Many saints came to the valley of Kashmir to preach and to propagate Islam, to name a few were: Bulbul Shah, Syed Jalal Uddin Bukhari, Syed Taj Uddin, Syed Hussain Samnani, and Yousuf. But the one who lit the torch of monotheism, in reality was Hazrat Amir-e-Kabir Sahah-e-Hamdan.

 Parentage

His name was Ali, and titles were Amir-e-Kabir, Ali Sa’ani, and Mir. Besides them, the Chroniclers had mentioned several other titles: Qutub-e-Zaman, Sheikh-e-Salikan-e-Jehan, Qutub-Ul-Aktab, Moih-Ul-Ambiya-o-Ul-Mursaleen, Afzal-Ul-Muhaq-e-qeen-o-Akmal-Ul-Mudaq-e-qeen, Al-Sheiyookh-Ul-Kamil, Akmal-Ul-Muhaqqiq-Ul-Hamadani etc.He traced his patrimony through his father, Syed Shahab Uddin, to Imam Zain-ul-Abedein and finally to Hazrat Ali. His mother, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, reached the Prophet. His date of birth is disputed. To some it is 12, Rajab-Ul-Marjab 714 Hijri (12th October 1314) and to others is 12, Rajab 713 (12th October 1313). The former date appears more probable.

ZIYARAT SHARIF HAZRAT AMIR-E-KABIR SHAH-E-HAMDAN (KASHMIR)

FOUNDER OF PASHMINA TEXTILE

The founder of Pashmina shawl textile trade is the great Persian personality Mir Ali Hamadani. Said trade gave strong economic contribution to several countries, such as China, Mongolia, America, India and Kashmir. Mir Ali Hamadani came to the Kashmir with 700 followers.According to the United Nations’ (UN) specialized agency UNESCO (report 2014), Hamadani was one of the principal historical figures who shaped the culture of Kashmir; both architecturally and also through the flourishing of arts and crafts hence the economy of that country. The skills and know-how he brought gave rise to an entire industry.

 DISCIPLES OF IMAM I HAMADANI

Makhdoum Abdul Rashid Haqqani, the cousin of Makhdoum Baha ul Haq (Baha ud Din Zakrya Multani), was a disciple of Mir Sayyed Ali Hamadani. The mausoleum of Haqqani is in the town of ‘Makhdoum Rashid’ situated near Multan. Makhdoum Javed Hashmi is the guardian of the shrine of Makhdoum Abdul Rashid Haqqani. A few years ago Javed Hashmi claimed he was the actual heir to the shrines of Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukn-e-Alam as well. He says that his ancestor Abdul Rashid Haqqani and Bahauddin Zakariya were in fact cousins. Makhdoum Shah Mehmood Qureshi, is the custodian of the revered shrines of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukn-e-Alam.

 Education

Syed Hamdani came from an educated family. He was intelligent and quick of mind, and read the holy Qu’Oran, under the care of his maternal uncle, Hazrat Ala-Uddin and from him too he took his lessons on subjects outer and intrinsic for a period of thirteen years.

Spiritual Training

Hazrat Ala-Uddin, then, entrusted him to Sheikh Abul Bracket for Spiritual training, and after his demise he proceeded to Sheikh Mahmud Mizdiqani, a renowned saint of the time. The saint put him to severe tests and thus removed pride and haughtiness from him and inculcated in him virtues of humility.

Order

He belonged to the Kibroya branch of the Suharawardy Order and received the role of the spiritual heir from Sheikh Abul Miamin Najam Uddin Muhammad-bin-Mohammad Azani.

Payers and Meditation

After studies, external and internal, in order to train his self; he went into seclusion and spent six years. He did not utter a single word relating to material life. After the period, he again went to Hazrat Abul Barakat who attended to the cleansing of heart and physical exercise. He ordered him to go to Muhammad Mizdiqani. After the last rites of Hazrat Abul Barakat he presented himself to Hazrat Mahmud Mizdiqani on the fourth day.

