THE FIRST WORD
By Syeda Reaz Khanum, (MAs in English & Political Science)
When I wrote this blog, many family members argued me that our ladies are not allowed going on showbiz, print, electronic or social media because we belonged to the holiest family. I think as a teacher and a learning woman who has a lot of knowledge should share this wealth of intellectualism with others. I am teaching higher classes since 33 years and never close doors of knowledge to my female students and always preach enlightened thoughts. Mumtaz Shah Ji, my life partner is a very dignified SOFI personality with high metaphysical knowledge and practice but his some relatives especially Ghazanfoor is a cunning person who want to stop me write any thing on soft or hard paper. I sprayed a sense of depression on nerves and expectations of his chiefdom because my spouse Mumtaz Shah Ji is chief of Syed Fazal Husain Shah existing family.
Why I am writing.........?
I belonged to Bokhari Syed family of Jalinder (United India), migrated to Lahore in 1948. My father Col. Syed Ghulam Rasool Shah was an Army Officer and a friend of Mumtaz Shah Ji mataernal uncle Molanana Abdul Majid Qureshi. Qureshi sb requested to my father about a blood relationship with Shah Ji and then we tied up in a immortal relationship. We have four sons and all are well established in Rawalpindi.
Our third generation
They had left Birote forever, their contract with this place with our (me & my spouse) life
MASHADI SADAT OF BIROTE
A brief historical background
Each and every person in globe is an unfold book, it is witness of tidings and circumstances that a person faced during different times in past. My story started when Islam came in to being from Cave of Hira in Mecca. It is not a story of an individual but a nation, a civilization and a doctrine of a socio political system. Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) arose with bacon of light called Qurran, Sunnah and Ahl e Bait. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) preached Islam 2.3 decades of his life and produced a nation that is witnessed of all nations in rest of the World. There was 7.8 million miles territory was under his political government when he breathed his last at Madina.
Introduction
Emergence of Islam is a unique and immortal event in World History during Medieval ages when Roman Empire and Persian civilization were in process of declination. Human being was in a critical position as cried and weeped over socio political anarchy by anarchist all over the World. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was a light of hope for those who were oppressed, as a result his Divinely Movement ruled over not only bodies but also on spirits of humanity. He completed his holiest mission and delivered his last message to his nation at Mercy Mountain than met with his Rafiq ul Aala. A tragedy had started and Political Islam became a circus in hand of those who were opportunists and enemies of Ahl e Bait (Massinger of Al mighty Allah family). First they cornered Immam e Ali (AS), than Hasan Mujtaba (AS) and finally Imam Husain (AS) at Kerbala, in Iraq.
Tragedy of Kerbala and afterword
Ahl e Bait e Rasool was in a defensive position after Imam Husain martyrdom at kerbala. They came at Madina with a solo man of carriage Imam Sajjad (Zain ul Abedin) where his family care and safeguarded them but the situation of that time was not satisfactory nether no guaranty of future safety of honor. They were angry over negative attitudes of Iraqians who committed wickedness with Ahl e Bait e Rasool. All classical historian as Tibri, Ibn e Hussham, Ibn e Khildon and others agreed that Ahl e Bait e Rasool participated in Alvi Movement under leadership of Mukhtar Seqfi with favor of Mohammed Bin Hanfia, step brother of Imam Hussain (AS) and guardian of Ahl e Bait e Rasool of that time. Mukhtar Seqfi beheaded all those who participated in Kerbala Tragedy as companion of Caliph Yazid bin Moawea. Marvan who became new caliph of Umayyad dynasty was also a secret enemy of Ahl e Bait e Rasool. They finally thought that it was not a way of survive lance for them than they went to Egypt and then Persia after one century. (Khaitabat e Sadat, Written by Al-Sayyid Sadiq Al- Hossaini Al- Eshkevari and Translated by Mehdi sajjadi)
Word Syed and its background
