The tomb of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi
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Every day, near about sunset, a steady stream of devotees crawls towards a green dome. Their destination is a grave draped in flowers. All wish to touch it but the marble railing comes their way. Not to feel belittled, they step back; sit cross-legged with head down and recite verses from Holy Qur'an. Soon the place would become congested and the khadims would persuade some in deep slumber to move out to make way for others.
There are separate sitting arrangements for men and women but all mumble their secret wishes to the saint. Desperate women, under threat of divorce, pray for a son. Some are seeking good fortune, some pleading for the health of their loved-one. Drug addicts ask for forgiveness and an opportunity to live a normal life. This is an unusual crowd. Parents have their children with them and persuading them to ask the saint for high marks in the next examination. The young ones raise their tiny hands for blessing of the Sufi Saint.
At first, it looks as if the devotees are from the city or nearby places. But a closure look would reveal some un-common faces. Jan Muhammed has come all the way from a far off city, Rahim Yar Khan. He has his wife and three kids with him. He proudly disclosed: “We come here for Ziarat, not every year but when we can. We wish we could afford to come each year,” Ms Saima Khan, from another distant place, Quetta, a mother with two children, visits the Mausoleum annually. “We come for Manat and to seek solutions for our problems.”
The Shrine
Perched on a hilltop amidst a posh residential area and just a few minutes walk from the Clifton beach at Karachi (Pakistan), the place is a magnet to the devotees. It has a tall square chamber topped with green-and-white striped dome. Centuries old tiles decorate the walls and green flags flutter giving a majestic view.
Its sprawling complex has a vast car-park, musafirkhana , mosques, miraculous spring and long lines of shops selling rosaries, incense sticks, glass and silver bangles, prayer mats and beads.
Worth seeing are cast-iron cooking pots containing Sindhi Biryani, a rice dish. It is always ready and anyone paying about US$ 6-8 can buy 8 kgs of sizzling rice with chicken or mutton or beef. Who would eat this enormous quantity? Not the buyer but some of the visitors mostly poor and homeless, runway children and heroin addicts.
In fact, the shrine offers the underclass some spiritual sustenance and a safety net in the shape of free rations.
Moving around these shops is an experience in itself. The place is extremely lively. Many people, sitting on tea stalls, could be heard narrating how their wishes were granted. A famous myth about the shrine is that Karachi never had a tropical disaster in the past thousand years because of the shrine's blessing. It appears to be true as in the recent past two powerful storms have avoided Karachi when they were less than 10 hours away from the city and deflected to hit the Indian city of Gujarat.
Moreover, the tomb is just adjacent to Arabian Sea. The water found in the area is totally brackish except for miraculous sweet water tricking behind the shrine. In fact this is holy water and many ailments are cured by drinking it. This is vouched by the people who gather each day for collecting the water in small bottles.
- What is meant by Hazrat?
Commonly used in Islamic culture as a title when referring to prophets such as Dawud (David, pbuh), Ibrahim (Abraham, pbuh), etc. But it has been extended and most religious personality are addressed as Hazrat.
ABDULLAH SHAH GHAZI MAZAR,Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan - The Saint
Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi is a famous Sufi Saint. He was born in the year 720 in Medina, the second holiest city in Islam. He was the great grandson of the Holy Prophet from the historical tribe of Bani Hashim. He was educated in Medina where he learned Qur’an and Hadis. He arrived in Sindh in the year 760 as a merchant and brought with him a large number of horses purchased from Kofa, Iraq. He was given a warm welcome as he belonged to saadat family, the noblest in Islam.
Another version has been given by an internationally acclaimed scholar and historian, Dr. Umar Bin Mohammad Daudpota . According to him, real name of Abdullah Shah was General Abdulla bin Nabhan. He along with another senior commander, Badil bin Tuhafa, had launched a military expedition against the local ruler, Raja Dahir. The assault was a strong reaction against activities of Raja Dahir who was encouraging the pirates to raid Arab ships. In particular, the war was triggered when a noble woman wrote to the then Governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj bin Yousuf, that she had been kidnapped and be rescued. A letter was sent to the Raja Dahir and but he replied that he did not have any control over pirates in his kingdom. Consequently, the war ensued at Debil, modern day Karachi, but the Raja did not surrender. Later, the mission was entrusted to a young commander, just 17 years old, Muhammad Bin Qasim. He defeated the Raja and rescued the noble woman and other muslim prisioners.
While Muhammad bin Qasim forged ahead to far off areas like Multan (Punjab), Abdullah Shah continued to live in Sindh as he loved the people and thought they needed him for teaching of Islam specially love for humanity.