Travels

Travelling is very essential in mystical life. Under the orders of his teacher Mahmud Mizdiqani, he set out on journey and spent better part of it in it. Ghulam Sarvar writes about his travels. Sheikh Mahmud Mizdiqani Said, “Travel about the world, meet the saints, draw benefits from them as much as you can.” consequently, he undertook the Haj thrice and traveled for twenty or twenty one years. During these journeys he saw the Islamic and other countries and met the holy men there.

 Preaching of the Deen

He quarreled with Amir-e-Temur and so moved to Kashmir with seven hundred Syeds and his followers, during the reign of King Shahab-Uddin. He had already sent two of his followers: Syed Taj Uddin Samnani and Mir Syed Hasan Samnani to take stock of the situation. The ruler of Kashmir became the follower of Mir Syed Hasan Samnani and because of the Kings concurrence he entered Kashmir with a large following. The King and heir apparent, Qutub Uddin, received him warmly. At that time the Kashmir ruler was on war with Firoz Tughlaq and because of his efforts the parties came to terms.

Shah Hamdan started the propagation movement of the Islam in Kashmir in an organized manner. The Kashmiri Muslims were unaware of the Deeni spirit before his arrival there. The reason being, the people, who had initiated the Movement, were saintly by nature and carried a deep influence of the Hinduism and the Buddhism. In-spite of having been turned Muslims they still observed many local rites and practices. Shah Hamdan did not stay in the valley permanently but visited on various occasions. First during the reign of Sultan Shahab Uddin in 774 Hijri he came, stayed for six months and left it. Second, he visited in 781 Hijri when Qutub Uddin was the ruler, stayed for a year and tried to extend the Movement to every nook and corner of Kashmir, returned to Turkistan via Ladakh in 783 Hijri. Third, he visited in 785, with the intention to stay for a longer period but had to return earlier owing to illness.

During his travels he met one thousand and four hundred saints and made numerous followers. The valley of Kashmir was fortunate for he decided to make it the center of his activities. Prior to him the Yogis propagated Islam and Rishis on whom the local effects ruled strongly than the pristine Islamic spirit. The intrinsic had over powered the Shairah. His greatest contribution was that he synchronized the intrinsic with the Shairah. The Kashmiris in-spite of being Muslims believed in many un-Islamic rites, practices and beliefs.

 Shah Hamadan in his native land

Syed Ali Hamdani spent twenty years of his life in his native land and engaged in the spiritual training of his followers, preaching, counseling, and religious discourses.

 Art and Crafts

Shah Hamadan was a Multi-dimensional personality. He was a social reformer besides being a preacher. Among the seven hundred followers, who accompanied him to Kashmir, were men of arts and crafts who flourished here? They popularized Shawl-making, cloth-weaving, pottery and calligraphy. Allama Iqbal admits that because of Shah Hamadan the wonderful arts and crafts turned Kashmir into a mini Iran and brought about a revolution in the thinking process of the people.

 According to Daira-e-Maarif-e-Islamia

Shah Hamadan’s greatest contribution was the character building of the people to liberate them from the fear of the new system and their love for the older one. He imbibed true awakening and taught the Shairah. The Kashmiri people still had some of the Hindu beliefs; visited the temples and revered the Brahmins. The rulers wore Hindu dresses, and observed practices Un-Islamic in nature. On his instructions the rulers abandoned Un-Islamic dress and took to long cloaks similar to the ones wore by the Turkish rulers. Orders of the Shairah were made popular and people were inspired to learn more about Islam. For purpose of building the character of the Muslims he practiced truthfulness and fearlessness. He even scolded the contemporary rulers on their Un-Islamic activities. Sultan Qutub Uddin had two real sisters as wives. He reprimanded him and asked to divorce one of them. He obeyed. He made Islamic teachings known to the people in Kashmir, improved their beliefs, made efforts for the building of their character and laid down a fool-proof system for the propagation of the Islam.

 Shah Hamadan’s followers and colleagues

Shah Hamadan’s efforts reached far and wide and benefited a large number of people. The number of his followers was large. A few to mention were: Noor Uddin Jafar Rustaq Bazari Badakhshi, Khawaja Ishaq Khatlani, Sheikh Qiwam Uddin Badakhshi, Mir Syed Husain Samnani, Mir Rukn Uddin, Syed Fakhar Uddin, Qutub-e-Amjad Syed Muhammad Qureshi, Syed Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Muhammad Aziz Ullah, Syed Muhammad murid, and Pir Muhammad Qadri etc.

