To Live with Love

By 'Pakistan Times' Wire Service, *757th Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] Begins* - Pakistan Times - Islamabad, Pakistan
Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Sehwan Sharif: Sindh is the land of mystics and saints who not only preached the message of Islam but also guided the people to live with love, peace, affection and brotherhood and there is the need to spread over the guidance of these mystics and saints in every nook and corner of the country.

The Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan said this while talking to medial men after inaugurating the 757th three day annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Syed Usman Marvandi Lal Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] on Monday.

Tens of thousands of the devotees from the country and abroad have converged in this small but historic town of Jamshoro district to pay their homage to great mystic and saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The Governor said that these are the blessings of the saints that Pakistan particularly Sindh always come out from the crisis, however, there is need to promote the message of these mystics and saints. By following it, the country could move towards rapid progress and prosperity, he said.

The Governor was accorded warm welcome by Sindh Auqaf Minister Abdul Hasseb Khan, Secretary Sindh Auqaf Department Younis Khan, District Coordination Officer Samihuddin Siddiqui and other officers of the District Government, Jamshoro on his arrival, laid floral wreaths and offered fatha at the Mazar of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] and inaugurated the Urs celebrations.

Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] (1177 - 1274) was a great Persian Sufi Saint, philosopher, poet and Qalandar. He belonged to the Suhrawardiyya order of Sufis and was close contemporary to Hazrat Baha-ud-din Zakariya [RA] Hazrat Shaikh Fariduddin Ganjshakar [RA], Hazrat Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari Surkh-posh [RA] of Uchch and Hazrat Shah Shams Tabrizi [RA]. Some also add the name of Hazrat Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi [RA].

Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] travelled around the Muslim world and had settled in Sehwan (Sindh, Pakistan) and was buried there. He preached religious tolerance. Thousands of pilgrims visit his shrine every year, especially at the occasion of his Urs.

Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar [RA] was born in Marwand to a dervish, Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin whose ancestors migrated from Bagdad and settled down in Mashhad, a center of learning and civilization, before migrating again to Marwand. His dedication to the knowledge of various religious disciplines enabled him to eventually become a profound scholar. During his lifetime, he witnessed the Ghaznavid and Ghurids rules in South Asia. He became fluent in many languages including Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Sindhi and Sanskrit.

His mysticism attracted people from all religions. He was titled Lal (Red) for his usual red attire, Shahbaz due to his noble and divine spirit, and ‘Qalandar’ for his Sufism and saintly attitude.

Qalandar Lal Shahbaz [RA] lived a celibate life and, did not marry. Evidence shows that he was active in Sindh before 1196, when he met Pir Haji Ismail Panhwar of Pat; it is believed he entered Sehwan in 1251. He established his Khanqah in Sehwan and started teaching in Fuqhai Islam Madarrsah; during this period he wrote his treatises Mizna-e-Sart, Kism-e-Doyum, Aqd and Zubdah.

A Qawwali by Abida Parveen and many other singers of sufi songs, 'Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo ...' is in honour of Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar [RA], as is the one sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan named Mast Qalandar. This famous mystic often quoted the teachings of Maulana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. A book detailing his life is called "Solomon's Ring" by Gul Hasan.

The shrine around his tomb, built in 1356, gives a dazzling look with its Sindhi kashi tiles, mirror work and two gold-plated doors - one donated by the late Shah of Iran, the other by the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

His annual Urs (death anniversary celebration) is held on the 18 Sha'aban - the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Thousands of devotees flock to the tomb while every Thursday their number stands multiplied especially at the time of his ‘Urs’ being a carnival as well a religious festival and celebrated every year.

The Governor went around different portions of the Mazar was also briefed about the work being carried out under renovation project of the mazar. Sindh Minister Abdul Hasseb Khan presented traditional gifts of Ajrak and Sindh Cap to Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan.