Introduction
Human beings have been divided into many races, tribes and colors, so it is natural to have a curiosity to find out, who I am and where I come from. In other words you try to discover your roots. Growing up in Bihar, India I was always reminded by my parents about our heritage and our root. Since we have migrated to USA the heritage and root has taken a very special meaning for our children. People of my generation know their root to some extent; it is the coming generation who will feel the urge to know about their ancestors. So I feel strongly to leave some written information in English for the future generations. It is not my intention to write this book to show a sense of superiority over others by establishing my genealogy to Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). Every soul is equal before God. It is your deed and action which make you honorable or dishonorable. White people in this country know their roots and heritage to some extent. It is African American who feel a sense of frustration not knowing their roots. The famous black writer Alex Haley spent ten years and traveled half a million miles across the three continent to find his roots. One can understand the sense of excitement he must have felt to find his roots in a village Juffure in Gambia from where his ancestor Kunta Kinte was kidnapped into slavery and brought to the United States of America. Keeping the genealogical record is as old as the civilization itself. Where there was no writing the ancient elders used to depend on their memories to pass on the genealogical information to the new generation. Of all the races Arabs were famous in preserving and maintaining the family tree. They even used to keep the genealogical records of their horses and camels. Like any other people our ancestors moved form place to place in search of better life, to escape persecution or to 1 preach the Deen of Islam to people throughout the world. It is due to the effort of these great men that Islam flourished in the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere in the world. I shall try my best to give the reader a glimpse where our forefathers lived, what they did, when and where they died. In other words just a short account of their lives. Naturally I do not have the information of all of our ancestors in the family tree, so I have gathered the information of only the famous members of my ancestors. Luckily that information is available on internet, reference books and history books. Another important thing I like to write about is the place where our forefather lived starting from Mecca all the way to Patna, Bihar, India. Though I believe our family tree or Shijrah is authentic, nonetheless I have tried my best to verify its authenticity. People of my father’s generation and generations before that were strong believers of retaining the purity of the family, in other words they would not even think of marrying out side a Syed family. I guess this kind of thinking was enforced by the rigid cast system of Hindus of India. This was the reason that every Syed family used to preserve the Shijrah with great care and pass it on to the next generation as Arabs did. Luckily in our Shijrah we have some famous people whose history is available on internet and reference books. To my surprise I could verify our Shijrah up to tenth generation from prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Then in eighteenth generation I found a famous Sufi Syed Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari who migrated from Bukhara to Multan Pakistan in 1242 AD. There is plenty of information about him and his three descendents in the internet and reference books, thus I could verify from 18th to 20th generations. Syed Shah Minhajuddin, alias Manjhan Shah the 26th generation descendant came from Multan area to Bihar
2 sometime in 1527 AD and settled in village Miranbigha, District Gaya. It is known that the Mughal Emperor Babur granted him a Jageer (real state) in that area. The Mughal period in the history of India was a time of peace and prosperity, so our forefather lived in the same village from 1527 to 1890 till my grand father Syed Azhar Hussian moved to Shahobigha the village of my grandmother. It is important to mention here that recently I made a trip to Karachi Pakistan where I found our Shijrah embedded in the Shijrah of thousands Syed families of Bihar. The Shijrah is written on a big sheet of paper two feet wide and thirty to forty feet long with all the references and explanations. According to Mr. Mahboob(1) his father Syed Mahbubul Haq who migrated to Pakistan from Bihar India, spent thirty years to complete it, which is unquestionably a marvelous piece of work. My cousin Syed Zafar Sultan sent me a book named Sharfa-ke-Nagree written by Syed Qiamuddin Nizami in which I found our Shijrah and other valuable information about our ancestors. Now our Shijrah has been verified by two different sources. Thus it seems that there is very little doubt in its authenticity. One thing that I noticed while writing this book was that right after the death of third Khalifa Hazrat Usman and starting with Hazrat Ali, all the Imams were harassed and suffered at the hands of so called Khalifas of the day. The person who was responsible for this trend was Muawiyah. Most of the Imams who were the descendents of the Prophet (pbuh) were killed by poison. Even the Abbasid ruler did not spare them. The rulers loved their throne so much that they did not tolerate the popularity of these noble men and eliminated them, before they might become dangerous for their kin
3
CHAPTER ONE
TheMakkans
Quraish
A tiny spot in the Arabian peninsula became the focal point for all the pagan Bedouins of the desert, because of the presence of the House of God also known as the Kaba. The pagans were deeply religious people, they held the view that there is a God to cover each aspect of their lives. There was a tribe called Quraish, among the pagans who were both intelligent and enterprising. The Quraish preferred a sedentary life over a nomadic one, so they capitalized on the Bedouin religious devotion and their preference for a nomadic life. The tribe of Quraish installed themselves in Makkah around the House of God (Kaba) and the well of Zumzum. The Quraish and some of its powerful members controlled the supervision and the religious rituals of the House of Gods.
The members of Quraish tribe consisted of three groups, one was the priestly group, which controlled the house of God and sustained itself on the income that it generated from the pilgrims. The second group of Quraish were engaged in trade and business. These people were responsible to convert Makkah the center of commerce and trade and took their goods to various destination on their trading mission. The third group of Quraish consisted of people who earned their living by providing other services to the pilgrims and other people. Makkah was also a trade route of Arabian peninsula so the tribe of Quraish were rather well off economically. They were very happy to maintain their way of life and they were always ready to defend it at any cost. We shall see later on that the little known tribe
4 of Quraish produced great leaders and generals that changed the history of the world for ever.
Hashemite
The term Hashemite refers to those who belonged to Banu Hashim, a clan within larger Quraish tribe. The Hashemite trace their ancestry from Hashim ibn Abdal Manaf the great grand father of the Prophet (pbuh). In the early days the Hashemites were engaged in a continuous struggle against the Umayyads for the control of Khelafat.
After the over throw of the Umayyad dynasty from power the Abbasids presented themselves as Hashemite, as they claimed to be the descendent of Abbas ibn Abdal Muttalib an uncle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
Muhammd Sallalaho-Alaihe-Wassallam
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in 570 AD in Makkah. His Father, Abdullah, died several weeks before his birth in Yathrib (Medinah) where he went to visit his father's maternal relatives. His mother died while on the return journey from Medinah at a place called ‘Abwa’ when he was only six years old. He was raised by his paternal grandfather Abd al Muttalib until the age of eight, and after his grandfather’s death by Abu Talib, his paternal uncle. Abd al Muttalib's mother, Salma, was a native of Medinah and he was born and raised as a young boy in Medinah before his uncle brought him to Makkah to succeed him. Many years before Muhammad's birth, Abd al Muttalib had established himself as an influential leader of the Arab tribe of Quraish in Makkah and took care of the Holy
5 sanctuary Kabah. Makkah was a city state well connected to the caravan routes to Syria and Egypt in the north and northwest and Yemen in the south. Under the guardianship of Abu Talib, Muhammad (pbuh) began to earn a living as a businessman and a trader. At the age of twelve, he accompanied Abu Talib with a merchant caravan as far as Bostra in Syria. Muhammad(pbuh) was popularly known as ‘al-Ameen’ for his unimpeachable character by the Makkans and visitors alike. The title Al-Ameen means the Honest, the Reliable and the Trustworthy, and it signified the highest standard of moral in public life. Upon hearing of Muhammad’s impressive credentials, Khadijah, a rich merchant widow, asked Muhammad (pbuh) to take some merchandise for trade to Syria. Soon after this trip when he was twenty-five years old Khadijah proposed to Muhammad (pbuh) through a relative. Muhammad(pbuh) accepted the proposal and married Khadija (ra). At that time, she was twice widowed and forty years old. Khadijah (ra) and Muhammad (pbuh) were the parents of six children four daughters and two sons. His first son Qasim died at the age of two. He was nicknamed Abul Qasim, meaning the father of Qasim. His second son Abdullah died in infancy. Abdullah was also called affectionately as ‘Tayyab’ and ‘Tahir’ because he was born after Muhammad’s prophet hood. The four daughters were: Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum, and Fatimah. The Holy sanctuary Kabah at that time contained three hundred sixty idols. The original, pristine message of Prophet Ibrahim was lost, and it was mixed with superstitions and traditions of pilgrims and visitors from distant places, who were used to idol worship. Muhammad (pbuh) was forty when, during his one of many retreats to Mount Hira for meditation in the month of Ramadan, he received the first revelation from the Angel Jibril (Gabriel). On this first
6 appearance, Gabriel (as) said to Muhammad(pbuh) "Iqraa," meaning Read or Recite. Muhammad replied, "I cannot read," as he had not received any formal education and did not know how to read or write. The Angel Gabriel then embraced him until he reached the limit of his endurance and after releasing said: "Iqraa." Muhammad’s answer was the same as before. Gabriel repeated the embrace for the third time, asked him to repeat after him and said: "Recite in the name of your Lord who created man from that which clings. Recite; and thy Lord is most Bountiful, He who has taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not”. Thus it was in the year 610 AD the revelation began. Muhammad (pbuh) was terrified by the whole experience of the revelation and fled the cave of Mt. Hira. When he reached his home, tired and frightened, he asked his wife: ‘cover me, cover me,’ in a blanket. After his awe had somewhat abated, his wife Khadijah asked him about the reason of his great anxiety and fear. She then assured him by saying: "Allah (The One God) will not let you down because you are kind to relatives, you speak only the truth, you help the poor, the orphan and the needy, and you are an honest man. Khadijah then consulted her cousin Waraqa who was an old saintly man possessing knowledge of previous revelations and scriptures. Waraqa confirmed to her that the visitor was none other than the Angel Gabriel who had come to Moses. He then added that Muhammad(pbuh) is the expected Prophet. Khadijah (ra) accepted the revelation as truth and was the first person to accept Islam. She supported her husband in every hardship, most notably during the three year boycott of the Prophet’s clan, the pagan Quraish. Gabriel (as) visited the Prophet as commanded by Allah revealing Ayat (meaning signs, loosely referred to as verses) in Arabic over a period of twenty-three years. The revelations that he received were sometimes a few verses, a part of a chapter or the whole chapter. Some 7 revelations came down in response to an inquiry by the nonbelievers. The revealed verses were recorded on a variety of available materials (leather, palm leaves, bark, shoulder bones of animals), memorized as soon as they were revealed, and were recited in daily prayers by Muslims. All the revealed verses (over a period of 23 years and ending in 632 AD) were compiled in the book known as Qur’an. Prophet’s sayings, actions, and approvals are recorded separately in collections known as a Hadith. The mission of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to restore the worship of the One True God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, as taught by Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) and all Prophets of God. To demonstrate and complete the laws of moral, ethical, legal, and social conduct and all other matters of significance for the humanity at large. The first few people who followed this message were: his cousin Ali, his servant Zayd ibn Harithah, his friend Abu Bakr and his wife and daughters. In the first three years of his mission forty people (men and women) accepted Islam. This small group comprised youth as well as older people from a wide range of economic and social background. The Prophet(pbuh) was directed by a recent revelation to start preaching Islam to everyone. He then began to recite revelations to people in public and invite them to Islam. The Quraish, leaders of Makkah, took his preaching with hostility. The most hostile and closest to the prophet was his uncle Abu Lahab and his wife. Initially, they and other leaders of Quraish tried to bribe him with money and power including an offer to make him king if he were to abandon his message. When this did not work, they tried to convince his uncle Abu Talib to accept the best young man of Makkah in place of Muhammad(pbuh) and to allow them to kill Muhammad(pbuh). His uncle tried to persuade the Prophet to stop preaching but the Prophet said: "O
8 uncle, if they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to stop me from preaching Islam, I would never stop. I will keep preaching until Allah makes Islam prevail or I die.” The Quraish began to persecute Muslims by beating, torturing and boycotting their businesses. Prophet was publicly ridiculed and humiliated including frequent throwing of filth on him in the street and also while he prayed in the Kabah. In spite of great hardships and no apparent support, the message of Islam kept all Muslims firm in their belief. The Prophet was asked by God to be patient and to preach the message of Quran. He advised Muslims to remain patient because he did not receive any revelation yet to retaliate against their persecutors. When the persecution became unbearable for most Muslims, the Prophet advised them in the fifth year of his mission (615 AD) to emigrate to Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) where Ashabah a Christian was the ruler. Eighty people, not counting the small children, emigrated in small groups to avoid detection. The Quraish then made life even more difficult for the Prophet by implementing total ban on contact with the Prophet’s family (Bani Hashim and Muttalib). The ban lasted for three years. In 622 AD, the leaders of the Quraish decided to kill the Prophet and they developed a plan in which one man was chosen from each of the Quraish tribes and they were to attack the Prophet simultaneously. His well wisher informed the Prophet of the plan and instructed him to leave Makkah immediately. The Prophet, after making arrangements to return the properties entrusted to him by several nonbelievers, left with Abu Bakr in the night he was to be assassinated. They went south of Makkah to a mountain cave of Thawr and after staying three nights they traveled north to Yathrib (Medinah) about two hundred fifty miles from Makkah. Upon
9 discovery of his escape, the leaders of Quraish put up a reward of one hundred camels on him, dead or alive. In spite of all their best scouts and search parties, Allah protected the Prophet and he arrived safely in Quba, a suburb of Medinah . This event is known as the ‘Hijra’ (migration) and the Islamic calendar begins with this event. The people of Aws and Khazraj in Medinah greeted him with great enthusiasm in accordance with their pledge made at Aqaba less than a year ago during the annual pilgrimage. One by one those Muslims (men and women) of Makkah who were not physically restrained, and who could make a secret exit, left for Medinah leaving behind their properties and homes. To insure the peace and tranquility, the Prophet proposed a treaty defining terms of conduct for all inhabitants of Medinah. It was ratified by all Muslims, non-Muslim Arabs and Jews. After his emigration to Medinah, the enemies of Islam increased their assault from all sides. The Battles of Badr, Uhud and Allies (Trench) were fought near or around Medinah. In these battles until the year 627 AD, the nonbelievers with encouragement from Jews and other Arabian tribes attacked the Prophet and Muslim community. The Muslims while defending their city and religion lost many men, which resulted in many widowed Muslim women and numerous orphaned children. In these circumstances, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married several women during fifty-sixth year up to the sixtieth year of his life. He did not contract any marriage in the last three years of his life, following the revelation limiting the number of wives up to a maximum of four. The Prophet was instructed not to divorce any of his wives after this revelation . All of the ladies he took as wives were either widowed or divorced, except Aishah. A year after the Battle of Trench, the Prophet and fifteen hundred of his companions left for Makkah to perform the annual pilgrimage (628 AD). They were barred from approaching the city at Hudaybiyah, where after some negotiations a treaty was signed allowing 10 them to come next year. This treaty facilitated exchange of ideas among the people of the whole region without interference. Many delegations from all regions of Arabia came to the Prophet to investigate the teachings of Islam, and a large number of people accepted Islam within a couple of years. The Prophet sent many of his companions (who memorized the Quran by heart) to new communities to instruct them about the practice of Islam. More than fifty of them were murdered by non- believers. About two years later at the end of 629 AD, the Quraish violated the terms of the Treaty of Hudaybiyah by helping Banu Bakr in the surprise attack on Bani Khuza’ah who were allied with the Prophet. Some of Bani Khuzah’s men escaped and took shelter in Makkah and they sought redress. However, the leaders of Quraish did nothing. They then sent a message to the Prophet for help. The Prophet, after confirming all the reports of the attack and subsequent events, marched to Makkah with an army consisting of three thousand Muslims of Medinah and Muslims from other Arab communities that joined him on the way totaling ten thousand Muslims. Before entering the city he sent word to citizens of Makkah that anyone who remained in his home, or in Abu Sufyan’s home, or in the Kabah would be safe. The army entered Makkah without fighting and the Prophet went directly to the Kabah. He magnified Allah for the triumphant entry in the Holy city. The Prophet pointed at each idol with a stick he had in his hand and said, "Truth has come and Falsehood will neither start nor will it reappear". And one by one the idols fell down. The Kabah was then cleansed by the removal of all three hundred sixty idols, and it was restored to its pristine status for the worship of One True God (as built by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail). The people of the city expected general slaughter in view of their persecution and torture of Muslims for the
11 past twenty years. While standing by the Kabah, the Prophet (pbuh) promised clemency for the Makkans, stating: "O Quraish, what do you think that I am about to do with you?" They replied, "Good. You are a noble brother, son of a noble man." The Prophet forgave them all saying: "I will treat you as Prophet Yousuf (Joseph) treated his brothers. There is no reproach against you. Go to your homes, and you are all free." The people of Makkah then accepted Islam including the staunch enemies of the Prophet. A few of the staunchest enemies and military commanders had fled Makkah after his entry. However, when they received the Prophet’s assurance of no retaliation and no compulsion in religion, they came back and gradually the message of Islam won their hearts. Within a year (630 AD), almost all Arabia accepted Islam. Among the Prophet’s close companions were Muslims from such diverse background as Persia, Abyssinia, Syria and Rome. Several prominent Jewish Rabbis, Christian bishop and clergymen accepted Islam after discussions with the Prophet. He performed his first and last pilgrimage (Haj) in 632 AD. One hundred twenty- thousand men and women performed Haj that year with him. The Prophet gave the last sermon during that time.. Two months later, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) fell ill and after several days died on Monday, 12 Rabi al-Awwal, the eleventh year after Hijra (June 8, 632 AD) in Medinah. He is buried in the city of Madina where magnificent Masjid called Masji e Nubvi has been built.
Hazrat Khadija
Hazrat Khadija was born in 565 AD at the holy city of Makkah. Her father Khuwaylid who died in 585 AD belonged to Abdal Uzza clan of the tribe of Quraysh . He was a very successful business man whose vast wealth was inherited by Khadija, Though the society at 12 that time was male chauvinistic, she earned two titles: Ameeral Quraysh “ Princess of Quraysh” and Al Tahira “ The pure one” all because of personality and virtuous character. She was married twice and lost her husband twice to ravaging war with which Arebia was afflicted at that time. Khadija needed an agent to trade her merchandise to Syria. Abu Talib suggested to her to employ Muhammad (pbuh). She decided to give him a chance. The profit she received from that trip were twice as much as she had expected. She became so impressed by his honesty and sincerity that she offered her hand in marriage. In 610 AD at the age of forty Mohammed (pbuh) received the first revelation from the Angle Gabriel in the cave of Mt. Hira. His wife Khadija was the first person to convert to Islam. She was the love of Prophet Mohammad’s life and his strongest supporter and confidante. After 24 years of marriage Khadijah died at the age of sixty five in the year 619 AD. She was laid to rest by non other than the Prophet himself. The Nemaze Janaza was not performed because it was not instituted in the burial ritual at that time(2) She is buried at Hajum in the outskirt of Makkah.
FATIMA AZ ZAHRA
Fatima (ra) was born in Makkah in the year 606 AD. She was the last daughter of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and Hazrat Khadijha. Fatima (ra) married Hazrat Ali and the tree of Prophethood bore fruit. Fatima gave birth to Imam Hassan and then to Imam Hussein, The Prophet welcomed them and named them. Fatima the noblest of all women , married Ali for his faith, piety trustworthiness and high principles. She accepted the holy bond with a simple modest mahr (dowery). She did not live long after the death of her father (pbuh). She was the first from among his family to join him in the afterlife. Fatima az Zahra (ra) left this world in 632 AD at the young age of 24 years. leaving 13 both sons and daughters to be brought up by their father Hzrat Ali. She is buried in Madinah at Jannatul Baqi. Fatima(ra) is considered an example of a Muslim woman’s adherence to noble traits. She is a perfect example of how a daughter, a wife, and a mother should act while keeping her decency and pure character. She also shows us the Muslim women’s role in social fields within the limits of religion and virtue. Her life confirms that Islam does not deprive women of acquiring scientific, cultural and literary knowledge. She is held in great reverence both by Sunny and Shiite Muslims.
Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza
Hazrat Ali was born at Makkah in the year 598 AD. His father Abu Talib was an uncle of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). His mother Fatima was daughter of Asad bin Hashim and was a very respected lady among the Qurash. From the very binging Hzrat Ali was a trusted warrior of the Prophet. In the year 622 AD when Prophet departed for Madinah, Hazrat Ali risked his life by sleeping in the bed to impersonate the Prophet,so he could migrate in safety. He was a great warrior and from 622 AD till the Prophet’s death in 632 AD he actively took part in military campaigns in all the battles against the infidels. His intimate relationship and long experience with the Prophet had transformed him into a perfect Muslim. His level of spirituality and knowledge of the Quran and the Sunnah was vast. The sons Ali and Fatima, Hasan and Hussain were deeply loved by their noble grandfather (pbuh) and came to be known as the Ahl al Bait the house of Prophet. In the year the when the third Khalifa Uthman bin Affan was assassinated followed by a great unruly situation in the city of Madinah, he was reluctant to accept the responsibility of Khalifa, but he changed his mind to save the nascent nation of Islam from
14 disintegration. His first job was to diffuse the rebellion of Talha, Zubayr and Aisha the widow of Prophet. The rebel army was defeated at the battle of Basra, the two generals were killed and Hazrat Aisha was captured and escorted back to Madinah with all respect.
Muawiyah who was governor Syria raised an army launched a second rebellion against Hazrat Ali. A prolonged battle took place in 657 AD in the plain of Suffein near Euphrates. The battle seemed to be turning in favor Hazrat Ali, when a member of opposing army raised the copy of Quran and demanded that the matter ought to be settled by reference to this book, which forbids Muslims to shed each others blood. At this point some of the soldiers of Hazrat Ali refused to fight and demanded that the issue be referred to arbitration. Hazrat Ali hesitantly accepted the call for armistice. The two side put forward their Arbitrators and the negotiation went on for weeks. In the end the final judgment was that Hazrat Ali give up his claim to become the Khalifa leaving Muawiyah in the field and a Shura council to nominate a replacement. Needless to say Hazrat Ali refused to accept this, stating that he will not allow Muawiyah to seize the position by other means. He decided that the only way to bring the stability to Ummah was to force Muawiyah out of power.
Some of the supporters of Hazrat Ali changed their position and started campaign against him. They called them self as Khawarij. Though the Khawarij were badly crushed by Hazrat Ali, but some of the ring leaders escaped and started a plot to avenge their defeat. Some Arab historians believe that the Khawarij plotted the assassination of Hazrat Ali, Muawiya and Amr bin Aas but succeeded only in killing Hazrat Ali. While others argue that it was Muawiyah himself who took advantage of the situation and plotted so that the assassination of Hazrat Ali would look like spontaneous and convincing by making himself and his crony Amr 15 bin Aas an intended victim of the conspiracy of the Khawarj. So by the rare stroke of good luck both of them escaped assassination. One Amr bin Aas fell ill and could not go to the Masjid that day, other the Muawiyah went in the Masjid wearing his armor under his cloak, thus illness and the Armor saved both of them from the sword the Khawarj and the retribution of the historians. Hazrat Ali was not so lucky, he did not fall ill and he did not wear his armor, so the assassin Ibn Mujan who was waiting with a poisoned sword struck him on fore head while going to the Masjid for the morning prayer. He survived a few days, till the poison did its work and he left this world on 21st of Ramazan 40 AH (661 AD) at the age of 63. He is buried near the city of Najaf . A splendid Masjid was erected at that sight. He left a legacy which far out weighed the impact he displayed during his short period of his Khelafat. Had he succeeded in defeating the cunning Muawiyah the fate of Islam would have been much brighter than what Muawiyah shaped during his reign. Ali has many critics and enemies but they cannot point out a single instance when he deviated from Islamic principles and laws. No one can find out any conflict between his thought and speech, his sense of justice and inflexible integrity. His greatest legacy to the world of Islam will remain forever, his sublime character.
16
CHAPTER TWO
The Cities
Makkah al Mukarramah
The city of Makkah lies inland, some fifty miles east of red sea in the region of Hejaz. The land consists of rugged rocky terrain with mountain ranges on three sides and an arid valley with hardly any agricultural land, but blessed by a fresh water well called Zamzam.
By the sixth century this small town had acquired a great importance for two reasons. It became an important center of idol worship, to which many of the nomadic tribes of Arabia made pilgrimage on a regular basis. In addition to its religious prestige, however Makkah also became an active center for trade and commerce, from here caravans departed on their trading missions to various destinations on regular basis. Most of the inhabitants of this township belonged to the Quraish tribe. These people were responsible for the upkeep of the house of God also known as Kaba which housed as many as 365 idols.
This is the town where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born and spent most of his adult life. North east of this town mount Hira is located where Prophet (pbuh) sought peace contemplation and received the first verses of the holy Quran. In 612 AD Prophet (pbuh) launched his Jihad against polytheism and idolatry. This action threatened the way of life of the Quraish tribe, so they started a campaign of terror against the early Muslims. Even the life of Prophet (pbuh) was not safe, which led to his migration to Madinah in the year 622 AD. After fighting several wars against the Quraish of Makkah he and his fellow believers entered the city
17 triumphantly in the year 630 AD. The idols were destroyed, God’s house was purified and Makkah became the holy city of Muslims all over the world. Makkah re-entered Islamic history briefly when it was held by Abd-Allah ibn al-Zubayr, who opposed Yazid. He besieged Mecca in 683 AD and did a lot of damage to the city. Thereafter the city figured little in politics, it became a city of devotion and scholarship. For centuries it was governed by the Hashemite Sharifs of Makkah, descendants of Prophet (pbuh).The Sharifs ruled on behalf of Khalifa or the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Makkah was attacked and sacked by Ismaili in 930 AD and by Wahhabi Muslims in 1803. In 1926, the Sharifs of Mecca were overthrown by the Saudis and Makkah was incorporated into Saudi Arabia.
Madina Al Munawwara
Madia Al Munawwara came to prominence with the introduction of Islam, but its root date back to hundreds of years of pre Islamic era when it was known as Yathrib. The city had abundant water supply that fed the vast date palm and vegetable gardens. The availability of food and water made Madina an important center for the caravans going to Syria and Egypt along the red sea. Its inhabitants sold food to those passing Caravans and over the time became involved in trade.
In Makkah the Prophet (pbuh) launched the jihad against polytheism and idolatry and Islam was gaining ground. The ruling tribe of Makkah viewed Islam a threat to their way of life and power base. So they started to harass and persecute the growing number of
18 the followers this new religion. During this period the leaders of Yathrib familiar with the Prophet’s reputation of honesty and sincerity sent a delegation and asked him to mediate a dispute between the powerful tribes. Impressed by the Prophet’s character and teachings the members of the delegation soon accepted Islam followed buy many other converts. These new converts, called Ansars, invited the Muslims of Makkah so as to escape persecution. The Prophet (pbuh) himself had to leave Makkah for Ythrib to escape a death plot against him. The arrival of the Prophet (pbuh) in the year 622 AD in Yathrib was a turning point in world history. It marked the establishment of the first Islamic state in Ythrib and the rapid growth of the new faith. Now the city of Ythrib became Madinat Al Nabe (The city of the Prophet) The date of his arrival there marked the first year of the Islamic calendar called Hijrah.
With the emigration of the Prophet (pbuh) to Madina it became the center of activity. The Prophet (pbuh) established the first Masjid at Quba a village on the outskirts of Madina. Once settled here he built another Masjid close to his house called Masjid Al Nabawi. It was this Masjid where Prophet (pbuh) and his companions prayed every day. This Masjid soon became the center of social and economic activity of the Islamic state. With the growth of Islam, Madina became the administrative hub of the new Islamic state. This is the city where the Prophet and many of his descendents are buried, who are our ancestors.
Kufa
Kufa is a small city in central Iraq lying on the western bank of the Euphrates river about eighty miles south of Baghdad . The city was founded as a garrison town by Khalifa Umar in 638 AD. Soon the city began to expand with the people from Iran and Arabia. Kufa at times served as capital of Iraq. In 656 AD Hazrat Ali 19 chose Kufa as his capital during the short period of his Khelafat. It was here in one of the main Masjid Hazrat Ali was martyred while offering the morning prayer. The people of Kufa extended support to Hazrat Husain but when Azid army surrounded him the people of Kufa abandoned him.
20
CHAPTER THREE
Why Muawiyah
Muawiyah is not the member of our family tree, yet I am compelled to write about him. He was directly or indirectly responsible for the massacre of the Prophet’s family, which included our forefathers. Muawiyah violated each and every principle of Islam and the sprit of Khelafat, which the four Khulfae- Rashadin had developed. It is sad to say that Muawiyah single handedly destroyed the fledgling Islamic democratic system based on honesty and justice which was introduced for the first time in the history of human civilization. He turned the direction of Islam by hundred and eighty degree and ruled the Ummah by iron fist. Thus he was responsible for creating a system of unjust rule which affected our forefathers and the Muslim Ummah. Some people argue that we should not criticize him because he was a Sahabee of the Prophet (pbuh). But being a Sahabee does not give one the license to commit murder, break the laws of Islam, violate human rights, steal the public treasury, and oppress the Ummah . On the contrary it will be quite unislamic to bury the fact under the rug and ignore the misdeeds . A Sahabee should be judged with a much higher standard than an ordinary person, because he must have learned noble things directly from the Prophet (pbuh). Some say that he brought the piece and stability to the Ummah, and extended the boundary of Islamic land. But at what cost? Does the end justify the means? That peace and stability evaporated right after the death of Muawiyah. Muawiyah had agreed in the treaty with Hazrat Hasan that there will be a council (Shura) to decide the succession after him. But he reneged on his agreement, 21 knowing well that such a Shura would never select Yazid, a man famous for wild party, drinking wine in public and a womanizer. He summoned the people in his palace to give an oath of allegiance to him to accept Yazid as next Khalifa after his death, knowing very well the evil character of his son. Yazid committed the ultimate crime and his successor harassed and even killed the descendents of Prophet (pbuh), as we shall see later on. So to write something about Muawiyah in the book of our family tree from my point of view is quite relevant. Discussing the misdeeds of Muawiyah is out of scope of this book.
Muawiyah Muawiyah was born (602 AD) into a clan (Banu Abd Shams), many of whom opposed the Prophet Muhammad in his city, Mekkah, and continued to oppose him on the battlefield after he had emigrated to Madina. Muawiyah's father was Abu Sufiyan ibn Harb who was initially a bitter opponent of Muhammad (pbuh). His mother name was Hind, who is said to have eaten the raw liver of Hzrat Hamza, uncle of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in the battle of Uhud(3) Muawiyah became Muslim only after the conquest of Makkah . He is mostly remembered for his career in Syria which began shortly after the death of the Prophet, when he, along with his brother Yazid, served in the tribal armies sent from Madina to Syria. Upon the death of Yazid in 640 AD Muawiyah was appointed governor of Syria (area around Damascas) by the Khalifah Umar. He gradually gained mastery over the other areas of Syria, instilling remarkable personal loyalty among the troops and common people of the region. By 647 Muawiyah had built a Syrian tribal army strong enough to repel a Byzantine attack. When Hazrat Ali became Khalifa, he openly undermined his 22 authority and led a army to fight with him. Hazrat Ali had no choice but to put down this open revolt. The two army engaged near river Euphrates at the famous battle of Siffin. There Muawiyah’s guile turned near defeat into a truce. Resorting to a strategy that played upon the religious sensibilities of Ali's forces, he ordered his troops to hoist copies of the Qur'an on their lances, as a request for religious arbitration. He thus persuaded the enemy to enter into negotiations that ultimately cast doubt on the legitimacy of Hzrat Ali's Khelafat and alienated a sizable number of his supporters. When these former supporters the Khawarij rose in rebellion against Hazrat Ali, Muawiyah took advantage of Hazrat Ali's difficulties in Iraq to send a force to seize control of Egypt. Thus, when Hzrat Ali was assassinated in 661 AD, Muawiyah held both Syria and Egypt and as commander of the largest force in the Muslim Empire, he declared himself Khalifa. Hazrat Ali's son Hasan, after initial defiance of Muawiyah, ceased hostilities and retired to Madina on the promise of Muawiyah that the Khelafat will return to the house of Hazrat Ali or a Shura shall nominate Khalifa after his death, which he did not honor.
CHAPTER FOUR
23
The Imams
Imam Hussain Ibn Ali
Immam Hussain the second son of Fatima (ra) was born in Madinah on third of Shaban, fourth year of Hijri (626 AD). He lost his mother when he was six. Both Hazrat Hasan and Hussain were the center of attraction for our Prophet (pbuh). He grew to adulthood in the city of Madina under the care of his father Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza (ra).
After the death of his father in 661 AD the succession to the Khelafat was undetermined and the conflict started between Muawiyah and sons of Hazrat Ali. Hazrat Hasan did not pursue the issue on the promise of Muawiyah that a Shurah will chose a Khalifa after his death. When Hazrat Hasan died in 669 AD Hazrat Hussain took up the cause of Khelafat though he did not press this issue while Muawiyah was alive.
Muawiyah died in 680 AD and named Yazid his son as his successor. Hazrat Hussain did not accept him as a Khalifa on the ground that he was corrupt and should not lead the Muslim Ummah. He led an insurrection and received support from the people of Kufa a city of present day Iraq. He left Madina for Makkah and then for Kufa. However, his people met the army of Yazid at Karbala a small town close to Kufa. The people of Kufa betrayed him and Hazrat Hussain his family members and some fighters numbering not more than seventy two were surrounded by the Yazid’s army of three thousand. Hazrat Hussain and his supporters fought bravely for ten days under the extreme condition and finally the tenth day of the month of Muharrum, 680 AD, he and his men were martyred. Yazid’s general 24 mistreated Hazrat Huassain’s body, amputated his head and sent it to Damascus, where it was displayed in Yazid’s palace. It was the same head which our beloved Prophet(pbuh) use to kiss out of affection. Some ladies and one of his sons who was sick at that time, escaped the massacre.
Yazid demanded allegiance from Hazrat Hussain, who could not accept this at any cost. Paying allegiance to Yazid was nothing short of acknowledging the devil as ruler. The people fearing death and destruction at the hands of the tyrant had yielded to him out of fear. Hazrat Hussain fought this war for a very high principle and gave away his life for the cause.
Ali Zayn al Abdeen Ali Zayn al-Abideen, was born in Medina in 658AD. His mother Shahr Banu,was the daughter of the last Sassanid emperor, Yazdegerd III. She is said to have died shortly after giving birth to her only son, Ali. He was about two years old when his grandfather, Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib, was martyred. Zayn al-Abideen fathered fifteen children, eleven boys and four girls. He dedicated his life to learning and became an authority on prophetic traditions and law. He was known mostly for his nobility of character and his piety, which earned him his title (Zayn al-Abideen) within his lifetime. It is said that he would pray one thousand units (rakaahs) of prayer in every twenty-four hour period. At the famous Battle of Karbala on the day of Ashurah, Hazrat Husain and most of his family were martyred. Zayn al-Abideen survived because he was too sick to fight, and was bedridden. Afterwards, he was taken prisoner by the Umayyad forces and transported to Damascus where he was made a prisoner of Yazid I. Eventually, he was freed, and returned to Medina where he generally lived a quiet life, engaging in teaching the tenets of Islam. Several accounts are related concerning
25 his grief over the tragedy of Karbala. It is said that for twenty years, whenever food was placed before him, he would weep. He was the object of great sympathy because of the massacre of his family and of veneration as the great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Zayn al-Abideen resided in Medina until his death in 714 AD Some claim that he was poisoned by the Caliph of the day, Waleed bin Abdul Malik Marwan. He was buried in Jannat al-Baqi, the cemetery in Medina where other important figures of Islamic history are buried. Imam Muhammad Al Baqir Muhammad al-Baqir was born in Medina in 676 AD. His father Ali Zayn al Abdin was the sole male survivor of Krbala. His mother’s name was Fatima who was the desendent of Hzrat Hasan ibn Ali.. He was the greatest scholar of his time, so much so that he was called with title Baqir al-Aloom, which means revealer or splitter of knowledge and wisdom due to his ample knowledge of religion and his enthusiasm to teach other people. Many historians assert that he split open a piece of knowledge, and examined the depths of it so that it can be spread to all people truly and correctly. Muhammad al-Baqir's knowledge allowed him to become a teacher, and he is well remembered for his knowledge in both religious and judicial matters. His son, Jafar al-Sadiq was a student of his, and no doubt he benefited greatly from his father's knowledge. Despite his aversion to politics, he was harassed continually by the Umayyad rulers. They were afraid of his popularity and the influence his scholarly works . In addition, the actions of his brother and other kinsmen made them distrustful of him. He died on January 31, 743 AD, possibly due to poisoning. He is buried in Medina, in the Jannat al-Baqi cemetery.