Syed is a title; it denotes males accepted as descendants of the Ahl e Bait e Rasool. In the Arab world, it is the equivalent of the English word "liege-lord" or "master" when referring to a descendant of Muhammad, as in Sayyid John Smith. This is the reason the word sidi (from the contracted form sayyidī, 'my liege') is used in the Arabic. All Muslim communities recognized that Syed is holiest tribe among Muslims and if a Syed committed crime of adultery, he will never punish with Islamic Law for crime. (Book Yad e Baiza by Sahibzada Pir Mohammed Azher Bakoti) In some Syed communities believed that it is not necessary for a Syed to obtain prayers or fasting because God promised to Syeds tribe for life forgiveness. (Punjab Casts by Abbbbotsons, translated by Yasir Jawad Lahore)
Syeds in India and Pakistan Sub Continent
The Syed population in India and Pakistan is distributed. The total population of Syeds in India is 7,017,000, the largest populations being those of Uttar Pradesh (1,493,000), Maharashtra (1,108,000), Karnataka (766,000), Andhra Pradesh (727,000), Rajasthan (497,000), Bihar (419,000), West Bengal (372,000), Madhya Pradesh (307,000), Gujarat (245,000), and Tamil Nadu/Kerala (286,000). There is numerous numbers of Syeds in Pakistan. Some of these Syeds first migrated from Central Asia and then to the South Asia. Others reportedly settled in Sindh to protect their lives against the atrocities of the Omayyad and Abbasid caliphs. The Sadat of Pakistan is figured as the holiest and most religious people of the country, with a number of them having become popular and well-known religious icons and mushaekhs. (Punjab Casts by Abbbbotsons, translated by Yasir Jawad Lahore)
Genetically origins of my Syed family
My brother in law Khurshid H Shah, who is country manager of Comatso Inc. Japan in Saudi Arabia contacted to Genome Project of US Government. They get his blood samples and wrote after a half month to him “A study of your “Y” chromosomes by Elise M. S. Belle, Saima Shah, Tudor Parfitt & Mark G. Thomas showed that "self-identified Syeds had no less genetic diversity than those non-Syeds from the same regions, suggesting that there is no biological basis to the belief that self-identified Syeds in this part of the world share a recent common ancestry. However, self-identified men belonging to the ‘Islamic honorific lineages’(Syeds, Elavi, Hashemites, Quraysh and Ansari) show a greater genetic affinity to Arab populations—despite the geographic distance—than do their neighboring populations from India and Pakistan”. (This report is in possession of Syed Khurshid Shah and I studied it carefully.)
Our Syed family arrival in India
Our forefather Syer Baqir Husain Shah arrived India from Mashed Shareef, Iran soon after the arrival of Hazrat Amir Kabir Shah Ali Hamdan, a great Sufi of Persia and Kashmir. His preaching movement compelled all non Mulims to embrace Islam; as a result Gakhers of Potohar and Kethwal of Lora and Murree Hills translated them as most influential tribes of Muslim Ummah. Syed Baqir Husain Shah invited by Hathi Khan, a feudal lord and chief of Gakher Tribe at Pherwala Fort in Kahuta because his scholarly position attracted him and he believed that he (Syer Baqir Husain Shah) would calm and control angry Kethwals of area by his preaching. Gakher Chief Hathi Khan gifted him a large agri fields, constructed a large house with all facilities as well as safeguard at village Rahi in Union Council Lora. He visited all disturbed areas and his speeches warmed up local people spiritual thirstiness. He established Husaini Masque at Potha Shareef, Murree in 1581 first time. He also established a university at Lora named as Jamea Al Kosar with sponsorship of Pherwala Fort. Scholars of Fiqh Jafrea were busy day and night in this university. (Narrated by Syed Husnain Shah Jafri, Chairman Sadat Welfare Trust, Wadi e Lora, Gulistan Colony, Karachi)
Emergence of Lahor Derbar and decline of Gakhers