Beside preaching, Abdullah Shah was very fond of hunting. In old times, Sindh had plenty of wildlife like ibex, urial, blue bull, gazelle and deer. In his passion for hunting, Abdullah used to go far from the base. Once he had gone far enough and was intercepted by the enemy. Out-numbered, he preferred to fight rather than submitting. It is because of his display of valor he was given the title of "Ghazi" meaning "victorious".
He died in the year 773 near the sea while dressed in war attire. He was buried at the present place, atop a hill in Karachi.
In December each year, a great festival is held at the shrine for 3 days marking the anniversary of Abdullah where Muslims from all factions come in large number. The festival is enjoyed even by some non-Muslim as the saint is revered by all for preaching love, tolerance and politeness.
Of Tombs, Shrines and Dargahs
A tomb is a burial chamber. It contains remains of the dead. It could be of any famous person like a scholar or a politician. Anıtkabir is the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader of Turkish War of Independence and the first president of the Republic of Turkey.
A shrine is a holy or sacred place. In Muslim world a Shrine may contain relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated. Hazratbal Shrine in Kashmir contains a hair of the Holy Prophet. The relic is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the Prophet and his four holy companions.
A Dargah has much wider meanings. It could be a portal or threshold. These usually contain mosque, Madrassas (schools), hostels (khanqah), residence of the teachers or caretakers or other structures for community. Normally, it is a shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint.
There are many such terms like mausoleum and monument for tomb, chapel or temple for shrine and ziyarat and keramat for dargah.
Sufism
Sufi means soft and pure like wool. Most Sufis wear in-expensive wool clothes for unification. A Sufi seeks direct experience of Allah and discards all that does not belong to the inner-self.
Initially the term referred only to those who had achieved God realization, but now it applies to anyone who follows a spiritual path. The goal is to align with the will of God. Sufis agree that all religions offer a path to salvation. Basically, a saint in any religion is equal to a saint in any other religion because they are inspired by the same Divine source. The philosophy is universal in nature.
There are many Sufis who are not Muslims and there are many Muslims that are reluctant to consider Sufism as part of Islam.
Dhol, Dhamaal & Qawwali
Dhol
It is a big, oval-shaped drum, normally a meter long and half a meter wide. It is slung with a string around the neck and played by using two sticks. The loud sound of a dhol can be heard from great distance. A low, steady beat can create calmness whereas a stronger upbeat can stir anyone into action or frenzy. One can find inner peace and relaxation as the drumbeat has a great healing power.
Dhamaal
Dhamaal is a devotional dance performed by the devotees at tombs, shrines and dargahs. The purpose is to thank God and the saint when their prayers come true. The participants whirl, twirl, twist and turn on the beat of a dhol or drum. Their heart and soul are immersed into a thankful vibe.
It is a mind lifting activity. The rhythm makes you vibrate,oscillate, pulsate, rock and roll. The beat gradually picks up, and keeps going higher and higher. Let all join the festivity like a Sufi and swing to the rhythms of music to get closer to nirvana.
Qawwali
After dhamaal, one comes out of trance and starts hearing the sounds around. First to reach the ears is 'qawwali', the eternal Sufi song. Soon one can find some artists singing with passion, their voices rising and falling. One is drawn towards them as if under a spell.
Qawwali is an art passed from father to son. This is a Sufi music: its beauty lies that it is loved by all religions without any discrimination. Hindu devotional songs are synthesized with Muslim poetry - to sing about the unity of God. The poetry is implicitly spiritual, the central themes being love, devotion and longing for Divine.
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Thanks Maria Javed for your comments. Very little information is available about the saint and that too contradictory. If you ever come across some authentic information, please pass it on to me. I can update the article any time.
Dear Sir,
Things that u have explained are related to SOUL and it is totally a different dimension other than studies. These things ignite the enthusiasm to explore more about the ALMIGHTY.
Superb Work!
Thanks a lot.
RUFI SHAHZADA
Dear Sir,
An awesome article and very knowledgeable. You have always helped us in providing the best knowledge.
MashALLAH, very Great.
Best Regards,
Mateen Khalid
Dear Teacher
My father also believes in this spritual thing,
its called as 'Halqah' a sort of laud paryers.. in which 'khawaja jee, moin uddin chisti and oliyah come to land where paryers taking place, and sir its so much like divine spritualism.. cant be explained.. most of people does not beleave into it, but few do.. .
but sir.. you have put tings, the way you make it, its outclass.. .
thanque
this article is very informative.before reading this i was not being able to distinguish between tomb, shine and dargah.being a muslim, we all should know about our saints.thanks alot for sharing such a beutiful article with us.God bless u.