26
Imam Jafer As Sadiq Jafar as-Sadiq was born as Ja'far ibn Muhammad in Medina on April 20, 702 AD He was the son of Muhammad al-Baqir and the grandson of Ali Zayn Al Abdeen. His mother Farwah bint al-Qasim was the great granddaughter of Abu Bakr the first Kalefa of the early Islamic State. As a child, Jafar studied under his grandfather, Ali ibn Husayn. After his grandfather's death, he studied under and accompanied his father, Muhammad al-Baqir. He become well versed in Islamic knowledge including Hadith, Sunnah, and the Qur'an. In addition to his knowledge of Islamic laws he was well educated in natural sciences, mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, anatomy and chemistry (alchemy) etc. The foremost Islamic alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan (known in Europe as Geber) was his most prominent student. Other famous students of his were Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi and Malik Ibn Anas, the founders of the Sunni schools of jurisprudence, and Wasil ibn Ata, the founder of the Mutazilite school of Islamic thought. Jafar was known for his liberal views on learning, and was keen to debate with scholars of different faiths and of different beliefs. Abu Hanifa is quoted by many sources as having said "My knowledge extends to only two years. The two I spent with Jafar al-Sadiq". Some Islamic scholars have gone so far as to call Jafar as- Sadiq as the root of most of Islamic jurisprudence, having a massive influence on Hanafi, Maliki and Shia schools of thought extending well into mainstream Hanbali and Shafi'i schools.. Shortly after his father's death, Jafar's uncle, Zaid bin Ali led a rebellion against the Umayyads. Jafar did not participate, but many of his kinsmen, including his uncle were killed, and others were punished. Many other rebellions took place as the Umayyad dynasty
27 began to fall, eventually giving rise to the successful challenge of the Abbasid dynasty. Despite Jafar's abstention from politics, he was often harassed by the new Abbasid rulers and he was even imprisoned a few times. The reason for this persecution was his popularity, and his standing as a descendant of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The rulers feared that he could mobilize against them, and as such they thought it wise to keep him in check. He died on December 4, 765 AD, possibly from poisoning. He is buried in Medina, in the famous Jannat al-Baqi cemetery.
Imam Musa Al- Kazim Musa Al-Kazim was born at Abwa a place between Makkah and Madina in 128 AH ( 744 AD) He was the son of Hazrat Jafar as-Sadiq and Hamida Khatoon. Musa al-Kazim(r) passed twenty years of his sacred life under the gracious patronage of his father . His inherent genius and gifted virtues combined with the enlightened guidance and education from Hzrat Jafar as-Sadiq(r), was very obvious in his personality. Imam Musa al-Kazim(r) lived under the most crucial times in the regimes of the despotic `Abbasid kings who were marked for their tyrannical and cruel administration . He witnessed the reigns of Al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, Al-Mahdi and Harun Rashid. Al-Mansur and Harun Rashid were the despotic khalefas who put to death multitude of innocent descendants of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). After Al-Mansur, his son Al-Mahdi ascended on the throne. For a few years he remained indifferent towards Musa al-Kazim. In 781 AD he came to Medina and heard about the great reputation, which sparked the jealousy against him. He somehow 28 managed to take him to Baghdad and got him imprisoned there. But after a year he realized his mistake and released him from jail. Al-Mahdi was succeeded by Al-Hadi who lived only for a yaer . In 170 AH, the most cruel and tyrannical khalifa Harun Rashid appeared at the head of the Abbasid Empire. It was during his reign that Musa Al Kazim passed the greater part of his life in a miserable prison till he was poisoned. As regards his morality and ethical excellence , Ibn Hajar al-Haytami remarks The patience and forbearance of Imam Musa al-Kazim(r) was such that he was given the title of al-Kazim ( one who swallows down his anger ). He was the embodiment of virtue and generosity . He devoted his nights to the prayers of God and his days to fasting. He always forgave those who did wrong to him. Time and circumstances did not premit Imam Musa al- Kazim(r) to establish institutions to impart religious knowledge to his followers as his father, Imam Jafar as- Sadiq(r) and his grandfather , Imam Muhammad al- Baqir(r) had done. He was never allowed to address a congregation. He carried on his mission of preaching and guiding people quietly. He died at the age of fifty five in 183 HA (799AD) in the prison of Baghdad and he is buried there. A magnificent Shrine has been built at his grave.
Imam Ali al Reza Ali al-Reza was born at Madina in the year 766 AD to Musa al Kazim and Ummul Baneen Najma. He was born one month after the death of his grandfather, Jafar al-Sadiq. Like his father and grandfather, he received his education from his parent. His father died in 799, when Ali was 35, and he was given the responsibility of the Imamate. Ali Reza was
29 not looked upon favorably by Khalifa Harun Rashid, and the people of Medina were not allowed to visit him and learn from him. After the death of Harun Rashid, his two sons began fighting for control of the Abbasid empire. One son, Al-Amin, had an Arab mother and thus had the support of Arabs, while his half-brother Al-Ma'mun had a Persian mother and thus had the support of Persia. Al Ma'mun believed that Persia was sympathetic to the Hashemites and asked Ali Reza to meet him in Persia. Ali Reza left his only son, Muhammad al-Taqi and his wife, and set out for Persia. After defeating his brother, Al Ma'mun named Ali Reza his successor. He hoped to win Shia support through this move, but the passage of caliphate would only occur if Ali Reza outlived Al Ma'mun. Al Ma'mun even changed the black Abbasid flags to green, the traditional color of the house of Ali. Ali Reza would not outlive Al Ma'mun, and he died on May 26, 818 in Iran while accompanying Al Ma'mun at Tus. Some believe that he was poisoned by Al Ma'mun, but whether or not this is true is hard to determine. Ali Reza is buried in Mashhad, and the city grew up around his shrine. It is one of the most important shrines of Iran.
Imam Muhammed Taqi Muhammad al-Taqi was born in Medina to Ali Reza and a Nubian slave girl named Khaizuran in the year 811 AD. He was only nine year old when his father died, and as such, many people had the doubt on his ability to carry the Imamah. However, he held on to his position with the help of Al Ma'mun the Khalifa, whose patronage proved valuable to the young Imam. He brought him to live in Baghdad and eventually got married to his daughter, Umm al Fadl.
30
During his time in Baghdad, he was well known for possessing an amazing amount of knowledge, especially when considering his young age. After living in Baghdad for a few years, Muhammad al-Taqi returned to Medina. Here, he found his relationship with his wife strained, and after the death of his father- in-law he lost a big support. The successor to his father- in-law was Al Ma'mun's half brother, Al-Mu'tasim. With the new Abbasid ruler in power, Muhammad al- Taqi was no longer protected, and his relationship with the new ruler further deteriorated. Al Mu'tasm wanted Muhammad al-Taqi back to Baghdad where he hoped to give him the lavish lifestyle of the palace. Muhammad left his son Ali al- Naqi with his mother in Medina and set out for Baghdad. He lived there for one year, and died suddenly at a very young age of 24 in the year 835 AD most probably by poisoning. He is buried alongside his grandfather, Imam Musa al Kazim in Baghdad. Imam Ali Naqi Imam Ali un-Naqi also known as Hazrat Hadi was born in the year 212 AH (842 AD) in the vicinity of Madina, at a place known as Surya. His father is Imam Muhammad Taqi and his mother Samana was a lady with excellence, virtue and piety. He got the post of Imamate after the martyrdom of his father in the year 220 AH(850 AD) Although he was not more than 8 years of age, yet he was the focus of the attention of Shias and the Abbasade Khalipha. The Khalifa Mutawakkil brought the Imam from Madina to Samarra and he stayed there till the end of his life. He had a great love for the study of the holy Quran. Whenever he was free from the service of the people he would recite Quran. He treated people with a smiling and blooming face to help the afflicted ones. Imam Ali Naqi’s conduct and moral excellence were the same as those displayed by each and every member of this
31 sacred house. Whether in imprisonment, confinement or freedom, in every situation these sacred souls were engaged in worship and in helping the poor and the needy. Totally refraining from desire, greed and worldly ambitions, they lived with dignity in misfortune, dealt fairly even with their foes. After the death of Khalifa Mutawakkil the subsequent ruler did not treat him well and put him under house arrest. During imprisonment, the Imam had a grave dug up by the side of his prayer mat. Some visitors expressed concern or surprise. The Imam explained, “In order to remember my end I keep the grave before my eyes.” The Imam died in Samara in year 868 AD and is buried there. Imam Ali Naqi eldest son Hasan Askari became the Imam and his brother Syed Murtaza Jafer is our forefather. In one of the Shijrah of a famous Sufi named Syed Muhammad Allauddin Bukhari,who had a common ancestors as ours, I saw “Bukhari” added to the name of Syed Murtaza Jafer. It is just possible that he is the person who migrated to Bukhara from the Middle-east. The information about him is not available on internet or in any book I can find so this is the end of the information regarding our forefathers on my father’s side till the 19th generation.
32
CHAPTER FIVE
The Sufis Sufism After the Imams most of our forefathers were Sufis, so it will be appropriate to say a few words about it. Practitioners of Sufism, known as Sufis, engaged in the pursuit of a direct perception of spiritual truth of God, through mystic practices based on divine love and technical vocabulary that came directly from the Quran. 33
According to the history of Sufism as told by Sufi masters themselves, Sufism originates in the esoteric teaching of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) during his life time. Almost all traditional Sufi schools or orders trace their origins or "chains of transmission" back to Prophet Muhammad, either through his cousin and son- in-law Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra) or through Khalifa Abu Bakr (ra). From their point of view, since the esoteric teaching was only given to those of his immediate companions who had the capacity to contain the indirect experiences of God through the Prophet. The teaching then passed on from the teacher the Sufi (Descendents of Prophet) to the student through the centuries from the school called Khankah Madrasa complex. Tradition includes among these early Sufis a group known as Ahl as-Suffa ("People of the Shed") who lived lives of poverty and piety and wore simple woolen robs as token of their piety. Sufism differs from regular practice of Islam, in its esoteric rather than exoteric focus. Sufi thought emerged from the Middle East in the eighth century, but adherents are now found around the world. In particular, Indonesia, the most populous Islamic nation in the world. Islam was introduced to Indonesia through Sufism, and Sufi practices and beliefs are evident in mainstream religious life across the country. Sufism has produced a large body of poetry in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi and Sindhi which notably include the works of Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusro, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast. At a time when Iraq was the center of the Muslim Khelafat and an intellectual crucible of various influences, there were mystical circles in cities such as Basra and Baghdad, and Sufism appears in the historical record as a discipline and school bearing this name. The Sufis dispersed throughout the Middle East, particularly in the areas previously under Byzantine influence and control. This period was characterized by the practice of an 34 apprentice (murid) placing himself under the spiritual direction of a Master ( Pir), as exemplified in the original Prophetic model. Schools started to form around some famous masters, such as Junayd in Baghdad and Al-Tustari in Basra. These were developed in a very open and public way, and treatises were written concerning such topics as: mystical experience, education of the heart to rid itself of baser instincts, the love of God, and especially the approach towards God through a series of progressive stages (maqaam) and states (haal). These schools were formed by reformers in reaction to the disappearance of values and manners in the society of the time, which was marked by a material prosperity that was seen as eroding the spiritual life. Starting in the eleventh century a number of pan- Islamic Sufi named the Sufi order after their name, for example, Qadiriya named after Abdul Qadir Jilani, Shrawardiyya named after Abu Hafz Suhrawardi, Naqshbandiyya named after Bahauddin Naqshbbndi, and Chishtiyya named after Khwaja Muinuddin Hasan Chishti and so on.
Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jelani was a noted Hanbali preacher, and founder of the Qadiriya Sufi order. He was born in 470 A.H or 1077 AD in the Persian province of Jelan (Iran) south of the Caspian sea. His contribution to the sciences of Sufism and Sharia was so immense, that he became known as the spiritual pole of his time, Gauth al Azam "Supreme Helper". His writings were similar to those of al-Ghazali in that they dealt with both the fundamentals of Islam and the mystical experience of Sufism. Abdul Qadir Jelani was a Sufi master and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). His father Syed Abu Saleh was a God-fearing man.
35
At the age of 18 he went to Baghdad where he pursued the study of Hanbalite law under several teachers. His mother sewed 40 gold coins in his quilt for his use. The dacoits struck the caravan on the way, and looted all the travelers of their belongings. They asked him what he had. He replied that he had 40 gold coins. The dacoits took his reply for a joke and took him to their chief, who asked him the same question and his answer was the same. On demand he produced those coins by tearing his coat. The chief was surprised and asked him why he had given the hidden gold coins when he could have kept them hidden. Young Abdul Qadir Jelani replied that he was traveling to Baghdad to receive education and his mother had instructed him to speak the truth. The chief was impressed so much at the honesty of the young man that he gave up the bad profession of looting and plundering. After completion of education, Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jelani abandoned the city of Baghdad, and spent twenty-five years as a wanderer in the desert regions of Iraq. He was over fifty years old by the time he returned to Baghdad, and began to preach in public. He very much impressed his audience by his learned speech, and every section of the society took advantage of his sermon. He moved into the school belonging to his old teacher al-Mukharrimii, there he engaged himself in teaching. Soon he became popular with his pupils. The number of students increased so much, that he decided to extend the premises of the seminary. The students and the public willingly came forward with their contributions and the campus buildings were completed in no time, which came to be known as Madars-e- Qadriya. He served the people for forty years, and convinced thousands of people to accept Islam. During this period he organized several teams to go abroad to preach the deen of Islam . He came to Indian sub-continent in 1128 A.D and spend some time at Uch Sharif, Multan, Pakistan and established a Khanqah of Qadriya order. 36
This is the reason a portion of Uch Sharif is known as Uch Jilai. He went back to Baghdad and died in 561 A.H. (1166 A.D.) at the age of 91 years, and is buried there. Some of his descendants migrated to India and established themselves at Kachucha Sharif Utter Pradesh, from there, Makhdoom Syed Shah Mubarak Ashraf came to settle at Sheikhpura District Jehanabad. My maternal grandfather (Nana) is one of his descendent. Some of Abdul Qadirs major literary works include; Al-Ghunya li-talibi tariq al-haqq (Sufficient Provision for Seekers of the Path of Truth), Al-Fath ar-Rabbani (The Sublime Revelation), Malfuzat (Utterances), Futuh al-Ghaib (Revelations of the Unseen), and Jala' al-Khatir (The Removal of Care)
CHAPTER SIX
Darul Aman
Baghdad
The city of Baghdad was founded in 762 AD by Abu Jafar Al Mansur, the second Abbasid Kalifa. It was originally built on the west bank of the Tigris river. The original name of Baghdad was Madinal as Salam (City of Peace) . The city expanded very rapidly and the Khalifa built magnificent Masjid and palaces at the center of the city. The city was surrounded by a circular 37 wall, but the rapid growth of the population expanded the city beyond the original wall. The city spread across the river so its two half were joined by a bridge of boats
During the eighth and ninth century Baghdad was at the height of its commercial prosperity. During the rule Khalifa Mahdi and Harun it became the center many important trade routes between the east and the west. Its many impressive building and magnificent gardens gave it the reputation of the richest and the most beautiful city in the world. During this period it also became the center of learning. Scholars around the world used to flock there to receive higher education in philosophy and science while Europe was in dark age.
In the later half of the ninth century the Abbasids power was weakened due to internal strife leading to civil war, which resulted in some decline of the city. The grand son of Changese Khan, Halako Khan invaded Baghdad in 1258 AD and turned the city in to complete ruin. As usual they committed genocide , killed the ruling Khalifa, destroyed the famous library and the irrigation system. Baghdad never recovered from this carnage and vandalism.
Baghdad is the city where two of our famous ancestors Imam Musa Al Kazim and Imam Muhammad Taqi are buried. A beautiful shrine has been built at the sight of their grave. Millions of people visit every year to pay respect to these great men.
