Hazrat Khwaja Allah Bakhsh
Encyclopedia
Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Ghaffari Naqshbandi also known as Sohna Saeen (A person with loving, caring and beautiful personality) is noble Naqshbandi
saint in Pakistan. It has been a tradition in Islamic societies where people had been giving special titles to their benefactors, one of the example is Uthman ibn Affan Uthman ibn Affan known as Ghani.
He was born on March 10, 1910 in the small town of Khanwahan, Tehsil Kandyaro, Sindh
, Pakistan
. His father name was Muhammad Mithal who died when he was just 5 months old. He is the successor to the Sufi Shaikh Khwaja Pir Mitha of Rahmatpur, Larkana, Pakistan.
It is said that Pir Mitha asked his caliphs to select leader to follow after him (Pir Mitha). At that time most of followers did take oath of allegiance on the hand of Sohna Saeen except few. Some started their own lineage but some came back and did take the oath.
Sufi tariqah. His spiritual lineage goes to the Islamic prophet Muhammad
, through Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
, the Mujaddid of eleventh Hijri century.
He also established various centers, also called as Khanqah
or Dargahs in local language, across Pakistan and also overseas where weekly and monthly religious gatherings are being organized. Beside these, celebration of Islamic events such as Eid Milad-un-Nabi and URS, a day to pay tribute to someone’s efforts, of religious personalities etc. are being also organized. Some of the well known centers are following:
He also established a network of religious educational institution, known as Madaris, where every year hundreds of kids and youngsters are getting quality education. In order to increase the knowledge of the teachers, he would send them to other religious institutions across country. Following is list of key institutions which were established during his life.
Books Written About Him
A number of books have been published on his personality, his message and his teachings. Following are a few of them:
:
Sohna Saeen came into view when most part of Sind was not aware of the true meaning of Islam and in particular about Sufism. There were many misconceptions around Islam and Sufism. He created an environment where people started learning Islam from Naqshbandi
order which is one of the greatest ways of Tasawuf. His message was to love and be in service to people, deserting the ego and false selves and all misinterpretation to reach Allah.
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...
saint in Pakistan. It has been a tradition in Islamic societies where people had been giving special titles to their benefactors, one of the example is Uthman ibn Affan Uthman ibn Affan known as Ghani.
He was born on March 10, 1910 in the small town of Khanwahan, Tehsil Kandyaro, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. His father name was Muhammad Mithal who died when he was just 5 months old. He is the successor to the Sufi Shaikh Khwaja Pir Mitha of Rahmatpur, Larkana, Pakistan.
Religious Education
His education started from Nazra Quran and completion of primary education. Later he cleared his final in Sindhi. Since he was more interested in religious education therefore he left his home for one of the well known religious educational center Madarsah Islamia, Gairelo currently within district Larkana, Pakistan. Name of his teacher was Allama Alhajj Raza Muhammad Sahib who was very popular for his command in religious subjects. Allama Sahib later moved to Bhirya, Tehsil Kandyaro and started teaching at madersah which was under supervision of Noor Muhammad Shah. Sohna Saeen also moved to the same madersah to continue his education.Step in Tariqat
In 1933 he met with Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz Hadhrat Fazal Ali Shah Qureshi and took oath of allegiance. This was his first step in Tariqat. During same year Khwaja Ghareeb Nazaw died and than he took oath on the hand of Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar also known as Pir Mitha. He devoted his life for 30 years, till the death of Pir Mitha in 1963, under the teachings of his sheikh. During that particular period of time he got divine bounties and gift which his sheikh received from his sheikh thus he reached a peak which none reached among the follower of Pir Mitha.It is said that Pir Mitha asked his caliphs to select leader to follow after him (Pir Mitha). At that time most of followers did take oath of allegiance on the hand of Sohna Saeen except few. Some started their own lineage but some came back and did take the oath.
Spiritual Chain of Succession
Shaikh Allah Bakhsh belongs to the Mujaddidi order of Sufism, which is the main branch of NaqshbandiNaqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...
Sufi tariqah. His spiritual lineage goes to the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
, through Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
Ahmad Sirhindi
Imām Rabbānī Shaykh Ahmad al-Farūqī al-Sirhindī was an Indian Islamic scholar from Punjab, a Hanafi jurist, and a prominent member of the Naqshbandī Sufi order. He is described as Mujaddid Alf Thānī, meaning the "reviver of the second millennium", for his work in rejuvenating Islam and opposing...
, the Mujaddid of eleventh Hijri century.
A Glimpse of His Contribution
Keeping in view the advantages towards the cause of Islam he organized everyone from scholar to illiterate. He established quite a few organizations for different segments of the community.- Tabligh-e-Roohania wa Jamaat Islahul Muslimeen (Preaching of Spirituality and Organization for Corrections of Muslims) for all followers and caliphs.
- Jamiat-e-Ulema e Ghaffaria for religious scholars to perform religious activities.
- Jamait Tulaba Roohania Ghaffaria for students of Islamic educational institutions.
- Jamiat Asatza Rroohania for the teachers of schools, colleges and universities.
- Roohani Talaba Jamaat for the students of General & Scientific educational institutions.
- Nonihal Roohani Talaba Jamaat for kids.
- Islah-e-Noojwanan for those youngsters who were not going to any educational institution.