Great work sir jee.
Sir, I must say that this article has some interesting information regarding the Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi, i dont think i have ever read anything about the great ghazi's life before. The videos and pictures complement the article, the descriptions very enjoyable to read as well!
Thanks
Sir this article is very informative.from this article i have come to know a lot about such a Great Saint of Sub Continent.videos are very good.
thanks for giving us such a precious & worthy knowledge.
regards;
faisal
Dear Hafeez ,
I felt really excited after seeing these clips and pictures . It really shows people enthusiasm and commitment of mankind for ALMIGHT ALLAH and his Prophets . This article has certainly been very much informative for me . Thanks for sharing with us . ALLAH bless you
Yours Truly
Imran Ali
The world needs to hear more of peaceful teachings. We do not know enough about the cultures of others. Thank you so much for your enlightening commentary. Carol
Hello Hafeez,
You have done a good job in educating the people about our religious heritage.It can be further improved by adding something on the miraculous sweet water trickling behind the shrine in an area of totally brackish water and giving its photo. Regards.
Thanks Rufi, Mateen, Kabeer, Rabia, Khurrum, Mairaj,Faisal, Imran, Carol and Ghazanfar for your nice comments.
Dear Hafeez, I am always interested in learning more about your religion and culture. I find it interesting in that the more information you provide, the more similarities to other religions become apparent. Perhaps this will encourage others to become tolerant of other religions.
A very informative article for muslims and non muslims, you have provided a platform for us to gain knowledge from you
great work
wish you best of luck for future articles
Dear Mr. Hafeez: Very interesting and knowledgeable article regarding historical Islamic personality as well as intellectual approach towards exploring enriched Pakistan religion and culture. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks Donna, Saheha and Mashood for your encouragement.
Sir,
Very well written article and I am thankful for sharing such information with us. I would like to share with some of my friends too, I hope you will encourage this.
Jazakkallah,
wow
soul refreshed !
thats realy great sir, i never come across any litrature on saints and their life.
thank you so very much sir
actullay due to this many of my doubts are cleared aswell !!
thanku :)
We are muslim by birth. Being muslim by virture of inherent family background, we usually believe on seeing rather than information from authentic source. We did not even differentiate between genuine and fake information. The conclusion is 'what we should do'.
At one point we are sure is that we have ONLY Holy Book 'QURAN'. We can read every literature and understand however we cannot read and understand QURAN only because we have been told from our childhood and it is now in our hard-disk.
Please BE-AWARE " QURAN IS MADE EASY, IS THERE ANY ONE TO UNDERSTAND" Refer Sura ' QAMAR '. AND
On the day of JUDGEMENT , Holy Prophet will present complaint before THE GOD that " MY PEOPLE HAD LEFT QURAN " Refer Surah 'FURQAN'.
thank you sir for the intersesting article , specially a new prospective of seeing someting , viewed many times before
thank you again sir
Dear Ghazanfar Ali Khan,
Thanks for your comments. I have updated the hub and now it includes photo and description of the sweet- water-well just next to sea, a miracle of God.
This article is really worth reading as it reveals some un-common faces. Very well written and presented.It really added to the knowledge i had. Thank you Sir
Dear Mr. Hafeez,
Asslamu-alaikum
Excellent!
I never knew the real story of Ghazi Shah. What is the source of this valuable information?
Jalee Faruqui
Thanks Jalees Faruqui Sahib for your comments. Most of the information was on the net plus I got some booklets from the Tomb's caretaker and Urdu Bazar. There were quite conflicting versions, some most unpleasant bringing bad name to Mohammad Bin Qasim. I sifted through all available material and finally liked Dr. Daudpota findings which I have included in the article.
This is an awesome post. Keep up the good work.
Please be a friend and visit me at:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Life-As-It-Really-Is
Janab Hafeez Sb,I just checked my inbox, found a new discovery by u.it is really fantastic.very informative,specially with photographs&videos its class has raised.
Dear Sir,
i have studied your search on the Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi (R.A), its amazing.But sir we also have a shrine in our Village that called Hazrat Abdullah Shah's Shrine. and we heard from our forefathers that Hazrat Abdullah Shah's atual shrine is situated in Karachi. I am asking you is there any link or any thing same in between of Hazrat Abdullah Shah's shrine of our village and Hazrat Abdullah Shah of Karachi. Because our village name is Jhang Abdullah Shah and Abdullah Shah is taken from the name of Baba Abdullah Shah.