Mashhad
The capital of Khorasan province in northeast Iran and the second largest city in the country, Mashhad is best known for its beautiful pilgrimage shrine of Imam Reza. The shrine was built on the site of the village of Sanabad, where Imam Reza died in 818 AD. Imam Reza, the eighth Imam, was born in Medina At the age of 51 he was surprisingly appointed by the Abbasid 38
Caliph Mamun (a Sunni Muslim) to become his successor as the next caliph. Mamun summoned Imam Reza to Sanabad, publicly proclaimed him his successor, and gave him his daughter in marriage. Mamun's actions, while welcomed by members of the Shi'ite sect, deeply disturbed the rival Sunnis, with the result that several violent uprisings ensued. After staying for a while in Sanabad, Caliph Mamun and Imam Reza departed for Baghdad (to retake the city from political rivals) but during the journey Reza fell ill rapidly and died. The suddenness of the Imam's death aroused suspicions among Shi'ite believers who believed Mamun had poisoned him in order to quell the political unrest resulting from a Shi'ite Imam being proclaimed Khalifa-to-be of the vastly more numerous Sunni believers. The Khalifa, however, showed sings of deep mourning and built a mausoleum over the Imam's grave in 818 AD, adjacent to his own father's tomb. The tomb of the Imam became a holy place of pilgrimage to which people thronged from all over Persia. The original mausoleum over Imam Reza's tomb was destroyed by Sabuktagin, the Ghaznevid sultan in 993 AD but was rebuilt and extensively enlarged by his son Mahmud of Ghazni in 1009 AD. During this time the shrine was ornamented with tiles, some of which are still visible in the innermost dome chamber. In 1220 AD, the Mongols plundered the city and shrine. A century later the Mongol ruler of Iran, Sultan Muhammad Khudabandeh converted to Shi'ism, and during his reign (1304-1316 AD) again renovated the shrine on a grand scale. The celebrated Moorish traveler Ibn Battuta visited Mashhad in 1333 and reported that it was "a large town with abundant fruit trees, streams and mills. A great dome of elegant construction surmounts the noble mausoleum, the walls being decorated with colored tiles. It is estimated that 20 million pilgrims visit the tomb of Imam Reza each year 39
Samara Samara is located about sixty miles north of Baghdad and is one of the four holy cities of Iraq. It was built by Kalifa Al- Mutasim in 836 AD to replace Baghdad as the capital of the Abbasid Khelafat, and abandoned by Khalifa Al-Mu'tamid in 892 AD. Despite the short sojourn of the Abbasid Khalifa in Samara, the city's artistic, literary, and scientific splendors have remained a legend in Arab history. A dominating, magnificent structure that was once the largest mosque in the Islamic world built by Khalifa Al-Mutawakkil in 852 AD using bricks and clay. The Mosque's minaret is famous for its spiral structure. This is the city where our ancestor Imam Ali Naqi Al Hadi who died in 668 AD is buried. His son Imam Hasssan Al Askari is also buried here and the beautiful Al Askareyya Shrine houses the grave of both Imams.
40
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Bukharis
Syed Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari Syed Jalaludin was born at Bukhara on the first of Ramazan, 595 HA or 1199 AD. He is also known as Syed Jalal or Sher Shah Sayyid Jalal. His history and genealogical records are written in books like, Mazher-i-Jalali, the Akber-ul-Akhyar, the Rauzat-ul-
41
Ahbab, Maraij-ul-Walayat, Manaqabi Qutbi, the Siyar- ul-Aqtar, the Siyar-ul-Arifeen, the Manaqib-ul-Asifya etc. These books only exist in manuscript. He married Fatima, the daughter of Sayyid Qasim Hussein Bukhari. He had two sons from her Syed Ali and Syed Jaffar, whose tombs are at Bukhara. In 642 AH or 1245 AD Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari came to Uch Shareef from Bukhara when Nassir-u-Din Mahmud, son's of Shams-u-Din Altamash, was ruler of Delhi. The name of Uch Shareef was Deogarh at that time after Raja Deo Singh the ruler of that area. In Uch Shareef he married Zohra, the daughter of Syed Badur-u-Din Bukhari, She died after giving birth to Syed Mohammad Ghaus. He again married the second daughter of Syed Badur-u-Din, who give birth to Syed Ahmed Kabir, the father of Makhdoom Jahania Jhangusht. He attracted the attention of local population and huge number of people embraced Islam because of him. He became the famous Sufi of that area and the ruling king of Delhi used to visit him in Uch Shareef. He was associated with the famous sufi Bahauddin Zakarya of the Suhrawardi order. The Jalali section of the Suharwadi order is named after him. Some of his descendents became very famous sufis and poets there which include Syed Bulleh Shah. Syed Shah Jalaluddin died in 690 AH or 1291 AD, and was buried at Sonak Bela three miles from Uch Shareef. His descendants removed his remains to Uch Shareef and buried him near the Shrine of Hazrat Sadaruddin Rajin Qattal because the river Ghaghra was reaching quite close to his grave. Nawab Muhammad Bahawal Khan III made some additions to his shrine.
Syed Makhdom Jalaluddin Jahania Jhangusht Syed Makhdom Jehania Jhangusht was born in Uch Shareef in the year 706 AH or 1303 AD. His real name was Syed Jalaluddin, but he became famous by the 42 name of Makhdom Jehania Jahangusht. His father’s name was Syed Ahmad Kabir who was the son Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari the famous Sufi. He was a well traveled man and after traveling to Makkah, Madina, Syria, Egypt and Khurasan he settled down at Uch Shareef. Because of his travel, he earned the title of Jehania Jhangusht. Like his grand father he was also an influential and famous man of his area. He spent some time in the service of Hazrat Nazeeruddin Dehlvi. He died in 1384 AD at Uch Shareef and is buried there. This concludes the information available about our fore fathers out side the state of Bihar. Makhdom Jehania Jhangusht was the 20th generation descendents of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).
CHAPTER EIGHT Khorasan
Bukhara
Bukhara is one of the most ancient cities of Uzbekistan, situated on a hill at the lower reaches of the river Zarafshan. During the middle ages, it was the trading and administrative center of the ancient silk route which linked India and China to the middle east. Throughout history Bukhara was periodically invaded, plundered and terrorized. Despite this it became the primary
43 center of science, philosophy and Islamic learning. It produced great Islamic philosophers like Ismail Bukhari, Abu Hanifa and Bahauddin Nakshbandi and many other creative minds.
The Muslim invasion of Bukhara took place during the Umayed dynasty in 674 AD and by the year 712 AD the whole area broadly known as Khorasan was in full control of Arab Khelafat. During the Muslim rule Bukhara became the center of Islamic learning and flourished economically. This is the time our forefather came to this area from middle east.
In 1220 AD Chengaze Khan sacked Bukhara and captured the city. Consistent with Mongolian tradition all citizen were forced to leave the city and Bukhara underwent cruel plunder and systematic destruction. Imam, Noble men and Ulema were forced to work in the stable of Chengeze Khan. Libraries were burnt, Masjids and public buildings were razed to the ground. The destruction of Bukhara was so complete that according to one historian it looked as if the city never existed before. As a result of genocidal and barbaric act which the city had never seen before, the population decreased, the social structure and the economy collapsed completely. It looks as if under this background our fore father Syed Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari left the area and migrated to Multan in the year 1241 AD at age of thirty one. Bukhara is city where quite a few of our ancestors are buried but I do not know them, also I can not tell with certainty when and which of our ancestors in my family tree migrated to Bukhara from Arabia.
Uch Sharif
Uch Sharif is a small town about fourty mile from Bahawalpur in the state of Punjab, Pakistan. It is a beautiful town perched upon the plateau near the 44 confluence of the Chenab and Ravi rivers. This town is famous for beautiful shrines which include the shrine of our ancestors Syed Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari and Makhdoom Jahania Jahangasht. The town is divided in three quarters, known as Uch Bukhari after Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari, Uch Jilani after Shaikh Mohammad Ghous Qadir Jilani and Uch Mughal after the Mughal rulers..
The historian say that Alexander the great came to Uch after conquering northern India and spent a fortnight in the town and named it Alexandria but the new name did not last.
This is the town where our forefather Syed Jalauddin Bukhari came to from Bukhara and settled . He spent rest of his life in this area and preached the deen of Islam to local people. His grandson Makhdoom Jahania Jahangasht also lived in this area and both are buried here. It is important to note here that Shaikh Mohammad Ghous Qadir Jilani the famous Sufi was the ancestor of my maternal grandfather (Nana) Syed Sharafat Karim who came to Uch Sharif and established a Khankah and went back to Baghdad.
Multan Multan is a city in Pakistan and capital of Multan District in the Punjab Province. It is located in the southern part of the province, and is a very historic city. Multan is an extremely old city, which has seen a lot of warfare, because of its location on a major invasion route of India from Central Asia. In the mid 5th century, the city was attacked by a group of nomads led by Torman. These nomads were successful in taking the city, but did not stay, and the long-standing Hindu rule over the city was reestablished. In the 7th century, Multan had its first experience with Muslim armies. Armies led by Muhalib launched 45 numerous raids from Persia into India. However, they did not come to conquer, and seemed only to be exploring the area. However, only a few decades later, Muhammad bin Qasim would come on behalf of the Arabs, and take Multan along with Sindh. The city at that time was known as the "city of gold" and numerous historians have written about an extremely large Hindu temple that housed over 6,000 people within it, known as the Sun Mandir. Following bin Qasim's conquest, the city was secured under Muslim rule, although it was in effect an independent state. With the turn of the millennium, the city was attacked twice by Mahmud of Ghazni who destroyed the Sun Mandir, but he did not stay. After Muhammad Ghuri's victories in India, and his establishment of a capital in Delhi, Multan was made a part of his empire. Under the Mughal Empire, Multan enjoyed over 200 years of peace, and became known as Dar al-Aman (Abode of Peace). It was at this time that Multan was ruled by Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani. As governor of Multan, he built the famous Mosque Wali Mohammad Khan in 1757 which remains to this day. Many buildings were constructed during this time, and agricultural production grew rapidly. The decline of the Mughal Empire was not as devastating for Multan as it was for other cities. The city escaped the destruction brought upon India by the armies of Nadir Shah, but it was ruled from Kabul by numerous Afghan dynasties for a while. In the 19th century, the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh conquered Multan. Sikh rule would not last long, as the British were eventually provoked into checking the Sikh strength in Punjab. After a long and bloody battle, Multan was made part of the British Raj. The British built some railways to the city, but its industrial capacity was never developed. The area around the city is a flat plain and is ideal for agriculture. There are many canals that cut across the Multan district that
46 provide water from nearby rivers. It is extremely hot in the summer. Our forefather Syed Shah Minhajuddin alias Shah Manjhan was born in Multan and migrated from there to Miran Bigha, Bihar in 1527AD. I am sure his father and grand father are buried there.
CHAPTER NINE
The Biharis
Syed Shah Minhajuddin Makhdum Syed Shah Minhajuddin alias Manjhan Shah was born at Uch Shareef Multan. He is also known as Makhdum Manjhan Qattal Bukhari Suharverdi. He 47 migrated to Miran Bigha from Multan during the reign of King Babur sometime in 1527 AD at a young age. He was also a Sufi like his forefathers and established a Khanqah of Chishtia Suharwerdi order. The name of the village in Uch Shareef Multan where he came from was Taslimpur Hujra, so when he migrated to Bihar he named the new place Saleempur Hujra which later on became Miranbigha. It is said that he instructed his descendents not to build the roof of the made of brick and mortar, and according to his wish no house in Miranbigha has been built that way. Most probably he might have experienced the earthquake and the death it causes due to heavy roof. There are some legends about him that he used to go Shaikhpura Pinjora which is about three miles from Miranbigha to meet another Sufi Makhdum Syed Shah Mubarak and cross the river Jamna without getting wet even in the rainy season. This might not be true but this much is certain that he must have reverence for Makhdum Syed Shah Mubarak who happened to be the forefather of my meternal grand father (Nana) Syed Sharafat Karim of Shaikhpura Pinjora. It is said that he was man of very strong character and did everything for the sake of God. His presence in that area convinced many non-Muslims to accept Islam. He died in Miranbigha and his grave can be found in an open field of the grave yard of the village. Every year people of all faith commemorate the anniversary of his death and pay homage to this noble man by placing a cover (Chader) on his grave. After his death his son Syed Hafiz Maqbul became the Sajjadah of the Khankah and he continued the tradition of his father. He is also buried by the side of his father.
Syed Azhar Husain
48
My grand father Syed Azhar Husain was born in the village of Miranbigha sometime in 1868. He got married to Bibi Aliman Khatoon in 1890. After his marriage he moved to Shahobigha. He received his formal education at home, which was the tradition in those days. He was not a rich man but when his nephews asked him to give his share of the property at Miranbigha, he gladly gave it to them. He thought that his sons were all educated, so they did not need his property. This shows how generous and simple a man he was. He lived for a while in Patna, but he moved back to Shahobigha. He died sometime in the year 1927 AD and is buried there at Shahobigha, in Jehanabad district of Bihar
Bibi Aliman Khatoon
Bibi Aliman Khatoon my grand mother was born in Shahobigha. She was a lady of vision, she knew the value and importance of education. She left the village and rented a house in Patna so that my father and his two brothers could receive proper education. It was her vision that my father finished the M.A and Law degree, and my uncle finished his Ph.D from London. I respect her from the core of my heart. She died in 1924 and is buried at Shahobigha.
Syed Sharaft Karim
My maternal grand father (Nana) was born in Sheikhpura a village about three miles from Miranbigha. He got his education in the city of Patna and earned a degree in the field of Medicine. He moved from place to place to pursue his carrier in his field.
He married Quraisha khatoon my maternal grand mother (Nani) some time in the year 1903. She died at a very early age when my mother was just an infant and 49 her elder sister was about two years old. He married again after a while with Raufa khatoon. My grand father brought back his two daughters from Arwal including my mother when they were eight to ten years old. He had no issue with the second marriage. My grand mother Raufa Khatoon had a long life and she died in 1984 at Karachi Pakistan. After his retirement my Nana went to Makkah for Haj and after coming back from Haj, he settled at Sheikhpura. He did not survive long and died some time in 1929, he is buried here at Sheikhpura, Pinjora district Jehanabad.
Syed Abdul Aziz
My father Syed Abdul Aziz was born in Shahobigha in the year 1900. After completing his high school in Patna he went to Calcutta and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calcutta. He finished his Master of Arts and Law degree from Patna University. He married Bibi Rakeya Khatoon my mother in the year 1926 and started his Law practice in the city of Gaya. Apparently he did not like it, so he found a job at Patna High Court and moved to the city of Patna. He worked at Patna High Court in several capacities and eventually retired from there in 1960. After his retirement he started the Law practice at Patna High court.
Like my grand father he was also very simple, honest, religious man. He strongly believed in maintaining the purity of the family, in other words he would not approve the marriage of his children except in the Syed family. I use to argue with him all the time on this subject and to some extent he was convinced that it is not a good practice . I would not blame him for his conservative views because he inherited this from his forefathers. He liked sports and hunting very much. Every winter we used to hunt together in the river
50
Ganges. He also liked flower and vegetable gardening, I learned gardening from him at an early age.
In the summer 1973 my wife came here to join me. My parent also came with her up to England. They followed her and came here in fall and spent two months with me here in US and with my sister in Toronto, Canada. Though my father was not feeling well, he still insisted to make a trip to Makkah for Haj. We all respected his wish and according to plan he left Toronto for Cardiff, England and then to Makkah. By the grace of God he performed the Haj successfully. One night he fell down in the bathroom and broke his hip bone. He got admitted to the hospital in Makkah but survived only five to six days and left this world in the year 1974(AD) at the age of seventy four before any of us could reach there. My mother with the help of my wife’s grand father (Nana) Syed Muhammad managed to perform the last rites. In a sense I was glad that he could fulfill his last and important wish and returned to the place from where our forefathers started their journey. He will always be remembered for his honesty, sincerity and simplicity.
Bibi Rakeya Khatoon
My mother Bibi Rakeya Khatoon was born at Arwal. Her mother died when she was just an infant, so her grand mother raised her till she was eight years old and then she moved to live with her father. She received the formal education of Arabic and Urdu at home which was the usual practice in those days. She got married to my father sometime in 1926 and moved to Shahobigha. She moved to Shaikhpura for a while to live with her only sister while my father was trying to establish himself in the city of Gaya for the practice of law.
My mother and her sister were close to each other as she was the only close relative she had besides her father. Sometime in 1932 her sister came down with a 51 deadly infection of Cholera and she passed away in matter of hours. This loss was the biggest shock of her life which took many years to recover. My mother and her sister both had infant daughter at the time of her death so my mother had to take care of both of them. After sometime when my mother moved to Patna, my Grand mother took the responsibility of taking care of my Aunt’s daughter. Though my mother did not adopted her sister’s daughter, she treated her like her own daughter.
After the death of my father in 1974 my mother went back to Patna and lived there till 1982. I visited her several times while she was there. She came here in 1982 and staying about a year went to Patna and finally came back to USA in 1984 to live here on permanent basis. We were fortunate to live with her all these years till the fall of 2001 when she passed away very peacefully on November 19th 2001. She is buried here in Canton, Michigan.
My mother was a lady of very strong character with open mind. She never hesitated to speak out the truth under any circumstances. She had a very good management skill both in dealing with people and money. She had a magnanimous heart and ready to help any body in need. She used to spend all the money she received from Social Security on charity. She always invited the relatives both from my father side and mother side to came and live in Patna with us and received proper education and many of them took advantage of her generosity. She had keen interest in politics. I remember one day when I informed her that President Clinton needs money to defend himself from the right winger politicians, she at once told me without hesitation to send $100 on her behalf.
She was a very hard working skilful lady both in the art of cooking and otherwise. She had a special technique to cook the game birds, the rare taste is still fresh in my 52 memory. I will never forget her sincerity, love and devotion for all of us. She will stay in my heart as long as I live.
My Close relatives
Syed Abdul Hafeez
Syed Abdul Hafeez was my father’s elder brother. He was born at Shahobigha in the year 1895. After finishing his education he entered into a Government service and retired in 1946. In the same year Bihar was engulfed in Hindu Muslim riot, so he left his village of Shahobigha and came to live with us in Patna. In 1947 his only daughter Saleha Khatoon had to go through C section to deliver the baby. The baby survived but she died of infection. I was nine years old at that time but I remember vividly every thing. This tragedy was extremely hard for my uncle to bear and, he could not survive too long after this and died of heart attack in 1951. He is buried in a graveyard in the city of Patna.
Dr Syed Abdul Majid
Syed Abdul Majid was the younger brother of my father. After the death of my uncle Syed Abdul Hafiz he was the only close relative I had. He was born in 1905 at Shahobigha. He received his education at Patna and Aligarh and after finishing his MA degree in he joined Patna University as a lecturer in Geography. In 1946 he went to England and earned Ph.D in Geography from University of London. He returned to Patna and resumed his teaching carrier till he retired in 1960.