 Books

Shah Hamadan, besides being a mystic saint and an effective preacher, was a man of letters and wrote about a hundred pamphlets in Arabic and Persian: Zakhira-Tul-Malik, a famous book, has been translated in many languages. It is impossible to mention all the titles of his books here, how ever, a few of them are: Sharah Nasoos-Ul-Hukm Farisi, Asrar-Ul-Nuqt, Risala Nooriya, Risia Islahat-e-Ilam-Ul-Qafia-o-Qaeda, Moudat-Ul-Qurabi, Rouzat-Ul-Firdous, Firdous-Ul-Akhbar, Manazil-Ul-Salikeen, Khulasit-Ul-Manaqib, Chehl Asrar, and etc.

Revelation and Miracles

Once a king invited him. He declined. The king grew furious; ordered to mould a horse from copper, heat it, put the saint on it, and brings him to him. The order was obeyed. The king’s servants heated the horse but it soon grew cold (under the will of God). The king repented for his conduct and begged of his forgiveness.

Illness and Death

On return from his third visit to Kashmir he reached Kinar via Pikhanli and was received as a royal guest. He fell ill there and died after five days on 6, Zil Haj 786 Hijri. Compiler, Hasan, in the Tar-eekh-e-Hasan mentions the date of expiry in the Persian couplet, which means: The great Syed Sirdar (Ali Hamadan) went to the paradise to take rest. Hasan mentions the year of the death in this couplet.

He was buried at Kolab in Khatlani where people gather in large numbers to pay their homage to him.

The Monastery (Khanqab-e-Mualla)

His room where he stayed for the first time, is a part of a great building, named as Khanqah-e-Mualia rose by Sultan Sikandar from 1394 to 1417 AD. The building is a beautiful model of wooden architecture of Kashmir, with engravings on walls. Friday prayers are said here where hundreds gather to pray. The sacred relics include the Prophet’s flag, the pillar of the Prophet’s tent, and Shah Hamadan’s walking stick. During his life the place acquired the distinction of being the center of the spiritual light. People revere the place and some call it the second Ka’aba out of extreme devotion.

INFLUENCE ON KASHMIRI CULTURE

Shah-e-Hamadan has been on the principal historical figures who have shaped the culture of Kashmir. His influence on arts and culture and the economy of the valley cannot be overstated. Among the seven hundred followers who accompanied him to Kashmir, were men of arts and crafts who flourished in the valley. They popularized Shawl-making, carpet-manufacturing, cloth-weaving, pottery and calligraphy. Allama Iqbal admits that because of Shah Hamadan the wonderful arts and crafts turned Kashmir into a mini Iran and brought about a revolution in the thinking process of the people. The skills and know-how he brought to Kashmir gave rise to an industry which is world famous even now as the home of Cashmere shawls. The many vocations he introduced in the valley have provided a livelihood to the artisans of Kasmir for centuries.

Shah Hamadan was a Multi-dimensional personality. He was a social reformer besides being a preacher. He brought substantial reforms in the lives of ordinary Kashmiris, getting rid of practices like black magic and Sati. He made Islamic teachings known to the people in Kashmir, convert their beliefs, made efforts for the building of their character and laid down a fool-proof system for the propagation of the Islam. He introduced the Central Asian architecture in the valley and when fused with the Kashmiri architecture, gave rise to a new style. The most famous example of this is the Khanqah-e-Mualla, the monastery dedicated to him in Kashmir. This building, which contains the room where he stayed on his first visit to the valley, is a beautiful model of wooden architecture of Kashmir, with engravings on walls. Friday prayers are said there where hundreds gather to pray. The sacred relics include the Prophet’s flag, the pillar of the Prophet’s tent, and Shah Hamadan’s walking stick.

