Kupwara: An abode of Sufi Saints-Khursheed Dar (Pohrupeth langate)

Kupwara is among those few districts of Jammu and Kashmir that are blessed in many ways. Apart from the sheer natural beauty that Kupwara district possesses, the district also has a rich heritage and culture. The diversity that this district possesses in the form of various tourist sites, pertaining to different facets of history, religion, and culture is phenomenal. One aspect of this diversity can be seen through a large number of Sufi shrines that are spread all over the district. One can spot a sufi shrine in almost every village of this district. Keeping in mind the large number of devotees that these shrines attract, I bring you this column on the famous Sufi Shrines in Kupwara.

• Shrine of Hazrat Zati Shah wali R.A

     One of the most sacred destinations in Kupwara, the shrine of Hazrat Zati Shah Wali (RA) holds a prominent place in the sufi culture of Kashmir; it is revered by people of all faiths. It was built in 16th century AD in a beautiful village called Muqam e Shahwali,Drugmulla. This village is at a distance of 5 kms from the southeastern direction of the district headquarters.The shrine of Hazrat Zati Shah Wali is a symbol of syncretic sufi culture of Kashmir. The shrine is co-located with Jamai masjid and includes tombs of saint’s sister and brother also. Every year, in the month of May, an Urs or annual fair is observed for three days which is attended by devotees from all faiths including Hindus and Sikhs.

•Shrine of Hazrat Shiekh Syed Abdul Wahab RA.

    This shrine is located at a village called Shahnagari which falls within the jurisdiction of Qalamabad Tehsil of district Kupwara J&K. Shahnagari was given the name by Hazrat Shiekh Syed Abdul Wahab after he settled in the village.
The Holy Shrine of Hazrat Shiekh Syed Wahab, having devotional linkage to Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jeelani r.a , is surrounded by thousands of Devdaar trees.There is huge rush of devotees round the year. If you want to see the cool sweet springs, the murmuring waters, and the waterfalls from the heights, there is hardly a better place than this in the valley.

•First underground cave Khankah of Kashmir

   This  historical and spiritual  site is located in the evergreen conifer woods of Shahnagari. Shahnagar means the city of kings in Kashmiri language. The 700 years old first underground seven room cave Khankah is just a few hundred meters away from the holy shrine of Hazrat Shiekh Syed Abdul Wahab (RA). From its internal structure and style of construction, it is clear that the dervishes used to meditate and had “chilla” there. There is also a spring at a short distance from the cave, which has now dried up. The approximate length of this cave is 30 ft., it’s 2.5 ft wide, and its height is 6 feet approximately. Although the cave is crumbling yet a corridor and 7 strange rooms can be seen.
The recent reopening of this underground cave-khankah is a reminder of harmony that is deep rooted in the Kashmiri civilization.

•Shrine of Hazrat Shiekh Ahmad Chogali RA.

Mulla Ahmad, better known as Sheikh Ahmad Chogali (RA), and reverentially as “Sheikh seab” was a sufi scholar and a saint of the Suhrawardiyya order. Owing to his command on Islamic literature, Hadith, Fiqah etc., he is known as – Mohiuddin al Arabi Thani. His shrine at Chogal, Handwara is visited by people of all faiths. Chogal village is located in Handwara Tehsil of Kupwara district in Jammu & Kashmir.The Shrine of Hazrat Sheikh Ahmad Chogali is one among the venerated sufi shrines of district Kupwara and witness huge rush of devotees round the year.

•Three  Religous entities at Trehgam

    Trehgam village of district Kupwara symbolises communal harmony and coexistence of different faiths.The three religious entities-400 years old shiv temple,The grand masque and the shrine of Hazrat Syed Ibraheem Bukhari RA stand in a row and in front of them is a famous pond.This pond is believed to be thousand year old and is the main source of drinking water for almost half a dozen villages. Sir walter lawrence mentions in his book “the valley of Kashmir. The pond of Trehgam indicates the utmost beauty of Kashmir.The foundation of the grand masjid near the Shiv temple was laid by Hazrat Syed Ibraheem Bukhari RA who is believed to have come form the middle east along with Mir syed Ali Hamadani RA vis Hindu Kash mountains. The shiv temple too is symbol of unity. Although no Kashmiri Pandith family lives in this village but many of them revisit their roots and offer puja in the shiv temple from time to time.