Gakher Tribe ruled over land of Potohar and Hazara more than eight centuries. Raja Haider Zaman Keani wrote in his book Tareekh e Gakhran that mentioned area was gifted to Kabul Shah (later he won title of Gakher Shah) by Mehmod of Ghazni in 1017. Hathi Khan was a ruler of this tribe who invited and setteled our ancestor Syer Baqir Husain Shah at Rahi, Lora. He also appointed his nephew Nawais Khan for protection and other necessities fulfillment of Syer Baqir Husain Shah family but his grand son Lahiq migrated to Ponch and satteled at a calm and very rich natural beauty land of Narhwal. Syer Baqir Husain Shah grand grand son Syed Mohammed Ali Shah maintained close relationship with him. Ranjeet Sing, a sikh ruler of Punjab got control of five rivers land and this situation produced a very disturbance atmosphere. Gakhers rulers were arrested, beheaded, buried and burned alive. Shadman Khan was the last Gakher ruler who buried alive in Lahor. Nawais Khan was also tortured by a Sikh General Hari Sing Nalwa and burned alive in Jammu, winter capital of Kashmir. Sikh forces established a fort in Dannah, Dewal, Sahlian and Bakote and any body who resisted, they laid down them in foundations alive and constructed walls on their bodies as accured in Dewal Fort. Syed Mohammed Ali Shah stood with decendants of Nawais Khan in this critical time and he gave asylum to his three sons Qaem Khan, Raeb Khan and minor ejaeb Khan in his house at Lora. They returned back to Narhwal safely when Nalwa blood typhoon stopped after 45 months. (Tareekh e Ponch by Syed Mehmood Azad)
Whey Syed Mohammed Ali Shah adopted title Jewan Shah?
Syed Mohammed Ali Shah was a high educated and Asna Ashari celebrity of his age, traveled many time to Delhi, Dakkan, Tehran, Qum, Asfahan, Ghazni, Kabul and Heart on invitation of Ulma (Islamic Scholars). He was a handsome, young, energetic and a socially powerful personality, who proposed by many Sadat chiefs as their son in law but his parents denied. They want to adopt a lady of his tribe in Lora as daughter in law, unfortunately a jealous but influential man of his tribe Rahman Shah was apposed this wedding. Syed Mohammed Ali Shah also against his parent decision about his life but he accepted their demand unwillingly and couple tied up. I am a Muslim Shuman and I think that couple was victimized by a spiritual conspiracy and any shaman (Muslim or Hindu) of that time had done Satanic practice against him. He was enrooting to Delhi and he received a bad news, he took about turn, came Lora, slaughtered Rahman Shah and escaped to Kashmir at mid night. Some people of my tribe believed in a tradition that he killed his wife but it is not true because first of all we are Husaini Syeds who are guardian of ladies, secondly he was a scholar of Islam and believed that women were not guilty of any sin. His wife was a solo daughter of his parents and she was also an educated lady followed with strict Islamic principals. Couple reached second day at Narhwal and seek asylum to elder son of Nawais Khan who welcomed and promised to guard him in any circumstances but they imposed a condition if he practiced religious matters according to Hanfi Maslik. He wanted some time to council with his spouse and next day he announced that he was follower of Noman Bin Sabit (Imam Abu Hanifa) and he strictly followed his promise of noble cause since his last moment of life. He gave up his real name Syed Mohammed Ali Shah on security reasons and adopted new title of Sufi Syed Jewan Shah. Couple suspended all contact inside and outside Kashmir where they were living in a simple way. They also adopted loneliness and served local people religiously and spiritually day and night without any break. His wife died two years after his arrival in Narhwal and buried there. He remarried with grand daughter of Nawais Khan after a short time and decided to leave his in laws family. (This narration told me my elder brother late Syed Muzaffer Husain Shah)
Syed Mohammed Ali Shah (Jewan Shah now) arrival in Birote
All people who lived in Birote, their ancestors migrated from Kashmir in old days. The did not disconnect themselves from their ethnological roots and they always went to prey on graveyards of forefathers. They also continued trade and merchandized relationships with their tribal brethrens. Some buffalo traders were in Nerhwal when Syed Mohammed Ali Shah expressed his will to leave his in laws family, his father in law invited Birote traders to his house and told them the issue. Lalli Khan, the head of traders welcomed his proposal and said that it was a mercy of God if Syed Mohammed Ali Shah embraced Imamatship of them in their masque in Baglotian, Birote. Syed Mohammed Ali Shah said that he and his family required safeguard from