WORKS

Shah Hamadan, besides being a mystic saint and an effective preacher, was a man of letters and wrote about a hundred pamphlets in Arabic and Persian: Zakhirat-ul-Maluk, a famous book, has been translated in many languages. Some other famous works are:

•  Sharia Qasida al-Burdacopy in Seikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani Lebary in bagdad (Start with fa cal Sultan Awilya said Ali Hamadani.
• Risalah Nooriyah, is a tract on contemplation.
• Risalah Maktubaat, contains Amir-i-Kabir’s letter.
• Dur Mu’rifati Surat wa Sirat-i-Insaan, discusses the bodily and moral features of man.
• Dur Haqaa’iki Tawbah, deals with the real nature of penitence.
• Hallil Nususi allal Fusus, is a commentary on Ibn-ul-‘Arabi’s Fusus-ul-Hikam.
• Sharhi Qasidah Khamriyah Faridhiyah, is a commentary on the wine-qasidah of ‘Umar ibn ul-Fariz who died in 786 A.H. =1385 A.C.
• Risalatul Istalahaat, is a treatise on Sufic terms and expressions.
• ‘ilmul Qiyafahor Risalah-i qiyafah is an essay on physiognomy. A copy of this exists in the United States National Library of Medicine.
• Dah Qa’idahgives ten rules of contemplative life.
• Kitabul Mawdah Fil Qurba, puts together traditions on affection among relatives.
• Kitabus Sab’ina Fi Fadha’il Amiril Mu’minin, gives the seventy virtues of Hazrat ‘Ali. Arba’ina Amiriyah, is forty traditions on man’s future life.
• Rawdhtul Firdaws, is an extract of a larger work entitled.
• Firdawsul Akhyaar, by Shuja-ud-Din Shiruyah.
• Manazilu Insaaliqin, is on Sufi-ism.
• Awraad-ul-Fatehah, gives a conception of the unity of God and His attributes.
• Chehl Asraar (Forty Secrets), is a collection of forty poems in praise of Allah and The Prophet
• Zakhirat-ul-Muluk, a treatise on political ethics and the rules of good government.
• The Nurbakhshis of Baltistan: Crisis and Revival of a Five Centuries Old Community, Andreas Rieck Die Welt des Islams, New Ser., Vol. 35, Issue 2 (Nov., 1995), pp. 159–188

Qutub Akhtab Mir  Syed Ali Hamdani Shah Hamdan R.A

Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamadani  (Persian: میر سید علی ابن شہاب الدین ہمدانی‎‎; 1314-1384) was a Persian Sūfī of the Kubrawi order, a poet and a prominent Muslim scholar. He was born on Monday, 12th Rajab in 1314 in the Islamic year 714 AH in Hamadan and died in 1384 and the in the Islamic year 786 in Kunar and was buried in Khatlan.He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir and has had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley.He was also known as “Shah Hamadan” (“King of Hamadan”, Iran) and as Amir-i Kabir (“the Great Commander”). He wrote several short works on spirituality and Sufism. He was immortalised by poets like Allama Iqbal.

His name was Ali, and titles were Amir-e-Kabir, Ali Sa’ani, Shah-e-Hamadan, the Chroniclers had mentioned several other titles: Qutub-e-Zaman, Sheikh-e-Salikan-e-Jehan, Qutub-Ul-Aktab, Moih-Ul-Ambiya-o-Ul-Mursaleen, Afzal-Ul-Muhaq-e-qeen-o-Akmal-Ul-Mudaq-e-qeen, Al-Sheiyookh-Ul-Kamil, Akmal-Ul-Muhaqqiq-Ul-Hamadani etc.

Early life

Hazrat Shah Hamdan was born in a noble family in Hamadan. He traced his patrimony through his father, Syed Shahab Uddin, to Imam Zain-ul-Abedein and finally to Hazrat Ali R.A. Hazrat Shah Hamadan’s mother, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, reached the Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him.

Hazrat Shah Hamadan’s date of birth is disputed. To some it is 12, Rajab-Ul-Marjab 714 Hijri (12 October 1314) and to others is 12, Rajab 713 (12 October 1313). The former date appears more probable.

Education

Hazrat Shah Hamadan came from an educated family. He was intelligent and quick of mind, and read the Quran, under the care of his maternal uncle, Hazrat Ala-Uddin and from him too he took his lessons on various subjects, both outer and intrinsic for a period of thirteen years.