• Shrine of Hazrat Mohammad Amin  Owaisi RA

This iconic mystic was born around 1900 AD at Surgan (Drawa), near Sharda in Kishan Ganga valley. According to popular belief, Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owaisi was a steadfast Sufi and was associated with the Owasi Silsila of Sufism. The Owaisi Silsila was raised to its pinnacle of popularity in Kashmir by this towering mystic.He was like a star guiding so many. He may be considered as a Perfect Wali who created a large following, not just a crowd but highly disciplined and enlightened group to bring the people on the right path. Even today many true seekers are guided by his followers. traveled to various parts of the subcontinent and then finally resided in the area which is known today Kasheera .His shrine at Kasheera Kupwara is adorned not only by Muslims but Hindus as well.

•Hazrat Haji Bahram sb r .a

Hazrat  Haji Bahram sb was a  great sufi saint of Bonagome Langate  .He was one of the prominent disciples  of “Bab Ul Faqur” ,Baba Abdullah Gujriyali RA of Guzriyal Kupwara.His urs pak is celebrated on 23th January every year.His shrine at Bongom and wahipira langate is thronged by the devotees round the year.

•Hazrat ama saeb yaar. R.a

Shrine of Hazrat Ama saeb Yaroo Langate

This shrine is located at a village called Yaroo in Langate Tehsil of District Kupwara.Hazrat Amma Saeb RA was a towering mystic of his times.A number of karamaats are attributed with this mystic.Thousands of devotees pay visit to his shrine.

•Hazrat Jamal saeb r.a Pohrupeth.

The shrine of Hazrat Jamal saeb RA is at a village called pohrupeth.Pohrpeth is at a distance of 8 kmts from Handwara.Hazrat Jamal Saheb RA was a great saint of his time and his lineage continues even today. Many Sufi Silsilas or orders came to Kashmir but Jamal Saab’s lineage or silsila is unique and is not found else where in Kashmir. Thousands of devotees from all parts of Kashmir visit his shrine.

•Shrine of Hazrat Peer Khan wali RA

This shrine is located on Sopore Kupwara National high way at a place called Koh i watyeen ,Hazrat Pirkhanwali is believed to be a part of the missionary of Hazrat Mir syed Ali Hamadani RA.His shrine is visited by people of all faiths.

To be continued….
Khursheed Dar is a leading columnist and author of Kashmir.
khursheed.dar33@gmail.com

