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Khatam Sharif

In Honour of the Venerable

Pira Shah Ghazi

Shaykh Bahul Sher Qalandar was once given an very expensive Arab stallion as a gift. Soon after some visitors came late to the khanaqah, and the khadim was ordered to bring some food. As there was nothing left in the kitchen the Master whispered in his ear, Sacrifice the horse. The khadim replied, Master forgive me, but if we were to sell this horse we could have enough money to run the kitchen for a few years, instead of sacrificing it for a few guests. The Shaykh replied, This is not the qalandri way. Somebody is hungry and our concern is to remove his hunger. It does not matter what it takes.

Qalandar is referred to a person who is not only a friend of Allah but he who is of raw emotion; if happy he will show extreme joyousness, and if he becomes upset then his anger can be equally destructive. However, what must be understood is that this man will not care for the grey area. To him every situation is very simple as he only asks himself, is this in accordance to the Haq? and if the answer is yes then irrespective of even the entire world standing against him, he will take that course of action. Hence, he does not walk the path that is considered normal. Instead he walks the path of rightesouness and principals. This in todays day and age is considered strange and frowned upon. He is truly the only sane man in an insane world.
A man of Allah is not from the east or the west; he is not from Bukhara or Samarkand. He speaks the truth and does not call poison, sugar.
Allama Sahib

Compiled by: Syed Amjid and Sajid Hussain Khatam Sharif date: 15th September 2011

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Introduction
Pir mera O Damrhi wala, Pira Shah Qalandar , Har mushqil vich madad karenda do-han jahanan andar
Mian Sahib

Mian Muhammad Bakhsh introduces Pira Shah Ghazi in his Saif ul Maluk with great honour as his Shaykh, the Qalandar who helps everyone in both this world and the hereafter. The very little we know about Pira Shah Ghazi is through Mian sahib , he wrote books such as Bostan e Qalandri where most of the stories are about Pira Shah Ghazi . His most popular work, which is renowned all over the world is, Saif ul Maluk, and it is in this where he brings Pira Shah Ghazi to the world. Mian Sahib begins Saif ul Maluk with praise of Allah almighty, hamd, then a naat sharif in honour of Rasulullah (S), manqabat of the khulafa ar rashidun, Sayyiduna Imam Hassan and Hussain , followed by asking madad from Hadrat Ghaus al Azam and Janab Miran Muhammad Muhkum al Din Hujrah Shah Muqeem . Mian sahib also asks for tawassul from Hujrah Shah Muqeem to make him acceptable to Pira Shah Ghazi . Only after establishing this link does he then seek madad from Pira Shah Ghazi . Regardless of the fact Mian Sahib was born in 1830 and Pira Shah GhazI passed away in 1743, Mian Sahib always considered him as his murshid. This is not a physical link but in fact an uwaysi nisbat. His nisbat was very strong with Pira Shah Ghazi , the following waqiah illustrates this. Once during Asr and Maghrib, an old lady approached Mian Sahib who whilst in quiet contemplation was sweeping the grave of Pira Shah GhazI . Taking hold the end of his tunic she cried, My son is going to be hanged and he is innocent. Please pray for him. Mian Sahib knowing that Pira Shah Ghazi would take care of this matter, replied, Mai, nah fiqr kar, Allah khair kar si. He then prayed and asked for madad from Pira Shah GhazI . On the day of the execution, moments before the hanging the friend confessed that the old ladys son had nothing to do with his intentions, and so was released.

Qalandar
Otherwise known as fools of God qalandars act strangely indeed, to the ordinary they seem a waste of time to talk to, or entertain. However, this could not be further from the truth, as these extraordinary people posess such power and authority that a glimpse of their true relationship with God would astonish the onlooker. Nowdays there is a huge misconception regarding a qalandar, especially in the Asia subcontinent. It is widely perceived a qalandar is such who is free from shariah, he need not perform any form of worship, nor concern himself with the five daily prayers; and if he feels
Compiled by: Syed Amjid and Sajid Hussain Khatam Sharif date: 15th September 2011 Page: 2 of 8

like it, can pray any prayer irrespective of the prescribed time. This, and many other such tales are not true, in actual fact a qalandar is the actual complete opposite. Such a man is a man of truth, referred to by Mawlana Rumi as Mard e Haq, or Mard e Mumin by Allama Iqbal Sahib .
A Qalandar is not the follower of the time, for he is the leader of the time