Spiritual training

Hazrat Ala-Uddin, then, entrusted him to Sheikh Abul Bracket for spiritual training, and after his demise he proceeded to Sheikh Mahmud Mizdiqani, a renowned saint of the time. The saint put him to severe tests and thus removed pride and haughtiness from him and inculcated in him virtues of humility.

Order

Hazrat Shah Hamadan belonged to the Kubraviya Order and received the role of the spiritual heir from Sheikh Abul Miamin Najam Uddin Muhammad-bin-Mohammad Azani.

Travels

Syed Ali Hamadani was a prolific traveller in his times and travelled far and wide throughout the Muslim World. His teacher Mahmud Mizdiqani had said to him, “Travel about the world, meet the saints, draw benefits from them as much as you can.” Consequently, he undertook the Haj thrice and traveled for twenty or twenty one years. During these journeys he saw the Islamic and other countries and met the holy men there.

To avoid persecution in his homeland at the hands of Timur, he moved to Kashmir with seven hundred followers, during the reign of King Shahab-Uddin. He had already sent two of his followers: Syed Taj Uddin Samnani and Mir Syed Hasan Samnani to take stock of the situation. The ruler of Kashmir became the follower of Mir Syed Hasan Samnani and because of the Kings concurrence he entered Kashmir with a large following. The King and heir apparent, Qutub Uddin, received him warmly. At that time the Kashmir ruler was on war with Firoz Tughlaq and because of his efforts the parties came to terms.

In Kashmir, Shah-e-Hamadan started to preach Islam in an organized manner. He and his followers helped set up a large number of mosques in every nook and corner of the valley, the most famous of them being the Khanqah-e-Muala on the banks of Jhelum River.

Shah Hamdan did not stay in the valley permanently but visited the valley on various occasions. The first time was during the reign of Sultan Shahab Uddin in 774 A.H he came, stayed for six months and left. The second time he visited was in 781 A.H. when Qutub Uddin was the ruler. This time he stayed for a year and tried to extend the Movement to every nook and corner of Kashmir, returning to Turkistan via Ladakh in 783 A.H. Third, he visited in 785, with the intention to stay for a longer period but had to return earlier owing to illness.

Stay

During one of his visits in Kashmir, he stayed at various places in and around Kashmir. One few Examples are Pethmakhama where he Prayed for around two months. The stone on which he prayed there has the marks of praying on it miraculously and is preserved in Aasir i Sharief Pethmakhama where also is the Relic, The Holy Beard Of Prophet Mohammad (SAW).

Illness and death

On return from his third visit to Kashmir Hazrat Shah Hamdan reached Kunar via Pikhanli and was received as a royal guest. Hazrat Shah hamdan fell ill there and died after five days on 6, Zil Haj 786 Hijri.

Compiler, Khawaja Hasan, in the Tar-eekh-e-Hasan mentions the date of expiry in the Persian couplet, which means:

The great Syed Sirdar (Ali Hamadan) went to the paradise to take rest.

Khawaja Hasan mentions the year of the death in this couplet.

Shah Hamdan R.A Grave in Tajkistan

Tomb of Shah Hamdan R.A in Tajkistan

Shah Hamdan Was Buried in the  TOMB LOCATED IN QULAB TURKMANISTAN

Hazrat Shah Hamdan was buried at Kulob in Khatlan where people to this day gather in large numbers to pay their homage to him.

Shah Hamadan’s efforts reached far and wide and benefited a large number of people. The number of his followers was large. A few to mention were: Noor Uddin Jafar Rustaq Bazari Badakhshi, Khawaja Ishaq Khatlani, Sheikh Qiwam Uddin Badakhshi, Mir Syed Husain Samnani, Mir Rukn Uddin, Syed Fakhar Uddin, Qutub-e-Amjad Syed Muhammad Qureshi, Syed Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Muhammad Aziz Ullah, Syed Muhammad murid, and Pir Muhammad Qadri etc.