After his retirement he joined College of Commerce Patna, as a Principal. Here he worked very hard and transformed a small college into a big institution offering Bachelor of Arts, Science, Commerce and Law degrees. He worked there for about eight years. I 53 was lucky enough to work there with him as a lecturer in Chemistry. In 1968 he came to USA as a visiting Professor at the University of Kentucky and worked there for two years and returned to Patna in summer of 1970.
He started writing poetry in 1964 to reliev himself from the pressure of work which he had given up to pursue his carrier. In a matter of one year he completed his first Masnavi (narrative poem) called Heyatokaenat ( Evolution of Universe). I consider this work as unique in Urdu poetry because for the first time a scientific fact was written in poetry. After returning to Patna from USA he had plenty of time and so he devoted his time to writing poetry and published a couple of books. He died in 1983 and is buried at Shahganj graveyard in Patna.
My uncle was not a religious man but was very honest, sincere and courageous. He did not care what people thought, he always did the right thing. I have great respect for his honesty, integrity and sincerity.
CHAPTER TEN
End of journey in the old world
54
Bihar
Bihar is mainly a vast stretch of very fertile flat land. Several big rivers pass through the state like Ganga, Sone and Gandak, to name a few. Central parts of Bihar has some small hills. The Himalayan mountains are to the north in Nepal. To the south is the Chota Nagpur plateau which was part of Bihar till 2000, but is now part of a separate state called Jharkhand. Bihar has a very rich history. It was called Magadha in ancient days. Its capital Patna, known as Pataliputra during the old days, was the center of the Mauryan empire, which dominated the Indian subcontinent between 325 BC-185 BC. Emperor Ashoka was the most famous ruler of this dynasty. Bihar remained an important place of power, culture and education during the next one thousand years. Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities were the world class learning centers at one time. Bihar is also the birthplace of many religions, including Buddhism and Jainism. Buddha attained the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, a town located in the modern day district of Gaya. Buddha started spreading his teaching after attaining the Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, was born in Vaishali Bihar. When we speak of Bihar it conjures up memories of ancient India when Buddhism was evolving into what is now a universal religion. With the advent of the foreign invasion and eventual subjugation of India, the position of Bihar was also adversely affected. Muhammad Bin Bakhtiar Khilji, a General of Muhammad Ghori captured Bihar in 12th century. In between, Bihar saw a brief period of glory for six years during the rule of Sher Shah Suri, who was from Sasaram Bihar and built the longest road of the Indian subcontinent, the Grand Trunk Road, which starts from Calcutta and ends at Peshawar, Pakistan. Akbar, the Mughal emperor, annexed Bihar and Bengal to his empire and made Bihar a part of Bengal. With the
55 decline of Mughals, Bihar passed under the control of the Nawabs of Bengal and finally it became a part of British India. Islam was introduced in Bihar by Imam Mohammed Taj Zubairy in 1178 AD. After that many learned Sufis migrated to Bihar and established the Khanqah. Phulwari Shareef, Bihar Shareef and Maner Sharif became the learning center of Islam. Of all the places Bihar is the one where my forefathers lived the longest, which is about 450 years. I am the 15th generation from Syed Shah Minhajuddin who migrated from Multan to Bihar. Miran Bigha The original name of Miran Bigha was Saleempur Hujra which later on became Miran Bigha. It is a small village situated thirty five miles south from the city of Patna the capital of Bihar on Patna Gaya railway line. The nearest railway station is Tehta which is about a mile from the village. This is the place our forefather Syed Shah Minhajuddin alias Shah Manjhan came form Multan to settle here sometime in 1527 AD where the Moghal king Babur allotted him some real state. There are many villages in this area where the learned Sufis came from west and established the Khanqah. Our forefather Syed Shah Minhajuddin also established a Khanqah which lasted for a few generations. Things have not changed much here for the last four hundred years since our forefathers came to settle here except the railway line built by the British Raj in eighteenth century. This area is a part of fertile Gangetic plane so the main subsistence is agriculture, producing rice, wheat, lintels and fruits especially mango. It is amazing that twelve generation of our forefather lived in the same village till my Grand father Syed Azhar Hussain moved to Shahobigha the village of my grand mother some time in 1890 AD. He gave his share 56 of property to his nephew, so this was the reason my father lost the connection with this village, though we use to visit this village once in a while to see our relatives specially Sultan Chacha. Syed Shah Minhajuddin alias Shah Manjhan is buried here and his marked grave can still be seen in the village graveyard. Everyone in the village claims to be his descendent. Shahobigha Shahobigha is a midsize village about ten miles east of Jahanabad which happens to be the nearest railway station. A small river named Phalgun flows about half a mile from the village. This is the village where my grandmother, my father and my uncles were born and brought up. My grandfather also moved to this place after his marriage sometime in 1890. In 1946 Hindu Muslim riot broke out in Bihar which engulfed the whole area around Shahobigha and other places. Our village was not attacked directly but a lot of Muslim villages in that area became victims of death and destruction. After the riot the people of the village felt unsafe , so they deserted the village and moved to safer place in different cities. A good number of people migrated to Karachi Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. Shahobigha became history for us, a village so dear to my father and uncle. One of my father’s maternal uncle (Mamu) moved with us in Patna and he died two years after leaving the village. The other uncle went to Calcutta to live with his daughter and he met the same fate in a matter of one year. My father’s elder sister and her widowed daughter migrated to Karachi Pakistan with her son and they survived for a while but paid a terrible price, a life of an unfamiliar and inhospitable place. This is the story of many Muslim families of Bihar. I was seven to eight year old at the time when the village was abandoned, but the sweet memory of my 57 visit to the village once a year is still fresh in my mind after elapse of sixty years. It was the tradition of the village that every body used to go back to the village in the month of Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Husain. Ten to fifteen days before the commemoration (Ashura) the village people used to build Tazia* and Sipper* for the tenth of Muharram procession. Every day in the evening the male members of the village would gather near the Imambara* to practice the art of using the sword and other weapons specially Lathi*. Some people use to be very skilled in the use of those weapons and Muharram was the time to display their skill in public. A little late in the evening both young and old people of the village used to sit-down under the banyan tree and recite Mersia* for two to three hours, after that we used to do Matam by beating our chests . I guess the people of this village had some influence of Shiaizm . The day of Ashura the tenth day of Muharram used to be the most exciting day. The people would assemble at the Imambara in the morning with all the decorated Tazia, Sippers and all sorts of weapons. Then people would start the march at the beat of the drum and go from village to village displaying their skill and mastery of each weapon. In those days Muharram used to fall in winter so the only memory of Shahobigha I have is associated with winter and Muharram. My father and my uncle both were avid hunters and winter was a good time to do that. I was too young to accompany them for hunting blue bulls which were numerous in that area, but I do remember the year my father brought back this big game which brought festivity for the whole village. Bird hunting was also very good in that area specially green pigeons which used to flock on big banyan tree in huge numbers and it was easy to drop a dozen of such birds in a couple of shots.
58
Shahobigha was known for its literary activity. Fazle Haq Azad was one of the famous Urdu poets and writer of Bihar who was born and brought up here. My uncle Syed Abdul Majid “Shams” who was also a good Urdu poet of Bihar was his disciple. My last visit to Shahobigha when the village was intact, hustling and bustling with life was in the year 1945. Since then I visited the village once in 1964. Me, my elder brother and my friend Mr. Omair walked a distance of about eight miles from Sheikhpura to Shahobigha hunting along the way. It was a remarkable and shocking visit. Except a few house most of the houses were at different stages of ruins. My father’s Mamus house was completely on the ground, our own house which my father was building had turned in to a ruin and my uncle’s house was barely standing. It was sorry sight to see the destruction of the village which in my childhood memory was so full of life. Arwal Arwal is midsize village situated on the bank of river Sone. The nearest railway station Jehanabad is twenty miles away. The canal built during the British Raj passes through the village which assures the production of crops by providing reliable source of water. This is the reason this area is very good for producing different varieties of rice and other crops. Arwal is situated on the bank river Sone which is a very wide river but remains dry most of the year, except the rainy season when it carries huge amount of water to the river Ganges. During the spring and early summer time when the river bed is dry the framers produce excellent varities of water melons and long cucumbers called Kackri. It sweet taste and crunch is still fresh in my memory. This is the village where my mother Rakeya Khatoon and my Grand mother (Nani) Quraisha Khatoon was born and brought up. My grand mother died here of
59
Bubonic Plague at a very young age when my mother was just an infant. So my grand father (Nana) left my mother and elder sister with my great grand mother. My mother grew up here with her grand mother up to age of eight or ten, then she moved to her father and step mother. This was the reason my mother was very much attached to this place. We used to visit this place very often. I remember when I was very young, I was visiting this place with my mother and younger sister whose name was Sabiha, she fell ill and died in a very short time. I use to play and fight with her all the time like any other kid. Her loss was associated in my memory for a long time with this village. I was not lucky enough to see any of my grand fathers or grand mothers. My father’s Mamu who used to treat us so affectionately whenever we visited Shahobigha, passed away soon after they left the village in 1946. So the only place to look for a grand fatherly figure was Arwal, where my mother’s two maternal uncles (Mamu) were permanently residing. I visited Arwal at every stage of my life and they always treated us with love and affection. My mother’s maternal uncle Syed Shah Muhammad Umair launched the India’s independent movement from here. His elder brother Syed Shah Muhammad Zubair (Bar at Law) who was born here at Arwal was one of the famous leader of independent movement of India. He died at an early age in the year 1930. My mother’s third Mamu Syed Shah Humair, was born here but he lived all his life outside this village to pursue his carrier. My mother’s youngest Mamu Syed Shah Zuhair lived all his life at Arwal and pursued a political carrier in this area. He was elected several times as Member of Legislative Assembly of Bihar. The person who came to Arwal some time in 14th century was Syed Shah Khalil-Uddin Ahmad a 19th generation decedent. He established a Khankah (an institution of learning and preaching Islam ) here. He is buried in Arwal close to the river Sone. All of his 60 decedents are also buried there including the two uncles (Mamu) of my mother Syed Shah Umair and Syed Shah Zuhair.
Sheikhpura Sheikhpura is a tiny village thirty two miles south of the city of Patna the capital of the state of Bihar. A midsize city Jehanabad is four miles away which happen to be the nearest railway station. A small river Jamuna snakes through the village which is a good source of irrigation and fish all year round. Pinjora a midsize village which has mixed population of both Hindus and Muslims is just half a mile away. This village has a post office, some sort of medical facility and some shopping area. A wealthy landlord Mr.Mahbob Alam used to live in this village. During the Hindu Muslim riot which preceded the partition of India his family moved to Pakistan and his palace like house became Government property. My maternal grandfather (Nana) Syed Sharafat Karim was born and brought up here in Sheikhpura, though he spent most of his adult life outside this village to peruse his medical carrier. He build a big house and planted a mango orchard of rare and finest variety. After his retirement he came back to his village and died sometime in 1928. There is a Dargah which has the grave of Makhdum Syed Shah Mubarak Ashrafi and every year people of all faiths commemorate his death by placing a cover on his grave. My maternal grandfather (Nana) and other Syed families of the village claim to be his decedents. We used to visit this village every year during the summer vacation, in the months of June and July and a short visit in December during Christmas time. Both summer and winter had its own charm. Summer is very hot specially up to second week of June. By the middle June most of the mangoes used to get ready for picking 61 and by that time the monsoon would break with a big thunder declaring the beginning of the rainy season. The first rain of the season had a magical effect on every thing specially on mango by increasing its flavor and taste. Enjoying these rare varieties of mango was out of this world, the sweet memory will stay fresh for ever in my mind. Summer was not a good time for hunting, except for the hunting of a especial kind of fish weighing ten to fifteen pounds with a shot gun. This was possible because on hot summer days these fish would come on the surface to breath air because of the lower level dissolved oxygen in the warm water. It was really a fun to shoot the fish with shot gun. In a good season it was easy to get a dozen of such fish in a month. During the first two weeks of June we used to spend much of the day time inside hall of the outer house, playing chess, ludo or reading books. By four in the evening the grip of heat would come down to allow us to move around. Taking advantage of this we would go to the mango orchard to take cold shower under the shade of the mango tree. Though the days were very hot the evenings were relatively pleasant. We spent early part of the night in an open air and my father used to talk to village folks on just about any subject. By the third week of June when the huge Biju mango tree was full of ripe fruits the thunder storm would bring them down by the thousands. We used to pick them up and put in a bucket of cold water and eat to our heart’s content. These Biju mangoes are small but tasty and easy on stomach. By the first week of July all the mangoes are picked from the trees and now it was the time for us to leave the village and head for the city of Patna. The most appropriate transportation from the village to the railway station was bullock cart because only those poor bulls could negotiate those muddy roads at the rate of one mile per hour. Thus a distance 32 miles from the
62 village to our house in Patna use to take six to seven hours. My father and I used to make a short visit in winter which had its own charm. You could see the green paddy fields as far as your eyes could see. Winter was a good time for bird hunting specially green pigeons, wild ducks and partridges. I migrated to USA in 1970, but whenever I visited India I paid a visit to this village. We have given the main house to the local people and converted the outer house (the Bangla) into a school. I visited this village in year 2000 when I saw all the big mango trees and the mango orchard gone. This is not the same village I had in my memory, but you can not help it, the change has to come and you have accept it. Patna Patna is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world. It lies on the southern bank of the Ganges as it flows by with the combined waters of the rivers Ganges, Sone and Gandak. At the point where the city is located, the sacred Ganges looks more like a sea than river, mighty, wide and never ending especially during the rainy season. A bustling city of 1,200,000 people, the city is approximately 10 miles long and 5 miles wide. Apart from being the administrative centre of the state it has its historic importance. The city is also a major educational and medical centre one of the oldest and prestigious in the country. The history of Patna started around the year 490 BC when Ajatashatru, the king of Magadh, wanted to shift his capital from the hilly Rajgriha to a more strategically located place. He chose the site on the bank of Ganges and fortified the area. From that time, the city has had a continuous history, a record claimed by few cities in the world. Gautam
63
Buddha passed through the city in the last year of his life. With the rise of the Mauryan empire, the place became the seat of power and nerve centre of the sub-continent. From Pataliputra, the famed emperor Chandragupta Maurya (a contemporary of Alexander) ruled a vast empire, stretching from the Bay of Bengal to Afghanistan. Early Mauryan Patliputra was mostly built with wooden structures. Emperor Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, transformed the wooden capital into a stone construction. With the disintegration of the Gupta empire, and continuous invasions of the Indian subcontinent by foreign armies, Patna passed through uncertain times. Bakhtiar Khilji captured Bihar in the 12th century AD and Patna lost its prestige as the political and cultural center of India. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb acceded to the request of his favourite grandson Prince Muhammad Azeem to rename Patna as Azeemabad, in 1704 while Azeem was in Patna as the subedar (Governer). However, very little changed during this period other than the name. With the decline of Mughal empire, Patna moved into the hands of the Nawabs of Bengal. After the decisive Battle of Buxar (1765), Patna fell in the hands of the East India Company. A number of imposing structures were constructed by the British such as Patna Museum, State Assembly and Raj Bhaven to name a few. Patna has a world famous library, called Kudabuksh Khan Oriental Library which has a collection of rare books not found any where else. Patna continued to be the capital of the state of Bihar after independence in 1947. Patna is the city where I was born and received my education. I spent thirty two years of my life here before migrating to USA in 1970. I graduated From Miller English High School and finished BSc Honors and MSc in Chemistry from Patna University. After 64 graduation I joined Patna College of Commerce as a lecturer in chemistry and stayed here till 1969 a period of eight years. Though I enjoyed life in Patna during my student days, the last eight years were really terrific. First of all I felt free from the pressure of study and exams and had money in the pocket to spend. Teaching Chemistry in the college was fun. You spent four hours at the collage come back home, take some rest and in the evening go to the famous restaurant of Patna (Soda Fountain) with friends and spent a few hours talking and having fun. Winter days in Patna were very enjoyable. You have bright sunshine everyday and lots of other activities specially gardening, hunting and playing Badminton in the evening. Late November to March every weekend was reserved for hunting. We had two favorite places to hunt one was the river Ganges and the other was Katauna, the village of my friend Mr. Omair. Katauna was just a couple of railway stations away from Patna. So it was very convenient for the weekend retreat. Here we hunted blue bulls, wild ducks and other game birds. I really enjoyed this place very much till my friend Mr. Omair moved to Katmandu Nepal in 1966. Hunting in the mighty river Ganges was both adventure and fun. I hunted in river Ganges with my father and uncle from my very childhood but it was not that frequent and was limited to birds hunting only. After moving to Sultangang where our house was only two hundred yards away from the river and the arrival of my elder brother Syed Abdul Ahad Ahmed from Dhaka Bangladesh, we ventured into hunting blue bulls in the island of the river Ganges. In the winter time with lots of crop vegetation and very few people around this island use to become the haven for these big animals. It was easy to find couple of dozens of them grazing on the planted crop, and dropping down two or three of them was not very difficult. The real challenge was to transport this six to seven hundred pound animal to the boat which we use to do with the help of local 65 people. It was even a bigger challenge to move the boat up stream eight to ten miles with no power. The only way to move the boat up stream was to pull it with the help of a strong rope and the boat man use to do it on regular basis. One time I remember we shot two male blue bulls and by the time we loaded them on the boat it was late afternoon. We knew that puling boat in the dark was dangerous specially when the big chunks of dirt were falling from above due to combined current of river Gandak and Ganges, but we had no choice. It so happened that the river had a slight bend where the current was very strong. When we reached that point the boat man could not pull the boat, the rope snapped and in a matter of minute we were thrown back two hundred yards down stream. We were scared to death but the boat man on board somehow managed to stop the boat and reattached the rope. When we reached that point again we all (Me my elder brother, my brother-in-law Wasim, my cousin Husain Majid and my friend Omair) pushed the boat with bamboo stick with all our might and pulled it out from the danger zone. With no life jacket or any other thing to float it was really a close call that night, which I cannot forget. Patna had some famous literary figure like Dr. Kalimuddin, Dr. Jameel Mazhari, Dr. Akhtar Uranwe, Dr. Kaleem Ajiz, Dr Syed Hasan, Dr. Hasan Askari and my uncle Dr. Syed Abdul Majid to name a few. They all use to meet once a month under the auspices of Buzme Adab and recite Urdu poetry. It was really a rare privilege to enjoyed their company, their poetry, and their wit and wisdom. Patna will never be same without them. My last visit to Patna was in the year 2000. As expected the population has exploded and the city is bursting with people. The mighty river Ganges is losing its ground, shirking, stinking and dying with pollution. It is not the same Patna I had left thirty years ago.