Allama Iqbal explains a qalandar is a person that inwardly is on fire and is constantly busy in doing something. He further explains that the Muslims blood is frozen, as they are missing this qalandari element. He further goes onto talk about two worlds, Tan Ki Dunya and Man Ki Dunya. Tan Ki Dunya is the world of materials which emphasises on luxuries, whereas Man Ki Dunya is the world of the heart. Allama Iqbal explains that the qalandars are seeking the world of the heart and are not interested in the temptations of this world, they simply do not allow attach themselves to anything. The bazurgs who follow this path act upon the hadith sharif where Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn e Umar narrates that Rasulullah (S) took me by the shoulder and said be in this world as though you are a stranger or a traveller. Having no attachement in any form to any thing is the key to this tabiyat. Once there was a lot of sadqah given to Rasulullah (S), who then instructed Sayyiduna Bilal to distribute it. After giving them out all day he returned to Rasulullah (S) in the evening saying he couldnt find anyone else to give the last few coins to, and that after Fajr he would try again. In the morning Sayyiduna Bilal saw Rasulullah (S) and noticed his eyes were extremely red, and so said, Ya Rasulullah (S) it seems like you havent slept all night. Rasulullah (S) replied that the coins he had left didnt let him sleep. When referring to attachments Mian Sahib (R) gives an example through the amount of friends one may have. In todays day and age the more people you know, and the more friends you have, youre seen to be accepted and praised. However, this is very far from the truth as in reality youre being tricked by dunya, because having more friends means carrying many problems and heaviness. Awliya like Pira Shah Ghazi not only travel their physical journeys khafif (light), they also travel on the spiritual path light and free from greed and worldy desire. Such men have removed all attachments from within and become servants of Allah almighty alone. They busy themselves selflessly to take the pains of attachment out of us. Hence, the idea of qalandars being isolated from people is a myth. As even though they may prefer to be alone and intimate with their Lord, they spend their time with people to help and purify them by removing their velils and obstacles that are hindering their spiritual progress. As qalandars progress on this path they initially distance themselves from people, just as Pira Shah Ghazi did. Eventually, after this solitude phase these qalandars live amongst society as they cannot be influenced to think or behave like them. A qalandar can no longer be worn out with all the problems he hears about, as he is stable and balanaced in the Divine presence.

Compiled by: Syed Amjid and Sajid Hussain Khatam Sharif date: 15th September 2011

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Life
Pira Shah Ghazis spiritual link is with the darbar Hujrah Shah Mukeem. This shrine is in Punjab and the background of this darbar is that two descendants of Sayyiduna Ghaus al Azam , a brother and sister migrated from Baghdad sharif to India. Both the brother and sister were walis, whereas the lady saint passed away in India the brother, Sayyid Bahul Haq Jilani continued his travels through India. Due to his free spirit and the fact that he had no abode per say, he began to attract the title qalandar from the locals, and became more commonly known as Bahul Shah Qalandar . Finally, after many years of travelling he arrived in the Punjab area of current Pakistan where he settled in a village. Local women would go to the river to collect water and would see Bahul Shah Qalandar just sitting silently. After a while they complained to their husbands that some faqir is sitting in their way. The men gathered together and with anger approached him telling him to move from there. Bahul Shah Qalandar replied, I am not disturbing anybody, better if you leave me to my way. The men were relentless and eventually Bahul Shah Qalandar got up and walked into the river and onto a mound within it, and said, This is not yours, nor anyone elses. Allah has given us this property so you cannot tell me to move on. Bahul Shah Qalandar is the great ancestor of Hadrat Shah Muqeem , who the area is named after. Few generations later from Hujrah Shah Muqeem was a Shaykh called Sayyid Amir Bala Pir , who was the murshid of Pira Shah Ghazi . After a while Hadrat Bala Pir ordered Pira Shah Ghazi to migrate from Punjab to Mirpur in Kashmir, in order to perform seclusion. In the vicinity of Kharri Sharif on top of a hill towards mirpur is a slab where Pira Shah Ghazi leant against for 14 years during his seclusion. It was this slab of stone that he said, kharri o ja thus giving the name Kharri Sharif. This slab to this very day is persevered clearly showing the shoulder prints of Pira Shah Ghazi . During this time his appearance changed as his hair and nails grew, and eventually upon coming out of the seclusion he went to the river side and furthermore disappeared for another twelve years. When returning people asked where he had gone to, he replied, We were the guests of Sayyiduna Khidr (as). After these events it was said that he had such jazb that none could go near him due to this immense spiritual energy. He then returned to his master in Hujrah Shah Muqeem who calmed him down and said, We would like you to live amongst the people and go and guide them. According to other riwayats Pira Shah Ghazi was also told to get married, as it is understood that marriage has a calming affect.
Gift from Ghaus ul Azam