Author:- Khursheed Dar

© Article published in Greater kashmir

Hazrat Hardi Reshi Baba r.a- a page from waqat-i-kashmir

Hardi reshi aka reshi moul shrine Islamabad kashmir

It is well known that he belonged to Ahangar tribe. It is said that Shaikh-ul-Urafa wal Murtazin Hazrat Shaikh Nur-ud-din (762) had predicted a hundred years earlier about the manifestation of this person of excellence.
He developed the passion and desire for worshipping Allah in his young age and got busy in the praying according to the Reshi order (763). He was an Owaisi as outwardly he was not attributed with anyone else. He remained fasting all days and awake in nights till his last days.
In his young age miracles too occurred through him. It is said that he would serve guests very well. One day a guest came to his home. His mother told him that a fish was there but a kite lifted it up. Jenab Hardi Baba Reshi said that if the fish was sent to us, why was the kite allowed to come here. If the fish was her right then why was it sent to us. In this very state the kite presented the fish in tact condition. Many such events got manifest through him.
He would say that my easing occurred by reciting-(zikr) with closing of my breath. The fact is that he was steadfast in this (zikr).
At last he reached in presence of Jenab Hazrat Makhdum-ul-Urafa Shaikh Hamza and got blessed by all benefits. It is famous that he took meat on the direction of Hazrat Makhdum after passing a great time of his life and proceeded on the path of progress and entered into Suhrawardy order as well through the good offices of Hazrat Makhdum and adopted the tree -(lineage) of Pirs.
In short he was of strange livelihood and his place was a spot of the descent of the blessings of Allah. From this unique individual many secrets of Marifat and light of monotheism got manifest. He would also get benefitted by the spirituality of the great Prophets as well.
The abstainent scholar of the scholars Hazrat Shaikh Baba Dawood Khaki has mentioned specially about his excellence, events and stories in his books particularly in Qasida Lamiah both in poetry and prose.
When he passed away, he was buried in the province of Islamabad. Baba Dawood has stated his chronogram of death as:
شيخ دين بود اندرين كشمير اندر عهد خويش —- بهر فوتش شيخ دين بود آمده تاريخ سال
اولين روزى مه زيقعده اين سال بود —- زكر كويا ن نيم شب رفته به وصل زوالجلال
بود با هفتاد سالش هفت سال و جند ماه —- سالهاى عمر او را اكر شمارى با هلال 764
Flourishing with lustre of the Nourisher, his auspicious grave is a sacred fortunate station of blessings and relief.

From:- fazili foundation

Qutubul Aqtaab Owaisi Alhaj Moulana Muhammad Ameen Qureshi Owaisi Kashmiri (Radi allahu anhu)-The most perfect guide

Peer e Akmal Muhammad Ameen Qureshi Owaisi was born in 1910 A D in a village called Sharda in the district of Karnah.He lost his father during childhood. He had two brothers.He had got from his father a great desire to study and add to his knowledge. But his mother and his brothers did not have any means to support him. At an early age as an orphan and without any means, he travelled to Punjab and admitted himself to one of the several Orphanages and also attended the open classes conducted by the men of learning in and around where he lived. He studied the Quran learnt the Arabic and the Persian, and got himself familiar with the literature of Hadith. Then he went to other Darul ulooms of time and mastered the Islamic sciences at a very young age.Soon he went to Amroha, as if following his destiny’ where Peer E Akmal Syed Noor uz Zaman Shah was the principal of the famous school there’.Hazrat Amin sahab was accepted in the school, and as soon as he heard Zaman Shah speaking in a manner as if both the outer and the inner lights of the Knowledge of the Quran were focused on his heart, he felt as though a spaft fell and his whole being was aflame! A close bond developed between them.Hazrat Ameen sahab remained devoted to his newly found master and guide, and Shah sahab became the centre of his love and service. He wanted to remain in Shah sahab’s companY.
Once Shah Sahab had to go to Delhi. Amin sahab accompanied him.Shah sahab brought him to a renowned scholar. He said to Amin sahab that he should spend sometime with that scholar and complete what he had started to learn in Amroha. Having said this,Shah Sahab departed from Delhi. Hardly a week had passed, Amin Sahab could no longer bear separation from Shah sahab, and left Delhi to return to Amroha and join his beloved teacher.On his way to Amroha he stayed in a mosque, and there he felt as though a flood of Iove would burst through his heart. He was frightened. He took away his turban and tore it into several pieces, and tied them to hold together his head, his chest and his arms, and in that state started walking towards the home of his beloved, and it was still miles away. He boarded the train, and reached Amroha, and came to Shah Sahab’s house and told him what he had gone through.Shah sahab heard him quietly for some time, and then by raising his voice said to him:
“Go away into the forest nearby and seek solitude”
Obeying. his command, Amin sahab started walking towards the forest. As his state of separation had been affected by meeting Shah sahab, the power of love which that state had provided was reduced, and with that his stre’ngth to bear hunger and physical exertion too was reduced. He also suffered with a certain degree of disquiet that Shah sahab did not even allow him to take rest after his ordeal and nor did he give him some food which he so badly needed. With such haziness of thought and a little confused he entered the forest.He I found there a lonely grave; and a place beside it for prayer. . He somehow settled down, and started to concentrate on some pray-er and zikr but his body was tired, with no energy left. He now felt as though he was going to die. He remembered vaguely the saying , “Die before you die!” Suddenly he became unconscious and left the consciousness of this world. A new world rose before him, or he rose in a new world. lt was a world full of light not blinding light, but light as the air and the atmosphere of that world. Everything therein was lighted, each grain as though a part of some great sun.In that Light (alam noorani) he saw Uways Qarni, and he saw the Apostle of God who said to him:
“Now you have reached the end of your journey, now your wilayah is perfect, go to your teacher and remain with him!
As he got up from his unconscious state and re-entered the physical world, it was the late morning of the following day, he made haste to reach Shah sahab who welcomed him and made him rest and eat light food first to accustom his body to function properly.
Amin Sahab never left the side of Shah sahab until he fell ill in 1342 H. As days passed his illness became more serious. Amin sahab looked after him’ nursed him’ and sat beside him in contemplation and prayerfulness.One night when no one else was around Shah sahab called Amin sahab and said:
“o Kashmiri ! Take out your shirt:”
Amin Sahib took out his shirt.Then Shah sahab took out his shirt and made Amin sahab wear it. Then he said to him:
” From this moment your outer and inner knowledge is completed, go out into the world, and spread the light that has been given to you”.
Shah sahab finished his work in the outer world on 28 Shawwal, Monday, 1342.
Peer e Akmal Muhammad Amin Sahab decided to leave and started for his native place, Sharda in the district of Karnah.On his way he passed through a village.There he met a man who called himself Arsalan Khan who insisted that Amin Sahib should stay in his house. When he entered his house, he came across a strange sight. A fakir who was dying was looking at the entrance of the house. As soon as he saw Amin Sahib, his face brightened. Amin Sahib sat down beside him. The Fakir said that he was waiting for him that he would perform his funeral rite. Then he whispered something into Amin Sahib’s ear, and passed awav. Arsalan Khan having seen this, fell on his knees and begged Peer e Akmal that he accepted him as his servant and disciple. Peer e Akmal said: Arsalan Khan ! What made you think that I am one of those fakirs who make disciples as they go along the way? I am just a child.But Arsalan Khan insisted and said that the fakir who died had told him that unless another fakir turned up in the village he would not die.Peer e Akmal took his hand into his. He gave him the oath of allegiance. He was the first disciple of Muhammad Amin sahab who entered into Uwaysi Circle.