If you read my comments please reply me at my email Address: babaralibhatti@gmail.com
Thanks and best regards,
Babar Ali
Abdullah Shah Ghazi (R.A), came to Sindh before Mohammad Bin Qasim. The Muslims from Saudi Arabia wento upto Multan and not beyond. Therefore, Abdullah Shah Ghazi (R.A.) had rightly been identified as buried at Clifton Karachi.
Abdullah is a common name. There are so many pious people with this name in Pakistan and in the Muslim World.
Thank you for your query.
Thats a interesting article, did he have any children??? Since he was a Hassani Syed, did he actually come from Hazrat Muthana?
I am just wondering of a possibility of Hassani Syeds in Pakistan through him, (if possible)
Any info would be greatly appreciated
U can email me at Batool_786@hotmail.com if u had any info.
thanks
While writing this article, I explored every possible source of information including books kept at the Mazar. The information, I gathered, were quite contradictory. What I have written is what most historians believed to be true. If you come across any new information, kindly convey it to me via hubpages and I would add it here.
I dont have any info, this is why i was asking you whether u knew if he had any children. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you SHah for your email. I would try to find out the information required by you.
Sir Assalam o Alikum (wrbh). it is indeed a wonderful task u have done for the sduents of mystcism. l was unable to have the answer of this question that how the city of karachi is blessed with the blessing of "BABA Ghazi RA".
Thanks Capt Imran Janju for your comments.
Salaam to you, and thank you very much for the great information I needed for my research on great sufi saint n comparative religion study in indo-pak culture, any more information on Magga Pir in Karachi, would be more also eye opening to the world of sufi saints. thank you
Thanks Capt Imran Janjua and Mr. Muhammad Hanif for your nice comments.
I have written another hub on Mangho Pir, the link is
http://hubpages.com/hub/Sacred-Crocodiles
I hope it would be interesting to read for Mr. Hanif.
Sir, I have to ask a question, did Abdullah Shah Ghazi martyred by Muhammad bin Qasim? Please be intellectually honest and answer it
Thanks Sajid for your question. I have only read some books and journals besides literature on the Internet.
While there are conflicting version about the martyrdom of the saint, I never came across any role played by Muhammad Bin Qasim.
On the other hand, a distinguished scholar, Dr. Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota proposes:
"that the real name of Abdullah Shah was General Abdulla bin Nabhan. Who along with another senior commander, Badil bin Tuhafa, had launched a military expedition against the local ruler, Raja Dahir. The assault was a response to the activities of Raja Dahir, who was seen as encouraging pirates to raid Arab shipping. The war is generally attributed to being triggered by a noble woman who wrote to the then Governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, that she had been kidnapped. Al Hajjaj then wrote a letter to the Raja Dahir who replied that he did not exercise any control over pirates in his kingdom thereby triggering a military expedition that ensued at Debal, near modern day Karachi. Later, a second mission was entrusted to a young commander, Muhammad bin Qasim who successfully defeated the Raja and rescued the noble woman and the other muslim prisioners.
While Muhammad bin Qasim pressed on to topple the Raja and conquer, Abdullah Shah continued to live and preach Islam in Sindh."
From this statement of Islamic historian, Dr. Daudpota, it seems that both Muhammad Bin Qasim and Ghazi Abdullah were on the same side.
Only God knows better.
I agree with you. The earliest histories inlcuding the events of early Islam here are narrated in Chachnama, Idrisi, etc. but now a days I have heard these type of things being told to public on baseless facts and without any historical reference and facts. I think there were no evidence from any historian that Abdullah Shah Ghazi was martyred by Muhammad Bin Qasim. If we take any version of hisotry the whether we consider him as General by Muhammad Bin Qasim soldier or even if we consider him as a saint he died in the decade around 770s, many years after the death of Muhammad Bin Qasim and at that time the Islamic World was ruled by Abbassid, so thats proved wrong any way. Even if he was martyred, then the people who did this act would have been either Hindu Raja's soldiers or someone or some soldier from Abbasids side who may had martyred him either due to reason that he was ex-general of Ummayad's army or that he was Sadaat and in the early era of Abbasids the Sadaat specially the descendents of Imam Hassan RA which include Nafs al-Zakiyya forces and some descendents of Imam Hussain RA like Imam Jafar Sadiq RA or Imam Musa Kadhim RA were under intense house arrests or in prisons or even were poisoned due to Abbasids suspiscions that they may claim for Caliphate etc. Nafs al-Zakiyya and his forces intialy gave their support for out-throwing the Ummayads thinking that after that he or someone from Ahle Bayt will get caliphate. So any way these events occurred during the period of 770s, and in that time there was no Muhammad Bin Qasim or even Ummayads.