66
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The Family Tree
Qusai King of Makkah. | Abd Manaf | Hashem Ancestor of Hashemites | Abd al- Mutalib | Abdullah | Mohammad Sallallaho Alahe Wasallam | Fatima az Zahra Ali Al Murtaza | Imam Husain (Shahide Karbala) | Imam Zainal Abdin | Imam Mohammad Al Baqir | 67
Imam Jafar Sadiq | Imam Moosa Kazim | Imam Ali Reza | Imam Mohammad Taqi | Imam Ali Naqi Hadi | Syed Murtaza Jafar Sani | Syed Ali Kabir | Syed Abdullah Alias Ali Asghar | Syed Ahmad Buzurg | Syed Mukhtar | Syed Sami Saifullah | Syed Jafar Shah Khurasani | Syed Abul Ala Moid Ali | Syed Jalaluddin Surkh Bukhari | Syed Ahmad Kabir | Syed Makhdoom Jalal Jahania Jahangasht | Syed Nasiruddin Mahmood (Alias Nasir Shah) | Syed Shah Zakiuddin Buzurg | Syed Shah Nizamuddin | Syed Shah Zakiuddin Sani | 68
Syed Shah Minhajuddin Alias Manjhan Shah | Syed Shah Hafiz Maqbool | Syed Shah Baday Danishmand | Syed Burhanuddin | Syed Shah Umer | Syed Farid | Syed Shah Waliullah | Syed Abdullah | Syed Fahimullah | Syed Ahmadullah | Syed Barkat Hussain | Syed Hidayet Hussain | Syed Anwar Hussain | Syed Azhar Hussain, Bibi Aliman | Fatima, Abdul Hafeez,Abdul Aziz,Abdul Majid
Bibi Anis Fatma Syed Fazl Karim | Ali Imam , Hasan Imam , Waris Imam , Bandi
Syed Abdul Hafeez Bibi Zainab | Saleha Khatoon
69
Syed Abdul Aziz Bibi Rakeya Khatoon | Ahad Ahmed, Asma, Masood, Aslam, Tayiaba, Sofia
Syed Abdul Majid Zaibun Nisa | Hasan, Husain, Hasnain, Shahar Bano, Mehar, Qamer
Syed Waris Imam, Asfa Imam | Amman , Haydher, Anjum , Arjaman , Baby Imam
Saleha Khatoon Syed Salahuddin | Sultana Khatoon
Syed Abdul Ahad Ahmad Masoma Khatoon | Arshi Ahmad, Najmee Ahmad, Shariq Ahmad
Asma Aziz Syed Serajul Hoda | Munawarul Hoda, Romana, Rukhsana, Tanveerul Hoda
Syed Masood Shahin Masood | Samina, Anila, Nusheen , Saqib Masood
70
Syed Aslam Shahnaz Aslam | Faiz Aslam, Amir Aslam , Shazia Aslam
Taiyba Aziz Jafry Syed Wasim Sajjad Jafry | Syed Rezwan Jafry , Syed Irfan Jafry
Sofia Aziz Taj Syed Sabauddin Taj | Syed Asad Taj
Syed Hasan Majid Roohi Majid | Shahnawaz Majid Sema Majid Sara Majid
Syed Husain Majid Nelofar Majid | Raina Majid, Sofia Majid, Samia Majid, Ejaz Majid
Syed Hasnain Majid Elizabeth Majid | Nesar Majid, Arshad Majid, Naheed Majid
Shahar Bano Syed Shahabuddin | Parveen, Nasreen, Syed Pervez, Sara, Johra, Babay
71
Mehar Bano Wasi Ahmad | Afshan Ahmad, Aftab Ahmad, Mustaq Ahmad
Qamar Bano Nayer Ahmad | Tawish Ahmad, Sheren Ahmad
Sultana Alam Syed Mazahir Alam | Faisal Alam, Qadafi Alam,Yasir Alam, Zabee
Arshi Ahmed Syed Rashid Ali | Syed Heyat Ali Syed Umar Ali
Najme Ahmad Arshad Ahmad | Amina Ahmed
Syed Munawar ul Hoda Anjum Hoda | Fauzia , Saira , Naveed Hoda, Shan Hoda
Kishver Rumana Muhammad Ali Anwar | Faraz Anwar
Talat Rukhsana Athar Haleem | Saema Haleem Lina Haleem Ayesha Haleem
72
Syed Tanveer ul Hoda Shahla Hoda | Zaeem ul Hoda, Raneem , Fatma, Rameez ul Hoda
Samina Masood Zahoor Murtaza Zahoor | Musa Zahoor, Haroon Zahoor, Jibreel Zahoor
Anila Masood Baig Mirza Imran Baig | Nabeel Baig, Najeeb Baig
Saqib Syed Masood Afroze Masood | Nazneen Mirza Masood
Faiz Syed Aslam Samira Nasim Aslam | Aakif S. Aslam, Salik S. Aslam, Hafsa Aslam
Amir Syed Aslam Ayesha Khan Aslam | Hania Aslam
Syed Rizwan Jafry alias Shad Ruquiya Jafry | Kamran Jafry, Suleman Jafry, Osman Jafry
Syed Irfan Jafry alias Urfi Shazia Jafry |
73
Rumsha Jafry, Zaiyan Syed Jafry
Shahnawaz Majid bin Hasan Connie Majid | Julia Majid
Raina Majid bint Husain Zahid Karim | Fadil Karim Sulman Karim
Sofia Majid Khan Bint Hussain Mahtab Ahmed Khan | Samir Khan, Imran Khan, Nabel Khan
Samia Majid Hasan bint Hussain Syed Neaz Hasan | Zainab Hasan, Umer Hasan
Syed Ejaz Majid bin Hussain Samia Majid | Sana Majid, Sulma Majid
Parveen Shahabuddin Afzal Amanullah | Rahmat Amanullah, Azmat Amanullah
Nasreen Shahbuddin Mansoor Alam | Jafar Alam, Umar Alam
Syed Perveez Shahabuddin 74
Soophia Shahabuddin | Zoha Shahabuddin, Zain Shahabuddin
Syed Sultan Ahmad of Miranbigha Bihar
Sultan Chacha was second cousin of my farther, his son Syed Zafar Sultan provided a lot of information in writing this book. He was the only relative in Miranbigha I visited with my father on regular basis. He was born in Miranbigha District Gaya in 1891. Married Mehmooda Begum daughter of Moulvi Hashim Saheb of Barh District Patna in the year 1920 and had seven children with her. She died at an early age in the year 1936.
He received his edutation at home which included Urdu , Persian and Arabic according to tradition of the time. His father who was a landlord thought that modern education was not necessary. But Sultan Chacha was not satisfied with the education he was receiving at home. He managed to find an English man who was the Stationmaster of Makhdoompur on Patna Gaya railway line. He walked every day five miles to learn English, French and Math from this kind hearted man. This man also convinced his father that his son is a bright student and should receive the modern education in a proper school. As a result of the discussion he was sent to Gaya Town School, where he always excelled in his class.
After graduating from High School he joined the famous Presidency college of Calcutta. During the stay here in Calcutta he took keen interest in politics and met Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and became the
75 secretary of Mohammad Ali Jauhar a famous politician. He continued his education and completed his masters in mathematics from Calcutta University. He started his teaching carrier at Arrah Zila school, but managed to find a job of lecturer at Patna Teacher Training Collage. There he got a scholarship to study at Leeds England where he received a Diploma in Education. After coming from England he worked as Principal at several big school of Bihar and received many awards from the Government of Bihar for excellent work. He finally retired as Divisional Inspector of Schools in 1948.
After the retirement he moved back to Miranbigha and planted a mango orchard. I use to visit him with my father in the summer time and enjoyed eating mango with him. At the request of his son he migrated to Pakistan in 1966. He survived for another five years and died at the age of eighty in Rawalpindy on October 12, 1971. He is buried in the graveyard at Harley Street in Rawalpindy.
The Shijrah of my father and that of Sultan Chacha is common up to thirty fourth generation. Syed Hedayet Hussain had three sons, Syed Amanat Hussain, Syed Rahat Hussain and Syed Anwar Hussain, he is the descendent of Syed Rahat Hussain.
Syed Rahat Husain | Syed Mir Asif Husain alias Iqbal Sharifan (First wife) | Asiya, Syed Fazal Haq, Syed Jamal Haq Saliha, Zobaida
Syed Mir Asif Hussain alias Iqbal Kaniz Fatima (second wife) |
76
Azimuddi , Kalimuddin , Sultan Ahmad, Hanifan, Fatima,
Syed Mir Asif Hussain alias Iqbal Maryum (Third wife) | Sultan Mahmood , Sultan Masood, Maimoona.
Syed Sultan Ahmad Mehmooda Begum | Zafir , Aziz Sultan, Jamila, Bilquis, Zafar Sultan, Kaniz Fatima, Moiz Sultan
Asiya Begum bint Asif Hussain Syed Athar Hussain, | Moinuddin, Afeefa, Rehman, Aqeela, Yehia, Mohammad
Syed Aziz Sultan Afeefa Begum | Fareena Sultan, Fauzia Sultan, Faheena Sultan
Syed Mois Sultan Moeeda Rizvi | Madiha Sultan, Rahma Sultan, Uzma Sultan, Yasir Sultan
Kaniz Fatima bint Sultan Ahmad Syed Azhar | Wapas Azher, Shazli , Sadia , Asiya
Syed Zafar Sultan Nilofer Najmuddin | Shabana Sultan, Naushaba Sultan
77
Jamila Sultan bint Sultan Ahmad Syed Mohammad | Ather Syed , Rumana, Ejaz Syed, Shahina
Rehma bint Moiz Sultan Syed Waqas Azher | Fatima Azhar, Khadija Azhar
Syed Yasir Sultan bin Moiz Rabia | Noor, Syed Ibrahim Sultan, Zahra
Uzma Sultan bint Moiz Syed Minhajuddin | Marium, Ariba, Osama, Tahaa
Sadia Azhar bint Kaniz Fatima Syed Arif Ali Rizvi | Aamina , Abid Rizvi, Asim Rizvi, Hajra Rizvi
Shazli Azhar bint Kaniz Fatima Nazish Karim | Saem Karim, Saima Karim, Rida , Bassam Karim
Asiya Azhar bint Kaniz Fatima Syed Ahmad Imam | Fahad Imam, Saad Imam, Babur Imam
Shabana Sultan bint Zafar Syed Aftab Kazim | Anjum Kazim, Maha Kazim, Sarah Kazim
78
Naushaba Sultan bint Zafar S T H Gilani | Zan Gilani, Asher Gilani, Shariq Hussain Gilani
Rummana bint Jamila Sultan Syed Mazhar Hussain | Nausheen, Syed Wali Ahmad, Sofeen
Fahmeena Sultan bint Aziz Sultan Niaz Shirazi | Arsalan Shirazi, Nadir Shirazi, Bilal Shirazi
Fauzia Sultan bint Aziz Sultan Ishrat Ansari | Salmeen Ansari, Samun Ansari
Fareena Sultan bint Aziz Sultan Nisar Ahmad | Najla Nisar Ahmad
Fareena Sultan bint Aziz Sultan 2nd marriage Khalil Khatri | Beejul Khatri
Shijrah of my mother My maternal grandfather (Nana) Syed Sharafat Karim was the descendent of Makhdum Syed Shah Mubark
79
Ashraf. Makhdum Saheb was the resident of Kachucha Shareef, Uttar Pradesh and was the descendent of Hazrat Ghous Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jelani. He was married to Bibi Khass daughter of Shah Burhanullah Jonpuri and had three sons from her. He moved to Bihar near the end of fourteenth century and chose Sheikhpura as his new home. There he established a Khankah of Chishtia order and spend rest of his life spreading the deen of Islam. His eldest son Syed Shah Durvesh Chishti was also a famous Sufi who moved to Bitho Shareef near the city of Gaya. We do not have the Shijrah of my grand father connecting to Makhdum Syed Shah Mubarak but according to reference book his Shijrah going through Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jelani is like this. Syed Shah Mubarak bin Syed Abu Saeed Jafar bin Syed Hussain Qattal Chishti bin Syed Shah Abdul Raziq bin Syed Hasan Abdul Ghafoor bin Syed Hussain Sharif bin Syed Musa Sharif bin Syed Abu Ali Sharif bin Syed Muhammad Sharif bin Syed Hussain Sharif bin Syed Ahmad Sharif bin Syed Naseer Muhiuddin bin Syed Abi Salah Nasar bin Syed Abdul Raziq Jilani bin Hazrat Ghus ul Azam Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani bin Abi Salah Jilani ben Syed Musa Jangee bin Syed Abullah bin Syed Muhammad Muris bin Syed Daud bin Syed Ehya Zahid bin Syed Musa bin Syed Abdullah Sani bin Syed Abu Musa Aljun bin Syed Abdullah Mahaz bin Syed Hasan Sani bin Hazrat Imam Hasan (ra)bin Hazrat Ali Murtaza(ra)and Fatima (ra).
Shijrah of Syed Shah Muhammad Zubair Syed Shah Zubair was the maternal uncle (Mamu) of my mother. The family Shijrah given to me by Syed Shah Sultan Ahmad son of Shah Zubair, always seamed incomplete to me because of the fact that it consisted only thirty three generation from the Prophet (pbuh) to 80 the present generation. According my study of many Shijrahs, you have to have at least thirty eight generations plus minus two or three. I found the same mistake in the Shijrah written in the book Ashraful Nesab published at Karachi Pakistan. This book has some extra information which stated that Syed Shah Karimuddin had only one daughter who was married to Syed Shah Gulam Imam Ali alias Shah Badlu. That was true but she gave birth to only one daughter . The family tree of Shah Zubair started with the second marriage of Shah Badlu, so I had to find his genealogical record to correct the Shijrah. Recently I made a trip to Karachi Pakistan in search of my root and thanks to my cousin Syed Zafer Sultan, I found many information and a book named Sharfa ke Nagree written by Syed Qeamuddin Nezami Qadri which had all the information I was looking for. In that book I found the genealogy of Shah Badlu which ultimately connected to Syed Shah Khaliluddin Kanturi the Buzurg who migrated to Arwal from village of Kantur, Uttar Pradesh. The information corrected the Shijrah and the generation gap I was searching for. The forefather of Syed Shah Gulam Imam Ali alias Shah Badlu was Syed Ashraf Abi Talib. He was the Imam and respected leader of Neshapur in Iraq. He migrated to India with his family when Halaku Khan attacked Iraq in 1258 AD and settled in village Kantur district Bara Bunki Uttar Pradesh. He built a house a little away from Kantuur and it is said that the house still exist and that place is now known as Rasulpure. One of his decedent Syed Shah Khaliluddin Kanturi migrated to Bihar with his elder brother Syed Shah Shamshuddin Ahmad Kanturi and selected Arwal his new home. They established a Khankah of Chishtia order and served the local population.
81
Shah Gulam Imam Ali Alias Shah Badlu Shah Badlu was the grate grand father of Shah Muhammad Zubair. His was first married to the daughter of Syed Karimuddin who was the Sajjadah of Arwal Khanqah and from her he had one daughter named Bibi Qadiran. She was married to descendent of Makhdum Shaik Shamshuddin of Kako. The Shamshi family of Kako and Prof. Akhtar Urenwi are her descendents. His second marrage took place with Bibi Waziran daughter of Syed Khairullah son of Syed Fatahullah of Maner. From her he had five sons namely Shah Amjad Hussain Shah, Murad Hussain, Shah Imdad Hussain, Shah Huzber Hussain and Shah Rahmat Hussain. After the death of Syed Karimuddin he became the Sajjadah of Arwal Khanqah.
Syed Shah Muhammad Zubair Syed Shah Muhammad Zubair was born in 1884 at Arwal. His father Shah Ishfaq Hussain was a very enlightened man, he understood the importance of modern education and sent all his children to proper school. He received his education in Patna and after graduation he left for London in 1908. He successfully completed his Law degree and returned to India in 1911. Though his father Shah Ishfaq Hussain was working for British government as Honorary Magistrate he hated the British Raj and never even thought of working for the government. Respecting the wish of his father he started the law practice at Patna High Court.
He had keen interest in politics and after returning from London he joined the Congress Party of India and became very active like many intellectuals of the time. In 1912 Congress Party was holding annual convention in Patna in which the young and bright Barrister Shah Zubair was selected as the chief organizer. Here he got
82 the opportunity to show his talent and meet the upper echelon of the Congress party. In 1914 he married the daughter of Shah Muhammad Aub of Munghair. At the request of his father-in-law he left Patna and moved to Munghair a district town of Bihar and started his law practice. There he met Shri Krishen Sinha who later became the chief minister of Bihar after the independence of India. They both worked together and Shri Babu use to respect Shah Zubair as his mentor.
In 1920 Mahatma Gandhi started the non-cooperative movement and also supported the Khelafat movement. Shah Zubair supported this movement wholeheartedly and gave up his law practice to work full time in politics. In the same year Mahatma Gandhi, Mulana Azad, Shukat Ali and Lala Lajpat Rai came to Mungghair and they were guests of Shah Zubair for one week. Gandhi jee met Shah Zubair for the first and he was greatly impressed by him. The non-cooperation movement was in full sewing in 1921 when the British Government decided to arrest all the Congress leaders including Gandhi jee, Mulana Azad. Pundit Jawaher Lal Nehru and Shah Zubair. Most of the leaders were released within a year but Shah Zubair served two years in Jail, which adversely affected his health.