Descendants

Hazrat Shah Hamdan descendants are known as Hamadani , Khatlani , dewani Sayyids, and they trace their lineage to Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin through  Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani Abidi. Among them is Sayyid Qamar Abbas Al-Hamadani Al-A’raji who has authored two works, one of which relates to the ancestry of Hamadani Sayyids. One is ‘Ansab Sadaat Al-Hussaini’ or ‘The Genealogy of Hussaini Sayyids’ and ‘Kitab Al-Mashjar Min Awlaad Hussain Al-Asghar’ or ‘The Ancestral Family Tree of The Progeny of Hussain Al-Asghar” which specifically deals with the descendants of Sayyid Ali Hamadani

Shah Hamdan Stay Here in Kashmir

Influence on Kashmiri culture

Shah-e-Hamadan has been on the principal historical figures who have shaped the culture of Kashmir. His influence on arts and culture and the economy of the valley cannot be overstated. Among the seven hundred followers who accompanied him to Kashmir, were men of arts and crafts who flourished in the valley. They popularized Shawl-making, carpet-manufacturing, cloth-weaving, pottery and calligraphy. Allama Iqbal admits that because of Shah Hamadan the wonderful arts and crafts turned Kashmir into a mini Iran and brought about a revolution in the thinking process of the people. The skills and know-how he brought to Kashmir gave rise to an industry which is world famous even now as the home of Cashmere shawls. The many vocations he introduced in the valley have provided a livelihood to the artisans of Kashmir for centuries.

Khanqah-e-Moula

Construction & Reconstruction Of The Shrine

In 1480 the shrine was gutted in a devastating fire and the then ruler Sultan Hassan Shah reconstructed the shrine on old edifice at a larger area. The shrine was later demolished and reconstructed in two-storyed form in 1493 AD. In 1731 AD the shrine again was destroyed in fire and was reconstructed by Abul Barkat Khan.

Legacy

Hazrat Shah Hamdan is a highly revered figure in Kashmir, parts of Pakistan, Tajikistan, as well as Central Asia where he is buried. He is credited with having performed many miracles in his time.

A 627 year old Chinar tree at Chatargam, Chadoora, Badgam district, Kashmir, said to be the oldest tree of this type in the world, is believed to be planted in 1374 AD by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani.

Works

Shah Hamadan, besides being a mystic saint and an effective preacher, was a man of letters and wrote about a hundred pamphlets in Arabic and Persian: Zakhirat-ul-Maluk, a famous book, has been translated in many languages. Some other famous works are:

• Risalah Nooriyah,      is a tract on contemplation^]

• Risalah Maktubaat,   contains Amir-i-Kabir’s letter.

• Dur Mu’rifati Surat wa Sirat-i-Insaan,   discusses the bodily and moral features of man.

• Dur Haqaa’iki Tawbah,    deals with the real nature of penitence.

• Hallil Nususi allal Fusus,    is a commentary on Ibn-ul-‘Arabi’s Fusus-ul-Hikam.

• Sharhi Qasidah Khamriyah Faridhiyah,    is a commentary on the wine-qasidah of ‘Umar ibn ul-Fariz who died in 786 A.H. =1385 A.C.

• Risalatul Istalahaat,    is a treatise on Sufi terms and expressions.

• ‘ilmul Qiyafah or Risalah-i qiyafah     is an essay on physiognomy. A copy of this exists in the United States National Library of Medicine.

• Dah Qa’idah    gives ten rules of contemplative life.

• Kitabul Mawdah Fil Qurba,   puts together traditions on affection among relatives.

• Kitabus Sab’ina Fi Fadha’il Amiril Mu’minin,   gives the seventy virtues of Hazrat ‘Ali. Arba’ina Amiriyah, is forty traditions on man’s future life.

• Rawdhtul Firdaws,    is an extract of a larger work entitled.

• Firdawsul Akhyaar,   by Shuja-ud-Din Shiruyah.

• Manazilu Insaaliqin,   is on Sufi-ism.

• Awraad-ul-Fatehah,   gives a conception of the unity of God and His attributes.

• Chehl Asraar (Forty Secrets),    is a collection of forty poems in praise of Allah and The Prophet

• Zakhirat-ul-Muluk,       a treatise on political ethics and the rules of good government