Pira Shah Ghazi had great love for Sayyiduna Ghaus al Azam . Mian Sahib writes that one day in a spiritual state Pira Shah Ghazi was presented before Ghaus al Azam . Who
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said, Till Yawm al Qiyamah, I grant you one hundred thousand Taka (currency) a day, so you may spend it on the fuqarah. Pira Shah Ghazi replied, O Master, what will I do with this money? I have no need for it, if my deputies have so much they will become heedless. Please reduce it. Ghaus al Azam then replied that he would reduce the amount to a mere sawa lak damri. A non-existent coin that had such a low monetary value, that if given to someone it would not make them poor, and if received would not make them rich. This gift from Ghaus al Azam was not just a monetary gift it was also a spiritual one. Non muslims such as Hindus and Sikhs that used to live in that area would also give a damri niyaz to alleviate problems, and even though in todays day and age the coin no longer exists, people still make the mannat, damri sukhi. A simple offering such as a damri and yet the return was great. Before passing away Pira Shah Ghazi said, It is enough that the people who are linked to us just give one Damri for the Langar Sharif, they can give more but we only advise them to give one; but they should not leave without eating their fill. Pira Shah Ghazis langar sharif was open to all, including people from different faiths and ones who were helpless and rejected from others everybody was and still is welcome to partake in the blessing. Pira Shah Ghazi and Mian Muhammad Baksh were members of the Qalandriyya Qadriyya Sufi order. When describing Pira Shah Ghazi , Mian Sahib says; because of his Qalandari nature he would constantly travel. During one of his travels it was raining heavily and as he walked past one particular house, he walked towards it for shelter. Noticing this, the lady of the house protested, I have seen many like you and my job does not get done, you all claim to be faqirs. Pira Shah Ghazi then asked her problem, to which she replied, I have been married a long time but I still have no children. Its not in my taqdir, what will telling you achieve? He then prayed for her and left, at that point this lady made a mannat that if she had a son she would give him into khidmat of Pira Shah Ghazi . A little later this lady gave birth to a baby boy whom she named, Mian Din Muhammad . After Mian Din Muhammed became a certain age; his mother remembered her mannat and asked permission from Pira Shah Ghazi if he would adopt him as his son. Mian Din Muhammad was a good looking child and Pira Shah Ghazi loved him very much, he would often carry him on his shoulders. It was tradition in some villages that women would gather and light one big tandur, which was used by all the women in the community. Pira Shah Ghazi sometimes would take Mian Din Muhammad and put him inside the tandur whilst it was burning, upon seeing this they would scream and run. On one occasion the women ran crying to this lady saying that a

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dervish has burned a child in the tandur. She came out and said, Sain what have you done? Pira Shah Ghazi said, Eh ajay kacha ya, teh mein is ki pakana yah, he then took him out, and to the astonishment to to the village not a single hair was burnt. Pira Shah Ghazi then said, How can this fire burn him, even the fire of hereafter cannot touch him! Mian Din Muhammad learnt much from Pira Shah Ghazi as he would accompany him throughout all his journeys. He also went onto look after Pira Shah Ghazis mizar and from that day till the 1960s this same family has been responsible for the Darbar Sharif. Mian Din Muhammad was the great ancestor of Mian Sahib .