In 1925 the state Bihar and Orissa held the joint annual conference of the Congress party at Purulia. Gandhi Jee Dr. Rajedar Parsad ( The first President Of India) and many Congress leaders came to attend the conference which was presided over by Shah Zubair. He delivered a brilliant speech which impressed every one at the conference.
In 1926 British Government decided to form a Council of State to pacify the mood of the people. Four leaders from Bihar and Orissa state were elected which included Shah Zubair. He had to move to Delhi and served as a member for three years. In 1929 the Congress party launched a vigorous independence 83 movement and instructed every elected Congress member either in Assembly or Council of State to resign. He respected the party policy and resigned, though he was a very valuable member of that body where he made many great contributions. He did not survive too long after coming back from Delhi, and fell ill seriously and left this world on September fourteen 1930 at a young age of forty six. The whole country mourned his death and all the big leaders of the Congress party including Mahatma Gandhi send the letter of condolence to his family.
The Family Tree
Abd al- Mutalib | Abdullah | Mohammad Sallallaho Alehe Wasalam | Fatima az Zahra ( ra) Ali Al Murtaza( ra ) | Imam Husain (Shahide Karbala) | Imam Zainal Abdin | Imam Mohammad Al Baqir | Imam Jafar Sadiq | Imam Moosa Kazim | Syed Qasim Hamza | Syed Ali Reza | Syed Mehndi 84
Syed Muhammad Jafar | Syed Abu Muhammad | Syed Ali Askari | Syed Abul Qasim | Syed Mahroq | Syed Ashraf Abi Talib Kanturi | Syed Shah Azizuddin Kanturi | Syed Shah Alauddin Ali Buzurg Kanturi | Syed Shah Khaliluddin Kanturi Arwali | Syed Shah Haji Mir Hussain | Syed Shah Yusuf | Syed Shah Jiwan | Syed Shah Qutuddin | Syed Shah Abu Bakr | Syed Shah Muhammad | Syed Shah Bhika | Syed Shah Amanullah | Syed Shah Deen Mohammad | Syed Shah Jahangeer | Syed Shah Raham Ali 85
| Shah Ghulam Imam Ali Alias Shah Badlu Bibi Waziran | Amjad Husain, Imdad Hussain, Huzber Husain |
Syed Shah Ashfaq Hussain | Shah Zubair, Umair, Humair, Shah Zuhair , Quraisha Khatoon, Wasia, Majdah Khatoon
Syed Shah Muhammad Zubair Bibi Saddiqa | Mustaq Ahmad, Aftab Ahmad, Sultan Ahmad Aqila Khatoon, Shakila Khatoon,Zakia Khatoon
Shah Muhammad Humair Nasema Khatoon | Ishtiaq Ahmad, Imtiaz Ahmad,Niaz ,Shahina
Quraisha Khatoon Syed Sharafat Karim | Bibi Hajra Khatoon Bibi Rakeya Khatoon
Bibi Hajra Khatoon Syed Abul Hai | Hamida Khatoon
Syed Shah Mushtaq Ahmad Bilqis Khatoon | Ekhlaq Ahmad, Nehal Ahmad, Tirq Anwar
86
Syed Shah Aftab Ahmad Shahda Khatoon | Jamal Ahmed, Mahtab Ahmed, Yasmin Ahmed
Syed Shah Sultan Ahmad Mueza Khatoon | Nazish, Rubina , Shabana, Irfan, Imran, Kamran
Nazish Ahmad bint Sultan Ahmad Syed Abrar Ahmad | Shahnila , Ahrar Ahmad, Adib Ahmad, Amar Ahmad
Aqila Khatoon bint Shah Zubair Zafar Zain | Hamayun, Shukat , Perveen , Nasreen Zafar
Shakila Khatoon bint Shah Zubair Qaisar Imam | Seema Imam
Zakia Khatoon bint Shah Zubair Syed Sajjad Husain | Jawwad ,Imdad ,Irshad ,Talat Qamar, Abad
Syed Shah Ishtiaq Ahmad Nelufer Ahmed | Syed Tanveer Ahmed, Rubina Ahmed
Syed Shah Imtiz Ahmad Talat Ahmed | 87
Nadeem Ahmed, Nadia Ahmed, Yasir Ahmed
Syed Shah Niaz Ahmad bin Shah Humair Rehana Khatoon | Sheraz Ahmad, Fariha Shah, Asia Shah
Shahina bint Shah Humair Syed Hasimul Haq | Sadia Haq, Sharmeen Haq, Syed Saful Haq
Hamida Khatoon bint Abdul Hai Syed Muidul Haq Tamanna | Musarrat, Nikhat , Asfar Moid, Afaq Moid, Farrah
Syed Shah Ikhlaq Ahmed bin Shah Mushtaq Imrana | Rashid Ahmed, Adil Ahmed, Ariz Ahmed
Syed Shah Nehal Ahmed bin Shah Mushtaq Surria | Sadaf Ahmed, Sarah Ahmed
Tariq Anwar bin Shah Mushtaq. Yasmin Ahmed | Shiba Anwar
Tariq Anwar bin Shah Mushtaq. Hena | Arib Anwar, Alyza Anwar
88
Syed Shah Tawuheed of Arwal
The Shijrah Shah Tawheed and that of Shah Syed Zubair is common up to 31stgeneration from the Prophet(pbuh). Shah Gulam Imam Ali Alias Shah Badlu married twice. From the first marriage he had only one daughter, but from the second marriage he had five sons namly Amjad Hussain, Murad Hussain, Imdad Hussain, Hazber Hussain, Rahmat Hussain. ShahTawheed was the grandson of Shah Hazber Hussain. He had a nice house a little away from village Arwal. I used to visit him with my father whenever I went to Arwal to spend part of my summar vacation. He died in Arwal and his graveyard is very close to the rever Sone.
Syed Shah Gulam Imam Ali Alias Shah Badlu Daughter of Shah Kareemuddin Sajjada Arwal | Bibi Qadiran Married At Kako | Muhammad Yusuf, Abdul Aziz,
Syed Abdul Aziz | Mahmood Shamshi, Bibi Saliman
Bibi Saliman bint Abdul Aziz Wazarat Hussain Urainve | Prof. Akhtar Urainve
Syed Shah Gulam Imam Ali Alias Shah Badlu Bibi Waziran | 89
Amjad Hussain, Murad Hussain, Imdad Hussain Shah Hazber Hussain, Shah Rahmat Hussain.
Shah Amjad Hussain | Shah Shujat Hussain | Shah Muhammad Qasim | Shah Muhammad Arshad Sajjada Arwal
Shah Murad Hussain Bibi Amamin | Sakhafat Hussain, Bibi Wahidan
Shah Hazber Hussain Jamelun-nisa | Shah Wahid, Shah Athar , Saliman, Tharan
Shah Muhammad Wahid | Shah Rashid, Shah Tawheed, Shah Majid
Shah Tawheed Ahmad | Khurshid, Aziz, Aftab Ahmad, Shakila Akhtar Soofia, Azra, Roohi
Shah Majid Ahmad bin Shah Waheed | Shamshul Hoda, Qamrul Hoda, Sadrul Hoda Zahda, Ayesha, Aziza, Khudaija, Nasima.
Shah Shmshul Hoda bin Shah Majid 90
| Masooma, Sadia, Shamima, Ahmad K Hoda
Masooma Ashraf Shamshad Ashraf | Huma, Farah, Sadia, Zeshan Ashraf
Shah Athar Hussain Bibi Qasiman | Shah Manzer Imam | Shah Akbar Imam, Shah Afzal Imam
Bibi Saliman bint Hazber Hussain Muhammad Yheya | Moin Ashraf, Moiz Ashraf
Moin Ashraf | Amin Ashraf, Matin Ashraf, Shakila Khatoon
Amin Ashfar | Shahin, Semeen, Zareen, Tazeen, Shazi, Tarrunum
Matin Ashraf Farida | Sabina Ashraf, Qudsia Ashraf, Kashif Ashraf,
Sabina bint Matin Ashraf Asghar Hasan | Asfar Hasan, Samah Hasan, Nyals Hasan
Shakila Khatoon bint Moin Ashraf
91
| Noorul Huda, Mahjabeen, Yasmin, Qamruddoja, Parvin
Parvin bint Shakila Waris Shere | Sahba Shere, Sheraz Shere, Feraz Shere
Shijrah of my grandmother(Dadi) My grandmother Bibi Aliman was born at Shahobigha where my grandfather moved after his marriage. My uncle Dr. Syed Abdul Majid tried to find her Shijrah but could not succeed, so he had to publish an incomplete Shijrah in his book Yade Watan. I am borrowing some of the names from that book. According to my uncle some four hundred year ago a Sufi Hazrat Shah Fazlullah Bokhari came to the Shahobigha area and settled there, my grandmother is his descendent. The Shijrah given bellow is incomplete, but at least it shows the relationship of last two hundred years
Syed Shah Fazlullah Bokhari | Syed Muhammad Amin | Syed Rohul Amin. | Farzand Ali, Peer Ali, Kalab Ali, Bibi Saema
Syed Farzand Ali | Syed Salamat Ali, Bibi Amiran, Bibi Budsan
Syed Salamat Ali bin Farzand Ali | Tasdiq Hussain, Bibi Hafiazn, Bibi Taheran
92
Tasdiq Hussain | Syed Muhammad Raza, Bibi Bhagan
Syed Peer Ali ben Rohul Amin | Wazir Buqsh, Nabi Buqsh, Faqir Buqsh
Wazir Buqsh bin Pir Ali | Abdul Ali, Kzim Husain, Abdul Wahab, Mujibun,
Nabi Buqsh bin Pir Ali Bibi Tamizan | Mir Maqbul Hussain | Fazand Ahmed, Shahar Banu, Shamsha , Abda
Shahar Banu bint Maqbool Hussai Zafar Alam | Khurshid Alam, Razia, Uroosa, Zakya, Ashraf Alam Iffat Ara, Zinat Ara
Abda Khatoon bint Maqbool Hussain Zafirul Hasan Hashmi
Azizul Hasan , Yasmin, Hasan Perwez , Nuzhat Sarwat, Hasan Hashmi, Hasan Asad Hashmi
Faqir Buqsh bin Pir Ali | Muhammad Saddiq, Umar Daraz, Alimun Nesa
Umar Daraz bin Faqir Buqsh | Abu Zaffar, Amna ,Saera Khatoon, Husna Khatoon
Bibi Alimun-Nesa bint Faqir Buqsh
93
Syed Azhar Hussain | Anis Fatima, Abdul Hafiz, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Majid
Mir Kalab Ali bin Ruhul Amin | Hedaet Hussain , Amiruddin Hussain, Bahadur Hussain, Darban Hussain,Aliman, Qasiman
Hedaet Hussain bin Kalab Ali | Feda Hussain, Ltif Hussain, Imdad Hussain, Bibi Marem, Bibi Kabiran
Syed Feda Hussain bin Hedaet Hussain | Fazle-Haq Azad, Muhibul Haq, Bibi Kulsum, Ummat Rasul, Bibi Zahra
Alama Fazle-Haq Azad bin Feda Hussain | Nurul Haq, Shamshul Haq, Abdul Haq, Azizul Haq, Haliman, Amna Khadija
Noorul Haq bin Fazle- Haq Azad | Alia Khatoon, Syed Eqbal
Azizul Haq bin Fazle-Haq | Razia, Saeda, Muhammad, Zakya, Banu, Fazal Ali
Hafiz Syed Muhibul Haq bin Fida Hussain | Syed Muhammad, Syed Mahmood, Syed Hamid, Syed Habibul Haq, Bibi Sakina.
Ummat Rasul bint Feda Hussain bin Kalb Ali Justice Syed Sharfuddin
94
| Syed Ahmad Sharfuddin, Ruquia Khatoon
Syed Ahmad Sharfuddin | Syed Hasan Sharfuddin, Syed Ashraf Shurfuddin
Ruquia Khatoon bint Syed Sharfuddin Syed Zafar Nawab(Gaya) | Bibi Sakina Bibi Fatima
Bibi Sakina bint Zafar Nawab Syed Hussain Imam | Mazhar Imam , Fazal Imam, Amir Imam, , Asghar Imam, Hasina
Mazhar Imam Noor Afsha | Ali Imam, Mehar
Amir Imam bin Hussain Imam Saleha Khatoon | Rizwana, Rana, Aishha
Asghar Imam bin Hussain Imam Nikhat Perveen | Roquia, Zafar Imam, Hasan Imam.
Shijrah of Syed Majid Sajjad Jafry
95
Syed Majid Sajjad Jafry is the father-in-law of my elder brother and my sister. He was born at Mahalper Bihar Sharif in the year 1908. He graduated from Darbhanga University with a degree in the field of Medicine and joined Bihar state health department. He retired in the year 1967 from the state service and spent some time at Bihar Sharif, and finally moved to live with his son who was working with the Indian Forest Service. He lived a long life after the retirement and died at the age of ninety seven in the year 2004 in Erode Tamil Nadu, India and is buried there. Dr. Majid Jafry is the descendent of Syed Ibrahim Zinda Dil Kakovi, who came to Kako from Barahia, Uttar Pradesh. The king Sher Shah Suri had given him some realstate (Jageer) in that area which is still known as Khadija Chack after his wife’s name Khadija. He established a Khankah of Chishtia order and built a Masjid, which is considered as one of the oldest Masjid of Kako. The exact year of his death is not available, it is known that he died in the month of Ramadan and he is buried very close to the Masjid he built. From his first wife Khadija he had only one son named Syed Muhammad Baqi Jafry who became Sajjadh after his death. The fourth descendent of Makhdum Ibrahim Zinda Dil, Syed Muhammad Jafer moved to Patna by the instruction of his Pir and settled in old Patna called Patna city. He was married to the daughter of Syed Nooruddin and served as a Sajjadah of the Khanqah of Patna city till he died in the year 1693. He is buried at Shaistabad Patna. Some time in 1840 Syed Hussain Ali Jafry who was Sajjaddh at Patna city Khanqah moved to Bihar Sharif after his marriage and settled at Mohalla Mahal Per.
The family Tree
Muhammad Sallallaho Alehe Wassallm 96
| Fatema Az Zahra Hazrat Ali | Imam Hussain Shahid Karbala | Imam Ali Zainul Abdin | Imam Mohammad Al Baqir | Imam Jafar Sadiq | Imam Musa Kazim | Imam Ali Reza || Imam Muhammad Taqi | Syed Ibrahim | Syed Abu Al Moid | Syed Ziauddin | Syed Hussain Jang Sawar | Syed Abdul Aziz | Syed Abdul Rehman | Syed Abdul Razzaq | Syed Shahabuddin | Syed Ahmed | Syed Ziauddin | Syed Muhammad | 97
Syed Akbar Ali | Syed Mahmood Alias Piare | Syed Muhammad Hamid | Syed Ibrahim Zinda Dil Kakovi | Syed Abdul Baqi Jafry | Syed Mubariz Jafry | Syed Abul Hasan Jafry | Ameer Kabir Syed Mohammad Jafry | Syed Mohammad Aslam Jafry | Syed Gulam Jafar Jafry | Syed Ali Ibrahim Jafry | Syed Inayet Karim Jafry | Syed Jafer Ali Jafry | Syed Hussain Ali Jafry | Syed Ahmed Sajjad Jafry, Syed Fazal Sajjad Jafry
Syed Ahmed Sajjad Jafry | Muhammad Sajjad, Ameer Sajjad, Waheed Sajjad, Ali Sajjad Jafry, Ahsan Sajjad
Syed Fazal Sajjad Jafry | Subhan Ahmad Jafry, Muhammad Yaseen Sajjad
98
Syed Muhammad Sajjad Jafry bin Ahmed Sajjad | Ibrahim, Ashraf, Hasan, Hussain, Jafar, Baqar, Moinuddin
Syed Ibrahim Sajjad Jafry bin Muhammad Sajjad | Asia, Barka, Azzizul Fatima, Ismaeel Sajjad
Syed Hasan sajjad Jafry bin Muhammad Sajjad | Hashim Sajjad, Alia Bibi, Ahmed Sajjad Jafry
Hussain Sajjad Jafry bin Muhammad Sajjad | Abid Sajjad , Zahid Sajjad Jafry, Bibi Mahmooda
Syed Jafar Sajjad Jafry bin Muhammad Sajjad | Taqi Sajjad, Naqi Sajjad, Bibi Madina, Zaibunnisa
Syed Wahid Sajjad Jafry bin Ahmad Sajjad. Umma Kulsum | Rasheed, Hamid, Majid, Saleha, Ummat, Asghar, Bano
Rasheed Sajjad Jafry bin Waheed sajjad | Afzal Sajjad Jafry, Bibi Husna
Hameed Sajjad Jafry bin Waheed Sajjad Zaheda Khatoon | Masood, Maimoona, Ruquya, Mahmood, Wallan, Mobina Iffat, Ishrat, Anwar
Ruquya Khatoon bint Hamid Sajjad Syed Karim Raza |
99
Munawar, Nayar, Sohail Raza, Khalid Raza, Amir Raza,Shabnum
Nayar bint Ruquya Khatoon Syed Shahab Salam
Syed Majid Sajjad Jafry bin Waheed Sajjad Abda Khatoon | Wasi, Wasim, Masooma, Nishat, Aslam, Moazzam, Farhan, Arshad
Syed Wasi Sajjad Jafry Jahan Arra | Amir Jafry, Nusrat, Sarwat, Shariq Jafry
Syed Wasim Sajjad Jafry Tayaba Aziz | Syed Rizwan Jafry, Syed Irfan Jafry
Nishat Jafry Muhammad Ali | Shabbir Ali, Faiz Ali, Danish Ali, Shazia Ali
Syed Aslam Sajjad Jafry Shakila Khatoon | Ayesha Jafry, Najam Jafry
Syed Moazzam Sajjad Jafry Fatima Khatoon | Ayesha Jafry, Imran Jafry, Adnan Jafry
Syed Farhan Sajjad Jafry Sabiha Khatoon |
100
Syed Asad Jafry, Erum Jafry
Syed Arshad Sajjad Jafry Rubina Khatoon | Syed Wajid Jafry, Syed Waris Jafry.
