar Shah, his son, Hazrat Abdul Barkat Syed Muhammad Fazal Shah, graced dargah Jallalpur Shareef. He was a great spiritual as well as a religious leader and activity participated in the movements for independence of Pakistan and Kashmir. The volunteers of his Jamaat Hizbullah, fought and struggled to liberate Azad jamun Kashmir from Indian atrocities.

These days Hazrat Syed Anis Haider, the grand son of Syed Muhammad Fazal Shah, is the spiritual leader and Sajjada Nasheen of Jallahpur Shareef. His brother Hazrat Syed Tanveer Haider is also foreign qualified. Both are looking after all the affairs of Jallalpur Shareef jointly

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