Characteristics
Allama Sahib describes qalandar in many of his works and refers to him as the Mard e Mumin, the real man. He says that such a man is fearless of governments or people. He is truthful no matter what may be at stake. Confident and has no self doubt. Even though he may be wearing tattered clothes and has no money to his name he carries an immense aura and majesty. He has a very healthy heart through constant dhikr and has vision seeing beyond what is put in front of him, firasat. Allama Sahib explains that the thoughts of young people whether they are hidden or whether they are manifest, are never hidden from the insight of the qalandar. It is also innate in a qalandar to blend into his surroundings and keep a low profile, he does not advertise that he is here, nor does he tend to keep a huge gathering around him. He is not a faker; he does not have a different face for each situation he faces. He is a person with principles, he knows his life has a purpose and he dedicates it in pursuit of that purpose. Unlike the rest, a qalandar has complete trust in Allah almighty and so does not chase security in anything else, he truly understands, hasbunAllah hu wa ni mal waqeel. As mentioned before he is a man of the moment and a man of inspiration. He does not have to sit down and calculate his next step as he is inspired. Outwardly, he may come across as being very forceful and harsh, but in actual fact on the inside he is very soft. He is no typical Maulvi or Mufti for he has a big heart as he has great love for humanity and is concerned for them. He loves Allah almighty and knows that loving all without discrimination is Allahs pleasure. He is not there to judge anybody and so does not get trapped into arguments and debates. He knows what the truth is and will not waste any time on idle pursuits of no benefit. Our Grand Master Shaykh ul Islam Abdullah Ansari said that a qalandar must be humble, modest, self denying and detached from the world. When a person is on the spiritual path if he does not go through the qalandari aspect, he cannot subdue his ego, he cannot distance himself from dunya, nor become unselfish, he cannot become detached. Ultimatley, if he does not posess all these characteristics, he will not be able to pass through this world and get to the other side safely.
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The Awliya say that without the element of qalandari within a person he simply does not have the yearning, the fire. This fire must also be controlled otherwise it can harm the person and his surroundings. Pira Shah Ghazi sometimes used to go into extreme states and whoever at the time pleased him would receive so much, and whoever upset him would lose everything. Shaykh Abdul Aziz Dabbagh explains that Rasulullahs (S) states were either Abdiya, human, or Malakuti, Angelic. If Rasulullah (S) was in the state of Abdiyah, he was close to people and when he was in the Angelic (Malakuti) state he was distant from everyone as he knew only Allah almighty. Once some Bedouins came to Rasulullah (S) and asked for some camels. Rasulullah (S) replied that they should ask Allah and not him.The Bedouins then left disappointed. A little while later Rasulullah (S) asked of the Bedouins and the Sahaba replied, Ya Rasulullah (S), you told them to go and ask Allah. Rasulullah (S) then said to call them back immediately. Upon returning the Bedouins were asked what they did they need and again they replied, Ya Rasulullah (S), we need some camels. The response they heard bewildered them as this time they were told by Rasulullah (S) to take the entire herd. Sayyiduna Abdul Aziz Dabbagh explains that when those people first asked Rasulullah (S) he was in his Angelic hal and when they asked again he was in the state of Abdiya. This is what happens to bazurgs, for a qalandar is always on the move between states. A qalandar is also Khuda Mast and he is intoxicated by divine things, he is liberated and free. He has been granted something; he is not just a total rebel without a cause. He is focused, unlike us who do not even know what we are seeking. Some will go and visit the holiest of places, or the biggest of Awliya and yet come back saying, its not what I expected is there any wonder they say this if they dont even know what they are seeking in the first place. A qalandar is very clear and knows exactly what he is doing. Simply put, he gets on with it.

Passing Away
Even though as a sober Master, Pira Shah Ghazi later in life would still show his Qalandari nature as it is something that cannot be worn off. He would often go into the jungles and would wander for many days. These were such remote areas that none knew who he was as he was never accompanied by an entourage. One day, whilst wandering through a particular area he was mistaken to be a thief and was killed. The people had no idea as to who he was, all they knew was there was this stranger wandering the night in their area making strange sounds, albeit it could have been dhikr.

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Upon finding out the following morning as to who they had martyred they were all stricken with grief and great remorse.
A Qalandars life is colourful, and their death too

Before passing away he said, I give my spiritual state to Bagga Sher and gaddi to Muhmmad Din . Bagga Sher became the Shaykh after Pira Shah Ghazi , and Muhammad Din stayed in Kharri sharif and looked after the grave. Since then, it has been Mian Sahibs family that have continued to look after the shrine to this very day.
He is Ghazi, victorious in both battles; Pir of the kings and of walis; grants children to ones without; seperated friends he brings back together; dust from his grave brings cure to illness.

Al Fatiha

Compiled by: Syed Amjid and Sajid Hussain Khatam Sharif date: 15th September 2011

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