Ali Sajjad Jafry bin Ahmad Sajjad Kaniz Fatima | Wali Sajjad, Anis Fatima, Naseem Fatima
Anis Fatima bint Ali Sajjad Rafeeuddin Ali Rizvi | Alimuddin Rizvi, Sadruddin Rizvi, Salauddin Rizvi, Munamm, Rais Fatima, Jamal Fatima, Zeenat,Zainab
Alimuddin Ali Rizvi bin Anis Fatima Bibi Akhtari | Rashiduzzaman Rizvi, Samina Fatima
Sadruddin Ali Rizvi Bin Anis Fatima Bibi Amina | Nafisa Fatima
Salauddin Ali Rizvi bin Anis Fatima Bilquis Khatoon | Arshad Rizvi, Farah Rizvi
Munamm Fatima bint Anis Fatima Sami Ahmad | Wasim Ahmed, Nadeem Ahmed, Fahim Ahmed
Rais Fatima bint Anis Fatima
101
Tahir Hasan | Kaiser Hasan, Hyder Hasan, Ghazala Hasan
Kaiser Mahmood Hasan Moina Hasan | Taimur Hasan, Ehmer Hasan
Jamal Fatima bint Anis Fatima Masihuzzama | Ashraf, Fauzia
Zeenat Fatima bint Anis Fatima Syed Latafat Kareem | Ayesha, Iqbal Kareem, Muhammad Ali Kareem
Saleha Khatoon bint, Waheed Sajjad Syed Yusufuddin Balkhi | Bibi Razia
Bibi Ummat bint Waheed Sajjad Syed Anwarul Hoda | Najmul Hoda, Qamrul Hoda, Enamul Hoda Munnawarul Hoda, Anjum, Najma
Syed Najmul Hoda bin Bibi Ummat
Asghar Sajjad Jafry bin Waheed Sajjad Sajida Khatoon | Muzzafar, Zaffar, Munawar, Shahid, Azhar, Javed, Faiz, Mussarrat,Seema, Fauzia,
Muzzafar Sajjad Jafry Zenat
102
| Iram Jafry, Kusar Jafry
Zaffar Sajjad Jafry Raesa Khatoon | Zubna, Farah, Tanweer Jafry, Vajeha
Munawwar Sajjad Jafry Seema | Asif Jafry, Ayasha Jafry
Shahid Sajjad Jafry Qutsia | Hira Jafry, Hiba Jafry, Neda Jafry, Ali Jafry
Syed Faiz Sajjad Jafry Nazish | Syed Yusuf Sajjad Jafry
Musarrat bint Asghar Sajjad Syed Ehsan Shareef | Yasir Shareef, Hayder Shareef, Asma Shareef
Seema Jafry bint Asghar Sajjad Farruhk Ahmad | Salman Ahmad
Fauzia Jafry bint Asghar Sajjad | Mashal, Osama
103
Bano bint Waheed Sajjad Syed Mohammad Shamim | Qaiser Shamim, Anwar Shamim, Ruqsana.
Syed Qaiser Shamim Tasneem | S. Reham Shamim, Ruhi Firdaus, S. Arif Shamim
Syed Anwar Shamim Zarina Khan | Amir Shamim, Asif Shamim
Rukhsana bint Bano Shahid Siddiqi | Faez Siddiqi.
Shijrah of Syed Mazahir Yunus
Syed Mazahir Younus is the brother-in-law of my wife Shahnaz Aslam and his brothers are good friend of mine. They are the descendents of one of the famous Sufi of Bihar named Makhdum Syed Ahmad Charamposh. His father Syed Sultan Mohammad Musa was a well off resident of the city of Hamdan, Iran. He left the life of luxury and came to Bihar to serve the people. Here he met a famous Sufi, Makhdum Syed Shahabuddin Peer Jugjot and became his Murid. Peer Jugjot liked the young man and he became his son-in- law.
104
Syed Ahmad Charamposh was born in the year 657 HA or 1260 AD. He grew up in village Jethlee Sharif which is located about fifteen miles east of Patna and enjoyed the company his famous grandfather. He was also the first cousin of another famous Sufi of Bihar named Sheikh Sherfuddin Yhya Maneri. He went back to Hamdan with his father, who thought he might be interested to manage the estate he had left behind. He lived there for while and like his father left the estate for a simple life of a Sufi and came to Multan. Here he met Makhdum Syed Allauddin and became his disciple (Murid). After staying there for a while his Peer requested him to head for Nepal to preach the Deen of Islam. He gladly accepted the request and came to Nepal, established a Khanqah and convinced a large number of people to accept Islam.
There are many legends about him, according one legend when he reached Nepal and started his mission the king of that area did not like it and send a bunch of soldiers to evict him. As soon as the soldiers reached near his tent a necked sword came down from the sky and he defeated the army of the king alone. After spending a good part of his life he reached Siwan a district town of Bihar. Here he met Hzrat Piare Hasan who became his disciple and gave him the leather which was supposed to be the hide of the sacrificial lamb of Hazrat Ibraham Alehis-Salam. He started to wear that leather around his neck and that was the reason, why the people gave him the title “Charamposh” (a person who wears leather). He finally moved to Ambare Sharif a village close to the present day Bihar Sharif. He died in year 776 H or 1374 AD at a very old age of 114 years. He is buried at Amber Sharif along with his father and other close relatives. His descendents kept the Khanqah going for hundreds of years helping and teaching the local population till 1947 when the father of Syed Mazahir Younus migrated to Karachi Pakistan after the partition of India in 1947. Syed Mazahir Younus migrated to USA 105 in 1972 and settled at Chicago. He sponsored all his brothers and sisters and in the next fifteen all of them migrated to USA.
The grave site ( Dargah ) of Syed Ahmad Charmpos and other holy men are still there and each year huge number of people both Hindu and Muslim commemorate his death anniversary called “Urs” (An age old tradition of remembering the holy men and placing a decorated piece of fabric on the grave, most of the time it becomes a festive occasion ).
The Shijrah
Syed Ahmed Chramposh ben Syed Sultan Musa Hamdani ben Syed Sultan Mubarak Hamdani ben Syed Sultan Khzir Hamdani ben Syed Sultan Ibrahim Hamdani ben Syed Sultan Suleman Hamdani ben Syed Abdul Karim Hamdani ben Syed Abdul Hakim Hamdani ben Syed Abdul Shakoor Hamdani ben Syed Nematullah Madni ben Syed Abdul Majid Madni ben Syed Abdul Rahim Madni ben Syed Abdul Isahaq Madni ben Syed Abdul Rahman Madni ben Syed Abdul Qasim Madni ben Syed Nooruddin Madni ben Syed Yousuf Madni ben Syed Rukundin Madni ben Syed Allauddin Madni ben Syed Yhya Madni ben Syed Zakerya Madni ben Syed Hasan Madni ben Syed Shah Qoraishi Madni ben Mohammed Umar Madni ben Syed Abdullah Madni ben Imam Musa Kazim ben Imam Jafer Sadiq ben Imam Muhammad Baqar ben Imam Zanul Abdin ben Imam Hussain Shahid Karbala ben Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza and Fatima Az Zahra
Syed Ahmad Chramposh | Syed Serajuddin Ahmad | Syed Abdul Rahman 106
| Syed Shah Ali | Syed Shah Rukunuddin alias Shah Manjhan | Syed Shah Mahmood | Syed Shah Nasruddin | Syed Shah Habibullah | Syed Shah Mahbobullah | Syed Shah Mahmod Sani | Syed Shah Muhammad | Syed Shah Serajuddin Sani | Syed Shah Noor Allah | Syed Shah Mohib Allah | Syed Raziuddin alias Rajab Ali | Haji Syed Altaf Ali | Syed Shah Muhammad Noor | Syed Shah Enaet Karim | Syed Shah Ismail | Syed Shah Abulhasnat Muhammad Younus | Mazahir, Aqila, Nesar, Saman, Muzaffer, Athar, Munawar, Ghazala
Syed Muhammad Mazahir Younus Khalda Ahmad 107
| Kiran , Roohi , Danish Younus, Omar Younus
Raia Khatoon Syed Hasan | Najam, Farhan, Faisal, Zia, Ahmer, Atif, Saima, Uroj, Kamran
Syed Nesar Akhtar Nilofer | Komal Akhtar, Shafaq Akhtar, Zara Akhtar
Saman Younus Syed Kamal Ahmad | Asim Ahmed, Adil Ahmed, Sabeena
Syed Muzaffer Younus Shazia Muzaffer | Fatima Younus
Syed Athar Younus Ghazala | Usman Younus, Sara Younus, Siddiq Younus
Syed Munawar Younus Shaheen | Mariam Younus, Tooba Younus, Isra Younus
Ghazala Younus Rashid Pervez | Ali Pervez, Imad Pervez, Neda Pervez. 108
Shijrah of Hakim Syed Shah Gerami
Hakim Gerami was the brother of my Step grand mother, we use to call him Gerami Nana. I had close relationship with his sons. Gerami Nana was the resident of village Kako district Jahanabnad but migrated to Karachi Pakistan after his retirement along with his children in 1955. He died in Karachi in the year 1986.
Shijrah
Hakim Syed Shah Gerami bven Syed Shah Nezami ben Syed Shah Ghazali Syed Shah Muhammad Ali ben Syed Shah Marwan Ali ben Syed Shah Muhammad Shah ben Syed Shah Muhammad Dervesh ben Syed Shah Muhh=ammad Aulia ben Syed Shah Abdul Ghaffar ben syed Shah Abdul Sulemani ben Syed Bare ben Syed Habibuddin ben Syed Hasibuddin ben Syed Abdul Aziz ben Syed Abdul Hamid ben Syed Serajuddin ben Syed Mazruddin ben Sye Muhammad Harve ben Syed Hasan Haje ben Syed Abul Hasan ben Syed Muhammad Raza ben Syed Muhammad Yahya Sufi ben Muhammad Sufyan ben Syed Muhammad Raza ben Syed Muhammad ben Syed Ismaeel ben Syed Muhammad Jafar ben Imam Muhammad Taqe ben Imam Muhammad Naqi ben Imam Ali Musa ben Imam Musa Kazim ben Imam Jafer Sadiq ben Imam Muhammad Baqar ben Imam Ali Zainul Abdin ben Imam Hussain Shahed Karbal ben Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza and Fatima az Zahra.
Hakim Syed Shah Herami Bibi Arzo | Zahid, Abid, Sajid, Rashid, Khalid, Hamid, Wajid, 109
Shahwar, Zarren, Mojahid
Syed Zahid Gerami
| Shams, Saad, Salman, Tasnin, Mehna, Ambarin
Mohammad Yusuf Gerami Alias Abid | Ashar, Nayer, Shamaiha, Shahla
Syed Sajid Gerami | Usaid, Masab
Syed Rashid Gerami | Zohair Gerami, Sammn
Syed Khalid Gerami | Saifur-Rahman Gerami, Ariba
Syed Wajid Gerami
Syed Mojahid Gerami | Amad, Ubed, Anna
Shijrah of Syed Khurshid Alam
Khrurshid Alam is the uncle (Khalu) of my wife. He is the descendents Hazrat Syed Ahmad Janjeri. He came to India from Jurjain a town in present day Iran during the reign of Sultan Shabuddin Ghauri. Sultan Ghauri send Syed Ibrahim Malik Baia with an army of sixty thousand solders to pacify the Raja of Bihar. Syed Ahmad Janjeri was one of the general who came to Bihar with him. After the war he was awarded twelve 110 villages and area became famous as Baragavan (Twelve villages). Mane the original name Madampur is one of the village where the forefather of Khurshid Alam settled. Syed Ahmad Janjeri is buried at village Nadiavan which is close to the railway station Sarari. The village has been abandoned by the Muslims during Hindu Muslim riot of 1946, but Hindus still respect grave site and pay homage during their festival. Syed Ahmad Janjeri had five sons and his descendents can be found at Biharsharif, Rajgir and Khusropure besides Baraganvna. His genealogy is like this.
Syed Ahmad Janjeri bin Syed Badruddin bin Syed Ali Masood Madni bin Syed Abul Fathah Ibrahim ben Syed Abul Sani bin Syed Mohammad Faras bin Syed Daud bin Syed Muhammad bin Syed Isa ben syed Daud Bzurg bin Syed Hasan bin Syed Hussain Zaid bin Syed Abul Hasan bin Syed Muhammad Akber Mansur bin Mir Syed Muhammad Mansur bin Mir Syed Umar Ali bin Mir Syed Ashrafuddin Yhya bin Syed Hasan Zaidi bin Syed Abul Hasan Zaid Shahid ben Imam Ali Zanul Abdin bin Imam Hussain Shahide Karbala bin Hazrat Ali Al Murtaza (ra) and Fatima Az Zahra (ra).
Syed Ahmad Sani of village Mane is the forefather of Syed Khurshid Alam. The genealogical record from Syed Ahmad Sani to Syed Ahmad Janjeri is not available at present, but the genealogical record from Syed Ahmad Sani to Syed Khurshid alam is like this according to the book “Sadat Janjeri” written by Syed Abdul Qaium Chowari of Karachi.
Syed Ahmad Sani | Syed Muhammad Sadiq | Syed Ishiq Allah | Syed Masih Allah | 111
Syed Enaet Hussain | Syed Sahamat Ali | Syed Khairat Ali | Syed Fazlehaq | |Syed Ali Hasan | Abdul Salam, Habibul Hasan, Mahmood Alam
Syed Abdul Salam ben Ali Hasan | Kalam, Akram, Nezam, Imam, Asmat, Shaukat,Rushan
Syed Habibul Hasan ben Ali Hasan Bibi | Khurshid Alam, Quraish Alam, Jamala, Nushaba,
Syed Khurshid Alam Sufia Khatoon | Syed Hadi Munawwar, Syed Bilal Alam, Samina
Syed Hadi Munawwer Alam Sabiha | Hiba Alam, Hamza Alam
Syed Bilal Alam Yasmin | Syed Ammar Alam
Samina bint Khurshid Alam Syed Javed Bari | Sohab Syed, Mussab Syed, Khobab Syed, Kaab 112
Jamala bint Syed Habibul Hasan. Bashir Hyder | Jamal Hyder, Afshan, Rubina
Jamal Hyder Eram | Mahin, Zain Hyder, Nida,
Afshan bint Bashir Hyder Muhammad Ali Qadri | Ayesha, Omar, Misha, Asjeel
Robina bint Bashir Hyder Liaqat Ali Qadri | Masood Ali Qadri
Nushaba bint Syed Habibul Hasan. Syed Ghasuddin | Faisal Syed, Fahad Syed, Fawaz Syed, Fakiha Sultana
Faisal J. Syed Sabiha Sultana | Noreen F. Syed, Omar F. Syed, Heba M. Syed
Fahad M. Syed Ayesha | Afreen Fahad, Fiza Fhad
Fawaz I.Syed Tasneem Mirza | Rayan Syed
113
Rakeha Sultana Farah Faisal Amanullah | Ahmad Amanullah, Anam Amanullah
Shijrah of Syed Mehdi Ali
Syed Mehdi Ali was one of the well known person of Patna and he happened to be the father of my brother’s best friend. I knew him from my school days when I was very young. He was born in the city of Patna in the year 1905. After graduating from the University of Patna with B.A. Honors, he joined the state civil service as Deputy Magistrate and retired as Director of Industries, Government of Bihar. He died in the year 1975 in Patna.
Syed Nooh Musawi the forefather of Syed Mehdi Ali migrated from Baghdad to Delhi some time in the middle of sixteenth century during the reign of Akbar. He was very learned man and was serving as a judge of the city of Baghdad. One day the son of the ruler of Baghdad was brought before him for some crime. Being an honest man he announced the appropriate punishment after confirming the fact. The ruler of the city did not like the judgment of the Qazi (Judge) and became mad at him. Syed Nooh thought that the ruler might take revenge for that, so he decided to migrate with his family and came to Delhi. Because of his exceptional ability he had no problem in finding a suitable job for himself. The king of the time recognized his ability and offered him and his son Syed Abu Bakr a Jagir (Real Estate) in the state of Bihar near the town of Bihar Sharif. Syed Nooh Musawi moved to Bihar with his family and established a Khankah. This information has been obtained from Amir Nama written in 1833 by Khan Bahadur Syed Amiruddin alias Amir Ali one of the descent of Syed Nooh Musavi. The family tree from Syed Nooh to Hazrat Ali(ra) is not
114 available at present, but the Shijrah from Syed Nooh to Syed Mehdi Ali is like this.
Syed Muhammad Nooh Musawi. | Syed Abu Bakr alias Qazi | Syed Noor Muhammad | Syed Ahmad | Syed Atta Muhiuddin alias Atta Ali | Syed Rafiuddin Muhammad | Syed Warisuddin Muhammad alias Waris Ali | Syed Asaduddin Ahmad alias Ahmad Ali | Syed Muhammad Ali | Munshi Ibrahim Hussain | Syed Muhammad Suhail | Syed Muhammad Ishaq | Musamat Sughra | Syed Muhammad Rafi | Syed Mehdi Ali Husne-Ara Begum * | Muhammad Ali, Haider Ali, Salamat Ali
Syed Muhammad Ali
115
Yasmin | Faisal S. Ali, Imteaz S. Ali, Samrina Ali
Syed Haider Ali Ishrat | Pervez S. Ali, Anwar S. Ali
Syed Salamat Ali Muazzaz | Manar, Einas, Nebras, Abdullah Ali
Imtiaz S. Ali ben Muhammad Ali Kathryn | Jamal Ali, Sarah Ali, Malik Ali
Pervez S. Ali ben Haider Ali Fiona Begam | Zakariya S. Ali, Adam S. Ali
* Daughter of Muhammad Yunus of Arrah G.D. of Syed Zainul Abdin,Neora
116