his foes of Lora because they were in his search and if they traced him, they would kill him. Lalli Khan answered to Syed Mohammed Ali Shah father in law Nawais Khan that we should sign an agreement and then he (Syed Mohammed Ali Shah) came to Birote. He also commented that we were also Ahl e Bait e Rasool and we would never allow any one inside or outside Birote to interfere our Imam Syed Mohammed Ali Shah domestic or religio social matters. We were his brothers in any capacity and would granted him an agri land against his religious services as imamat in prayers, Khatams (Deceased anniversary prayers), Isqat (Alms that distributed on grave of deceased before his burial), recitation of Holly Quran in their forefathers memorial, Janaza Prayers and Nikah. Both parties agreed on terms and conditions of a MOU that signed next month. Syed Mohammed Ali Shah signed agreement as Jewan Shah and wrote his caste as Gondal. Ex Genral Councilor Zoaq Akhter Abbasi showed me the original document of agreement in Birote and I witnessed the writing in which Gondal cast of Jewan Shah mentioned. Any one can imagined that whey he preferred going to mention the Gondal cast because there were an other influential religious family was existed in Birote that called himself as Alvi Awan, Gondal clane. Jewan Shah needed social as well as ethnological help and Alvi Awan of Birote assured him that you will treat as their family member. Molana Mian Abdul Aziz Alvi also signed on agreement as witness and as a brother of Jewan Shah. He came with his family in Birote in start of summer, 1831 and first settled in Khoas, Birote with Molana Alvi and then shifted to Chaprhan. Old house in Chaprhan had built up by Marawat Khan and granted him forever. Syed Mohammed Ali Shah (Jewan Shah) authored a three dimensional future strategy at that time crucial circumstances. He decided that his sons might be cemented their social relationship with Narhwal Gakherh family of Nawais Khan so they might be helped them when they need. His three sons including Ghulam Mohammed Shah married with ladies of Gakhers, Mughal and Khakha ladies and gained full social support of mentioned tribes but they could not gained any knowledge and this negative harmed two generations since Noor Husain Shah who was a Dra Expert (A live stock expert who melted a chili and salt mixture inside buffalo vagina) instead of a scholar of Islam but I think it was a necessity of hour and interrogation mark about their survival.
Syed Fazal Husain Shah, a Legend of Mashadi Syeds
Syed Fazal Husain Shah was nether a wrestler nor a Sheve god but he is a enlighten man of courage with a thick a weak physique. He gifted his tribe a ethnological status and paradise lost that they have never won since trgedy with Syed Mohammed Ali Shah (Jewan Shah). He had breathed his last in age of only 58 years of his life but his shining works are brighter as brightness of Sun.
Man Ji hor, my beloved mother in law
and spouse of Syed Fazal H. Shah
Hanifa Jan Qureshi
Syed Fazal Husain Shah (31 December 1901 – 28 September 1958) was a notable character of Sufism.[1] He was also a pioneering educator in his field and a highly popular religious personality within his tribe.[2]
Early age
Syed Fazal Husain Shah was born in a religious Sadat Mashadi family[3] in Birote. He received an education on the holy book Quran [4] from his father Syed Noor Husain Shah and a traditional education from the Mobile Educational Academy of Syed Massom Shah in Juleal and Birote. He was an intelligent fellow with great knowledge of the rational sciences. He attended the Government Vernacular Primary School Reala and then moved to a village school in Malkot [now(Union Councils of Pakistan|Union Council)] Malkot) in 1907, where he received the highest possible award, granted to the best students. He also passed the middle examination administered by Punjab University in 1916 and was appointed as a teacher at the age of 18 by the district educational authorities.
Descendants
Fazal Husain Shah had become the son-in-law of Hazrat Molana Mian Pir Fakir-u-llah Bakoti in 1921, but she unfortunately tortured by his elder step brother Mir Ji Shah and her brothers got divorce forcibly. He remarried Hanifa Jan, the solo daughter of Molana Mian Mir Aalam Qureshi, in Birote Khurd. The couple had six sons and five daughters by 1952.