He also established various centers, also called as Khanqah
Khanqah
A Khanqah, Khaniqah , ribat, zawiya, or tekke is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tariqa, and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation...
or Dargahs in local language, across Pakistan and also overseas where weekly and monthly religious gatherings are being organized. Beside these, celebration of Islamic events such as Eid Milad-un-Nabi and URS, a day to pay tribute to someone’s efforts, of religious personalities etc. are being also organized. Some of the well known centers are following:
- Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan (1963).
- Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando AllahyarTando AllahyarTando Allahyar is a town in Sindh, Pakistan. It is the capital of Tando Allahyar District.- History :...
, Pakistan (1969). - Dargah Allahabad Shareef, KandiaroKandiaroKandiaro is a small town situated on the dung-hill &/or earthen heap or Darro, to safeguard the town from Flood waters of Indus and Nasrat Wah , in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan...
, Naushahro Feroze DistrictNaushahro Feroze Districtmoro city of n/feroze is usually called base of MRDin sindhNaushahro Feroze District , is a district in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 5 Talukas and 51 Union Councils...
, Pakistan (1973).
He also established a network of religious educational institution, known as Madaris, where every year hundreds of kids and youngsters are getting quality education. In order to increase the knowledge of the teachers, he would send them to other religious institutions across country. Following is list of key institutions which were established during his life.
- Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Allahabad Shareef, KandiaroKandiaroKandiaro is a small town situated on the dung-hill &/or earthen heap or Darro, to safeguard the town from Flood waters of Indus and Nasrat Wah , in the southern province of Sindh, Pakistan...
, Naushahro Feroze DistrictNaushahro Feroze Districtmoro city of n/feroze is usually called base of MRDin sindhNaushahro Feroze District , is a district in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is administratively subdivided into 5 Talukas and 51 Union Councils...
, Pakistan. - Madirsah Jamiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan.
- Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Tahiria, Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando AllahyarTando AllahyarTando Allahyar is a town in Sindh, Pakistan. It is the capital of Tando Allahyar District.- History :...
, Pakistan. - Madirsah Jamiya Muhammadia, Shah pur Jahaniya, District Moro, PakistanMoro, PakistanMoro is a city in the Naushahro Feroze District, of Sindh, Pakistan. The city is administratively subdivided into 3 Union councils and is located in the centre of Sindh at an altitude of 28m and is 12 km of the River Indus. The population of Moro is 93 486...
. - Madirsah Jamiya Bakhshia, NauderoNauderoNaudero, also spelt Naundero,Nodero is a town and Union Council of Ratodero Taluka in Larkana District, Sindh, Pakistan. The Union Council also includes the village of Garhi Khuda Bakhsh...
, District LarkanaLarkanaLarkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...
, Pakistan. - Madirsah Kanzal Uloom Bakhshia, Dadu City, District Dadu, Pakistan.
- Dar-ulFuooz, Muhajir Camp, KarachiKarachiKarachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan.
Books and Publications
Following are some of the books which he wrote:- Dawaiya Pharsi (30 pages)
- Decent Suiting and Beard (43 pages)
- Selected Verses of Quran and their Arabic Explanation (37)
- Good Manners and Habits (70 pages)
- Obedience of SunnahSunnahThe word literally means a clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road. In the discussion of the sources of religion, Sunnah denotes the practice of Prophet Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar...
and Tasawwuf (54 pages) - Kalam-e-Wali (Sindhi and Seraiki poetry, 141 pages)
Books Written About Him
A number of books have been published on his personality, his message and his teachings. Following are a few of them:
- Seerat Wali Kamil Vol-1 & 2 (Urdu): Written by Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman Gabol.
- Sawaneh-Hayat Sohna Saeen Vol-1 & 2 (Sindhi): Written by Bedar Morai.
- Maktoobat-e-Bakhshia : compiled by Bedar Morai, containing his letters.
His Message
He taught way of heart, way of the pure love, which helps human being to understand Allah, the only God and His creatures. So one can understand the relationship between Allah and his creation. His teachings mainly rotate around, how to purify inner soul and he also made people realize that without its purification (heart and soul) prayers to Allah is incomplete and purification can only be achieved if there is only love in the human heart. As Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi has said in his MasnaviMasnavi
The Masnavi, Masnavi-I Ma'navi or Mesnevi , also written Mathnawi, Ma'navi, or Mathnavi, is an extensive poem written in Persian by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, the celebrated Persian Sufi saint and poet. It is one of the best known and most influential works of both Sufism and Persian literature...
:
"A soul which is not clothed with the inner garment of Love should be ashamed of its existence. Be drunk with Love, for love is all that exists. Where is intimacy found if not in the give and take of love? If they ask what love is, say: the sacrifice of will. If you have not left your will behind, you have no will at all.”
Sohna Saeen came into view when most part of Sind was not aware of the true meaning of Islam and in particular about Sufism. There were many misconceptions around Islam and Sufism. He created an environment where people started learning Islam from Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi
Naqshbandi is one of the major Sufi spiritual orders of Sufi Islam. It is considered to be a "Potent" order.The Naqshbandi order is over 1,300 years old, and is active today...
order which is one of the greatest ways of Tasawuf. His message was to love and be in service to people, deserting the ego and false selves and all misinterpretation to reach Allah.