Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani
Encyclopedia
Mir Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamadani (1384-1314) was a Persian
Sūfī
of the Kubrāwī
order, a poet and a prominent Muslim scholar. He was born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 CE) in Hamadan
and died in 786 AH (1384 CE) 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 "Shāh
Hamadhān" ("King of Hamadhān", Iran) and as Amīr
-i Kabīr ("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 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.
. The family tree of his mother, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, reached Muhammad
.
C
His 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
Sayyid Hamadani 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
He belonged to the Kubraviya Order and received the role of the spiritual heir from Sheikh Abul Miamin Najam Uddin Muhammad-bin-Mohammad Azani.
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 king's acceptance he entered Kashmir with a large following. Both the king and his heir, Qutub Uddin, received him warmly. At that time the Kashmir ruler was at 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, when he stayed for six months and then 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. His third visit was in 785, when he intended to stay for a longer period, but had to return early due to illness.
(Swat
) via Pikhanli and was received as a royal guest. He fell ill there and died after five days on 6, Zil Haj 786 Hijri(19Th January,1385 A.D.).
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 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 Kamaludin Shah, Syed Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Muhammad Aziz Ullah, Syed Muhammad murid, and Pir Muhammad Qadri etc.
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.
Shah Hamadan was a multi-dimensional personality. He was a social reformer besides being a preacher. He brought about substantial reforms to the lives of ordinary Kashmiris, getting rid of practices like black magic. 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.The Zakhirat-ul-Maluk is a renowned book written by him in which he postulates the treatment of Muslims and Kafir
s by the king in the ninth chapter, that deals with the regulations of governance (Saltanat and Vilayat). The other chapters are all concerned with matters spiritual.
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.This building belonged to Sultan Qutub ud Din,and was used as an official inn. Friday prayers are said there where hundreds gather to pray. The sacred relics include the Islamic prophet Muhammad's flag and the pillar of Muhammad's tent. This Khanqah
was built by his son Mir Sayyid Muhammad Hamadani, after purchasing the said land from Sultan Sikandar.The sale deed between the two, written on a deer hide, is still present in the Khanqah. He is said to have converted nearly 37,000 persons during his stay in Kashmir and Ladakh,through his peaceful means and miracles. Later on his son,who preached in Kashmir for 18 years, during the reign of Sultan Sikander, completed his job. Some of his descendants still live in Kashmir.
In the end, the fiat in the form of an advice dictated if any Hindu dares to flout any of the conditions, he should be first looted and then possession of his body is a slave is legally permitted (as recorded in his book Zakhiratul- Mulk).
A 627 year old chinar tree at Chatargam, Chadoora, Badgam district
, Kashmir
,and Baltistan said to be the oldest tree of this type in the world, was believed to be planted in 1374 AD by Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
Sūfī
Sufism
Sufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
of the Kubrāwī
Kubrawiya
The Kubrawiya order is a Sufi order named after its 13th century founder Najmuddin Kubra. One of the branches, the Nurbakhshi Kubrawi lineage, embraced Shi'a Islam and is named after Muhammad Nurbakhsh. The largest existing branch of the Kubrawiya order today is the Uwaisi Shahmaghsoudi...
order, a poet and a prominent Muslim scholar. He was born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 CE) in Hamadan
Hamadan
-Culture:Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and beautiful carpets....
and died in 786 AH (1384 CE) in Kunar
Kunar
Kunar may refer to:*Kunar Valley, Afghanistan and Pakistan*Kunar Province, Afghanistan*Kunar River, Afghanistan and Pakistan...
and was buried in Khatlan. He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and has had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley.
He was also known as "Shāh
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
Hamadhān" ("King of Hamadhān", Iran) and as Amīr
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
-i Kabīr ("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 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.
Early life
He 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 AliAli
' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
. The family tree of his mother, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, reached 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...
.
C
His 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
Sayyid Hamadani 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
He 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 time 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 HajjHajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
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
Timur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
, he moved to Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
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 king's acceptance he entered Kashmir with a large following. Both the king and his heir, Qutub Uddin, received him warmly. At that time the Kashmir ruler was at 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
Jhelum River
Jehlum River or Jhelum River , ) is a river that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District...
.
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, when he stayed for six months and then 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
Türkistan
*Türkistan is the local name for Turkestan, a region of Central Asia.*Türkistan, Kazakhstan is a historic city and place of pilgrimage in southern Kazakhstan...
via Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
in 783 A.H. His third visit was in 785, when he intended to stay for a longer period, but had to return early due to illness.
Illness and Death
On return from his third visit to Kashmir he reached KunarKunar
Kunar may refer to:*Kunar Valley, Afghanistan and Pakistan*Kunar Province, Afghanistan*Kunar River, Afghanistan and Pakistan...
(Swat
Swat
SWAT is the special-weapons-and-tactics unit of a law-enforcement agency. Swat or SWAT may also refer to:In media:* SWAT , a video games series spin-off of Police Quest...
