SHAH KHALID

Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) has authored many books and pamphlets in Arabic and Persian, which lay stress on the recognition of the unity of God and the worship of One God, His remembrance and reflection also full of sublime teachings and guidance on mystic experiences, and Aurad-I-Fathia is one of these priceless compositions, concise primer, describing the unity and attributes of ALLAH (SWT) in a grand style. It is often recited daily after Fajar prayers (early dawn) and Isha prayers (before going to bed) in most mosques of the Kashmir valley. It is committed to memory by tens of thousands of Kashmiris, even illiterate Kashmiris have committed to memories it, and has been found very effective whenever faced with any problem. It has been found to serve as a real healer of the worried mind, when recited with full understanding of its meaning.
Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadan (RA) has himself given an account of how he came to give the title “AURAD-I-FATHIA”. “As I collected and compiled the “Aurad” obtained from 400 divines, the righteous, the scholars and was considering, what name to give to it, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) graced me by his presence, when I reached Madina Munawara and said, “Hold this AL-Fatiha”. When I took from the holy hands of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), what was gifted to me and glanced over it, I saw it was the same ‘Aurad’ that had been compiled by me. “Aurad is the means to success and felicity.”
Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (1314–1384) was a Persian Sufi of the Kubrawiya order, a poet and a prominent Shafi Muslim scholar. He was born in Hamadan. Hamadan was then a great center of Islamic learning. At a young age Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) mastered all the available knowledge in theology, philosophy, metaphysics and Sufism and travelled extensively seeking knowledge and practicing spiritualism, till he became a scholar of repute, a mystic and a perfect saint. He spent his life in propagating Islam and undertook several extensive tours through difficult terrains and over hazardous routes and played a major role in spreading Islam in Kashmir and also influenced the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was known as Shah-e-Hamadan (“King of Hamadan”), and Amir-I- Kabir (“the Great Commander”).
Hazrat Amir-I-Kabir (RA) came to Kashmir three times , in 774 AH/1372 AD, 781 AH/ 1378 AD and 785 AH/ 1383 AD. The first visit lasted 4 to 6 months. During this brief stay, he held intellectual and spiritual debates with a Hindu yogi Shahpore-the keeper and chief priest of the large temple in Srinagar, by Raja Parversen in the second century AD. The learned Hindu Sadhu wielded great influence on the Hindu masses and also on the Hindu intelligentsia. The Yogi accepted Islam amidst a large gathering. This in turn resulted in mass conversions. The Muslims of Kashmir owe a great debt of gratitude to this luminary of Islam for bringing them en-masse within the fold of Islam. He is lovingly known as the founder of Islam in Kashmir (“Baniay-Musalmani”). He had brought two relics of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with him.
Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) spent his early years under the tutelage of Alaud-Daula Simnani, a famous Kubrawi saint from Semnan, Iran. Despite his teacher’s opposition to Ibn Arabi’s explication of the Wahdat al-Wujud (“unity of existence”), Hamadani wrote Risala-i-Wujudiyya, a tract in defense of that doctrine, as well as two commentaries on Fusus al-Hikam,. Ibn Arabi’s work on Al-Insan al-Kamil. Hamadani is credited with introducing the philosophy of Ibn-Arabi to South Asia.
Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) traveled widely. It is said he traversed the known world from East to West three times. In 774 AH/1372 AD Hazrat Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) lived in Kashmir. After Sharif-u–Din Abdul Rahman Bulbul Shah, he was the second important Muslim to visit Kashmir. Hazrat Amir-I-Kabir (RA) went to Mecca, and returned to Kashmir in 781/1379, stayed for two and a half years, and then went to Turkistan by way of Ladakh. He returned to Kashmir for a third time in 785/1383. Hazrat Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) is regarded as having brought various crafts and industries from Iran into Kashmir. It is said that he brought 700 Sadat’s/ followers, including some weavers of carpets and shawls with him, who taught the craft of pashmina textile and carpet-making to the local population.
Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) travelled and preached Islam in different parts of the world including Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Syria, and Turkestan. The Mausoleum of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani in Tajikistan.Chihil Asrar, Zakhiratul Maluk, Sirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala Dah Qaida, Mirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala Mashia Meeriah, Risala Munajat, Risala Fatwia,Risala Zikriya, Risala Farsia, Risala Hamadania, Risala Wajoodia, Risala Eitiqadia, Masharibul Azwaaq, Munqabatul Jawahir, Muwadatul Qurba , Sharah Fasoosul Hikam, Asrarul Nuqt, Sharah Qasida-i-Khumria Fardia, Maktoobat dar soorat-u-seerati Insan, Risala Istilahat-i-ilm-ul-Qiyafah, Kitab-u-sabeen-fe-fazail Amirul Mumineen Ali, Arbayeen, Raudatul Firdous, Firdausul Akhyar, Manazil-us-Salikeen, Khulasat-ul-Manaqib. These are the names of some books authored by Syed Ali Hamadani (RA).
Shah-I- Hamadan belonged to Shafi School of fiqah. But as the Muslims of Kashmir belonged to Hanfia School of fiqah, he suggested no changes in this practice in the overall interests of Islam. When Sultan Shahab-u-Din was engaged in a war with King Ferozshah, Hazrat Shah-I-Hamadan (RA) got peace restored between them. Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) left for heavenly abode in Kunar Province of Afghanistan, and was carried to Khatlan, Tajikistan, where his shrine is located.
—The author can be reached at: [email protected]

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