With Traditional Devotion

By Staff Reporter/IRNA, *Thousands Join Sufi Saint’s Urs in Kashmir * Kashmir Observer - Srinagar, J&K, India
Saturday, November 13, 2010

The annual urs of 13th century Iranian saint, Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, was observed throughout Kashmir with traditional devotion and fervour on Saturday, with exalting functions being held in mosques and shrines.

The largest gathering took place at the Khanaqah-e-Ma’ula in Srinagar which resounded with hymns and recitations throughout previous night. A large number of the devout were treated to a glimpse of saint’s relics after dawn prayers, and the ritual was held after every prayer through the day.

The night air echoed with lilting chants of Awrad-e Fatiha as thousands of people braved a cold night to pay obeisance at the shrine, and the number swelled to over 50,000 at noon prayers today.

Awrad Khawani is a popular Kashmîrî form of devotional expression. It was brought to Kashmîr by Syed Ali. According to one tradition he composed Awrad after collecting all invocations (Awrad) in it, which he had imbibed from about two hundreds saints during his journeys. This Awrad is an index of manajat, hamd wa Thana, tahlil wa tasbihat, salawat and istighfar.

In view of the Urs areas around Khanqah- Mau’ala, originally constructed by Sultan Sikander (1389-1413 AD) in the memory of Mir Hamdani who had after his arrival in Kashmir from Iran stayed there for meditation and preaching, witnessed an extraordinary rush of devotees through the day.

Meanwhile the Mirwaiz (Chief Priest of Kashmir), Maulana Umer Farooq, paid glorious tributes to Syed Hamadani on the saint's annual urs, describing him as a great benefactor of Kashmiris in the truest sense. The Mirwaiz said that the blossoming of faith, Islam and morality in the entire Kashmir was a miracle of the spiritual attainments of Syed Ali Hamadani, regarded as the forbearer of Islam in Kashmir.

In a message on the occasion, the Mirwaiz said that the saint had not only altered the history of the land but also its destiny.

"Because of the formidable personality of the Syed Hamadani, Kashmir not only got the priceless gift of Islam, but countless avenues of trade, commerce and crafts were opened that brought about a welcome revolution in the economic sphere," he said.

Mir Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamadani was an Iranian Sūfī, a prominent scholar and reformer. Born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 A.C) in Hamadan Syed Ali died in 786 AH/1384 in Kunar and was buried in Khatlan in Tajkistan.

He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir and has had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley. His influence on arts and culture and the economy of Kashmir was profound.

So deep has been Syed Ali's influence in Kashmir that he came to be known here as "Shāh Hamadhān" Ali Saani and as Amīr-i Kabīr ("the Great Commander").

There are various accounts about Syed Ali’s travels to Kashmir. The widely accepted one states that Syed left his homeland to avoid persecution at the hands of Timur. He moved to Kashmir with seven hundred followers, during the reign of King Shahabuddin who received him warmly and became his follower.

Saint’s Urs is observed as official holiday in Kashmir.