.JPG)
Masooda Khanum (Died in 2009)
Syed Fazal H Shah second elder daughter
Syed Fazal H Shah second elder daughter
Syed Fazal H Shah second elder son
Late Syed Muzafer Husain Shah
- Elder son was Syed Muzafer Husain Shah, spent his life as a Islamic Scholar and a Sufi of his time. He was Inspector of Schools in Northern Areas of newly established Gilgit Beltistan province. He died in2003 and laid to rest at Kirpa, Rural Islamabad. He had three sons and four daughters. His son Mohammed Ali Shah is civil engineer by profession and the Holy Quraan scholar.
Syed Mumtaz Husain Shah Mashadi
- My spouse Syed Mumtaz Husain Shah Mashadi (The Saint of Birote) his second son, having four sons and no daughter.
My younger brother in law
Ghazanfooooor
- Third, fourth and fifth sons are Ghazanfer, Iqbal H Shah and Khurshid. Ibal H Shah is an educationistand running a public school in Mansehra. He is also an Urdu poet. Ibal H Shah have three sons Khalid H. Shah and others, all are engaged in NGO's social work.
My an other younger brother in law
Educationist and poet
Syed Iqbal Husain Shah Mukhlis Birotvi
- Sajad H. Shah was his younger son who got Accountant post in Auditor General of Pakistan[8] office with his long study and hard working in departmental examinations. He embraced orphonhood at age of only five years and survived with help of his elder brother Syed Muzafer Husain Shah. He died in2012 by brain tumor and laid to rest in Kirpa, Rural Islamabad. He had four sons and a daughter, all are civil engineers.
Death and burial
Fazal Husain Shah retired from the Education Department in Hazara in 1956 and was prescribed bed rest due to illness and asthma. He constructed a separate house, made it into a boarding house, and spent his time there. He died on 28 September 1958 and was buried at the Phawarhi na Bagla graveyard in Birote.[14]
Some Notables of his Tribe
- Dr. Syed Ilyas H Shah is the first highly qualified specialist medical practitioner in a local basic health unit (BHU).
Dr. Syed Ilyas H Shah
First MBBS Doctor of our tribe, serving in Birote
- Syed Mohsin Shah is a mechanical engineer from the University of Engineering and Technology (Peshawar)">University of Engineering and TechnologyPeshawar in 2011. He is in the USA on official training sponsored by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. He is a grandson of Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah.
References
- Mystical Islam By Julian Baldick, published by I,B Tauris & co Ltd. London in 2012.
- Religion As Communication: God's Talk By Enzo Pace, published by Ashgat Publishing Company USA in 2011. Encyclopaedia Iranica published by Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1996. pp523
- Faithful education: madrassahs in South Asia By Ali Riaz, published by Rutgers University Press USA in 2008.
- Sher Shah Suri by Aḥmad Saʻīd, published by Feroze sons Lahore, Pakistan in 1970
- Studies in Mughal History By Ashvini Agarwal, published by Motilaal Banarsidas, Delhi India in 1983
- Saints And Sages of Kashmir by Triloki Nath Dhar, published by A P H Publishing Corporation New Delhi, India. 2004, pp 253
- Rules and Transactions: Some Aspects of Marriage Among the Dhund Abbasi of North East Pakistan by Hastings Donnan, published by University of Sussex USA, 1981
- E.J. Brill's First Encyclopaedia of Islam 1913–1936 published by E J Brill and Luzak & Co Leiden, The Neatherland in 1993.
- Martial Races of Undivided India By Vidya Prakash Tyagi, published by Kalpaz Publication Delhi, India in 2009.
- Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province By H.A. Rose, IBBETSON, Maclagan published by Asian Educational Services New Dehi, India in 1919.
- Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicle of the Kings of Kashmir by Kalhaṇa, M. A. Stein, published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers (Pvt. Limited) New Delhi, India in 1989.
- History of British Rule in IndiaVol. 01 By Edward Thompson, Geoffrey Theodore Garratt, Published by Atlantic Publishers and Distributers New Delhi, India in 1999.
- End-of-Life Rituals By Catherine Chambers, Published by Evans Publishing Group London, 2007.