During one of his journeys in Kashmir he was passing through the district of Sopore where a man who called himself Abdul Karim Zargar met him and took him to his house to offer hospitality.It was a mansion, there were many others there. The hall was richly decorated, and there was an elevated and well-decorated platform. The host insisted that Amin Sahib should sit on that elevated seat and he would sit at his feet. After food and as the guests settled down, Abdul Karim Zargar presented to Amin Sahib an offering of some sweets and a woollen shawl, and requested to make him his servant and disciple. Amin Sahib accepted him, taught him several levels of gnosis leading ultimately to the apprehension of the Divine Essence.
After leaving Abdul Karim, Peer e Akmal Amin Sahib travelled to several places in the region, was reunited with his family, and settled down in Kashira Kupwara Kashmir. He had land and he was now prosperous. Free from the worries of the world he could devote himself to the cause for which he was made.
He had many other disciples who had reached great levels of self-realization through the tutelage of Peer e Akmal.Some of them were allowed to bring the seekers into the Presence of the Prophet and have his Vision.
Al Haj Muhammad Amin Kashmiri Uwaysi Qadri Naqshbandi passed away on 17 March 1969 in the night at 9.55 (17 Zil haj 1388H). ‘We are of Allah and unto Allah we return”.
He was like a star guiding so many. He may be considered as a Perfect Wali who created a large following, not just a crowd but highly disciplined and enlightened group to bring the people on the Uwaysi path.
*Even today many true seekers are guided by his followers.Apart from this any seeker who visits their Shrine gets guided by them.I suggest every true seeker to go and visit their Shrine and rest keep it to them.
(sallallahu alaihe wasallam wa radi allahu annum ajmaeen)
Shared by :- Er. Mir Aamir