These things are just being publicized to give impression that Muhammad Bin Qasim was some kind of tyrant or any thing who was against Saadat or Ahle Bait, we can find from the History that it was Hajaj Bin Yousuf being tyrant etc. but it was also fact that the Muslim army leaded by Muhammad Bin Qasim was send when Raja Dahir's forces held up Muslim travelling families (which also included a few members of families from Sadaat. My point of view would be due to non-political nature of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in latter years in either case (General or Sadaat from family of Imam Hassan) it is more probable that he died his own death. (ALlah Knows the best of all)
There is also some more misconceptions and propaganda type publicity is being now a days published by showing a well that families of Saadat were throuwn in those by Muahammad Bin Qasim, for that again there is no historical fact and in the time of Muhammad bin Qasim i.e. 714 to 720 all the family members of Sadaat from Imam Hassan RA or Imam Hussain RA were countable in fingers and were not more than in may of hundred with there names and numbers can be found in Historical archives (inluding the women), and according the historical facts non of them was killed here in this part of Islamic world, the only person being died here of Sadaat family may would have been Abdullah Shah Ghazi but that to after 60 or more years after Muhammad Bin Qasim RA.
(Allah Knows the best)
Thanks a lot Tatom for your scholarly discription. You have made your point covincingly and objectivly. I love such approach which is backed by variable facts.
In your profile, please give your background and do contribute to ward off baseless propoganda against our heros.
i love tombs
There is also some more misconceptions and propaganda type publicity is being now a days published by showing a well that families of Saadat were throuwn in those by Muahammad Bin Qasim, for that again there is no historical fact and in the time of Muhammad bin Qasim i.e. 714 to 720 all the family members of Sadaat from Imam Hassan RA or Imam Hussain RA were countable in fingers and were not more than in may of hundred with there names and numbers can be found in Historical archives (inluding the women), and according the historical facts non of them was killed here in this part of Islamic world, the only person being died here of Sadaat family may would have been Abdullah Shah Ghazi but that to after 60 or more years after
I M OFFERING COMMENTS ON THE DAY WHEN EARLIER THE SHIRINE OF GHAZI ABDULLAH SHAH WAS BLASTED CAUSING DAMAGE TO LIVE AND PROPERTY IT WAS HEINOUS CRIME AND THOSE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT OR NEITHER HUMAN NOR MUSLIM HELL IS WAITING FOR THEM
Enna Lillah, Personality of Abdullah Shah is famous as having magical mammoth power, irrespective of origin, it gives opportunity to orient and enlighten our path.
Thanks @Morson62 for your comments. What about Turkey and Syria? Are there tombs or not?
Thanks for your comments.
salam i am very felt relax and i believed on ABDULLAH SHAH GHAZI but most devil like people does not believed on mankind of allah becauza[devil bhi sirf allah allah karta tha jabhi us ne allah ky nabi ko sajdha nai kia aur devil bn gya yeh log bhe devil ki tarha sirf allah ko mante hai] but plz pray for me my all brother and sister takay mera A1 g8 ajay i am student of class 9th
Since reading Rumi couple of years ago I have become a kind of Sufi fan. Thanks for this beautiful hub.
Thanks Binaya.Ghimire for your comments. Incidentally, I have been to Konya to visit shrine of Rumi. You may like to visit my hub at:
The Holy Mausoleums of the Holy Personalities anywhere in the world are robust bases of universality - shorn off hatred, diseased prejudices, bigotry, racialism, hateful tribalism,- purity of sentiments and strength of mutual love, a need of all time for entire humanity.
May Almighty Allah save us all from the caustic curse of spiritual and physical diseases because of the un-endable BLESSINGS of Prophets from Adam (RA) to Muhammad to the LAST Saint on Earth! Ameen! Prayerful, SHAHEENS.
What a fascinating hub about things of which I was unfamiliar. The videos added much to your descriptions. I especially liked this: "Sufis agree that all religions offer a path to salvation. Basically, a saint in any religion is equal to a saint in any other religion because they are inspired by the same Divine source. The philosophy is universal in nature." The Sufis must be peace loving people according to this. Nice! Thank you for this hub.
Thanks @Peggy W for your comments.
maria javed 2 years ago
waoo sir u have a bundle of information with you,the article is really worthfull. i have studied about The tomb of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi before but after going through this article my all old memories refreshed again.
u have explained the cultures diversity very beautifully i have learned a lot from it
thanks a lot for sharing this with us