) via Pikhanli and was received as a royal guest. He fell ill there and died after five days on 6, Zil Haj 786 Hijri(19Th January,1385 A.D.).
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 Kulob
Kulob
Kulob , also Kulab or Kulyab , is a city in Kulob district, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan. Located 203 km south-east of the capital Dushanbe on the Yakhsu River , it is one of the largest cities in the country Kulob , also Kulab or Kulyab , is a city in Kulob district, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan....
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 Kamaludin Shah, Syed Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Muhammad Aziz Ullah, Syed Muhammad murid, and Pir Muhammad Qadri etc.
Influence on Kashmiri culture
Shah-e-Hamadan has been one of 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 IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
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
Cashmere wool
Cashmere wool, usually simply known as cashmere, is a fiber obtained from Cashmere and other types of goats. The word cashmere derives from an old spelling of Kashmir. Cashmere is fine in texture, and strong, light, and soft. Garments made from it provide excellent...
shawls. The many vocations he introduced in the valley have provided a livelihood to the artisans of Kashmir for centuries.
Shah Hamadan was a multi-dimensional personality. He was a social reformer besides being a preacher. He brought about substantial reforms to the lives of ordinary Kashmiris, getting rid of practices like black magic. 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.The Zakhirat-ul-Maluk is a renowned book written by him in which he postulates the treatment of Muslims and Kafir
Kafir
Kafir is an Arabic term used in a Islamic doctrinal sense, usually translated as "unbeliever" or "disbeliever"...
s by the king in the ninth chapter, that deals with the regulations of governance (Saltanat and Vilayat). The other chapters are all concerned with matters spiritual.
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.This building belonged to Sultan Qutub ud Din,and was used as an official inn. Friday prayers are said there where hundreds gather to pray. The sacred relics include the Islamic prophet Muhammad's flag and the pillar of Muhammad's tent. This 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...
was built by his son Mir Sayyid Muhammad Hamadani, after purchasing the said land from Sultan Sikandar.The sale deed between the two, written on a deer hide, is still present in the Khanqah. He is said to have converted nearly 37,000 persons during his stay in Kashmir and Ladakh,through his peaceful means and miracles. Later on his son,who preached in Kashmir for 18 years, during the reign of Sultan Sikander, completed his job. Some of his descendants still live in Kashmir.
His position with respect to Hindus
Before Shah-i-Hamadan left Kashmir,based upon the teaching of Second Muslim Caliph, Umar,he ordered the then king Sultan Qutubudin to impose the following laws.- The Hindus will not construct any new temples under the rule of Muslims.
- They will not repair old temples fallen into ruins.
- They will respect Muslims.
- They will not dress like Muslims.
- They will not ride a horse with saddle and bridle.
- They will not put on a ring on their fingers.
- They will not carry swords or bows and arrows.
- They will not adopt Muslim names.
- They will not harbour spies or act as spies.
- If any relation of theirs wants to embrace Islam, they will not oppose it.
- If a Muslim comes to attend a Hindu meeting he will be respectfully received.
- They will receive Muslim travelers into their houses & provide them hospitality.
- They will not prevent Muslim travelers from staying in their temples & shrines.
- They will not mourn their dead loudly.
- They will not buy Muslim slaves.
- They will not build houses in neighbourhood of Muslims.
- They will not sell intoxicating drinks.
- They will not carry their dead near the grave-yards of Muslims.
- They will not openly practice their customs and usages among Muslims.
- They will not give up their traditional dress so that they can be distinguished from Muslims.
In the end, the fiat in the form of an advice dictated if any Hindu dares to flout any of the conditions, he should be first looted and then possession of his body is a slave is legally permitted (as recorded in his book Zakhiratul- Mulk).
Legacy
He is a highly revered figure in Kashmir, parts of Pakistan as well as in Tajikistan, 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
Badgam district
Badgam is a district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Its headquarters is Badgam.-Demographics:According to the 2011 census Badgam district has a population of 735,753, roughly equal to the nation of Guyana or the US state of Alaska. This gives it a ranking of 494th in India . The...
, Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
,and Baltistan said to be the oldest tree of this type in the world, was 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:- Zakhirat-ul-Muluk, a treatise on political ethics and the rules of good government.
- 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-‘ArabiIbn ArabiIbn ʿArabī was an Andalusian Moorish Sufi mystic and philosopher. His full name was Abū 'Abdillāh Muḥammad ibn 'Alī ibn Muḥammad ibn `Arabī .-Biography:...
’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 Qiyafah or Risalah-i qiyafah is an essay on physiognomyPhysiognomyPhysiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
. A copy of this exists in the United States National Library of MedicineUnited States National Library of MedicineThe United States National Library of Medicine , operated by the United States federal government, is the world's largest medical library. Located in Bethesda, Maryland, the NLM is a division of the National Institutes of Health...
. - 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 ‘AliAli' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...
. - 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 SufismSufismSufism or ' is defined by its adherents as the inner, mystical dimension of Islam. A practitioner of this tradition is generally known as a '...
. - 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 Muhammad