Khwaja
Makhdoom Alauddin Ahmed Sabir Pak
The
famous Dargah Kaliyar Sharif is now in existence for about 800
years. The arrival of Khwaja Makhdoom
Alauddin Ahmed Sabir Pak popularly known as Baba Sabir
at Kaliyar unfolds some interesting episodes of his life. It
is said that after his fathers death, Sabirs mother
Hazrat-e-Hazra brought him to Pakpattan in 1204 A D where her
brother Baba Farid lived. Eleven-year-old Sabir could make unusual
predictions. One day, he predicted his grandfathers death.
Astonished by this revelation, his uncle asked: Sabir,
when you are here, how can you predict your grandfathers
death, who lives in Baghdad? Sabir told his maternal uncle:
Right now when I was meditating, I saw my fathers
face. He pointed his three fingers towards me which signals
death. Baba Farid believed him and said: Child you
are a saint by birth. Thereafter, Baba Farid decided to
teach Sabir lessons on worldly wisdom and declare him a scholar.
After
three years of stay in Pakpattan, Sabirs mother decided
to return to Herat. Before leaving, she told Baba Farid: This
child talks less and eats less. So please take care. When I
come back, I will like to marry him to your daughter.
Baba Farid was delighted to hear this.
Soon
Baba Farid entrusted all the responsibilities of managing the
bhandara (mass meals) to Sabir. Every morning, Sabir came out
of his room, distributed meals and went back. Again in the evenings
he would do the same. For about twelve years, he followed this
practice and nobody ever saw him eating or drinking anything.
When Baba Farid asked him why, Sabir replied: When I was
made responsible for the bhandara, I was only told to distribute
food, so I did not eat. I survived on my souls strength.
Malangs of Kaliyar
One day, a man saw Sabir crying in his room. When the man asked
him the reason, Sabir said: Today, God has broken my
bonds with the world and told me that from now onwards only
divine men shall meet me. After that day, nobody ever
dared to go near Sabir.
On
one auspicious day, Baba Farid tied a turban on his head and
said: Sabir you are the protector of `Kaliyar Sharif.
Go there and serve the men of God.
Sabir Pak reached Kaliyar Sharif in 1253 A D. At Kaliyar, he
stayed in the house of an old woman called Gulzadi. Soon his
fame spread all over Kaliyar. Sabir started preaching the natives
of Kaliyar about God and religion. He prayed day and night and
had so much aura around him that people from far and near came
to see him. The Qazi of Kaliyar Sharif, Tabrak, became so jealous
that he began to poison people against him. Tabrak even spoke
ill about Sabir to Rayees-e- Kaliyar (a rich and influential
man). Rayees-e-Kaliyar decided to resolve this matter with Sabir
on a Jume Raat (Thursday evening).
The
Langar Khana (Sufi Kitchen) where Langar (sufi meal) is cooked
every day since the time of
Hazrat Shah Sabir Piya Kaliyari and distributed among the people
absoultly free of any charges . SubhanAllah .
People
engaged in Dhikr and Muraqba at the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Sabir
Piya Kaliyari - Kaliyar Sharif .
The water
canal along with the road to the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Sabir
Piya Kaliyari - Kaliyar Sharif .
On one Jume Raat when Sabir was delivering his
sermon at the masjid (mosque), Rayees-e-Kaliyar asked Sabir:
If you can tell me about my goat I lost three months back,
I will acknowledge you the Imam (religious head). Sabir
clearly understood that his authenticity was being challenged.
So he raised his hand towards the sky and said: Those
who have eaten the lamb, please come here. As soon as
he said this, 27 men appeared. When asked if they had eaten
the lamb, they denied it. On repeated denials, Sabir asked Rayees-e-Kaliyar
to call the lambs name. Rayees-e-Kaliyar shouted: Harmana
Harmana! Where are you? Hearing this, the lamb screamed
from the stomach of those men and feebly described how she was
cut into pieces and feasted upon. This miracle created ripples
but Rayees-e-Kaliyar and Tabrak called Sabir a magician
and continued conspiring against him.
For a long time, Sabir tolerated this resentment. However, one
day when Sabir was sitting with his peers in the first row to
read namaz (prayer to Allah) the rich men of Kaliyar objected.
A verbal dispute occurred and Sabir out of sheer anger cursed:
All of you will die and this place will remain deserted.
Soon the mosque fell, and those inside, were crushed to death.
There was utter chaos and trepidation everywhere. Only a Guler
tree, a bees hive, a small piece of land and a graveyard
survived the disaster.
The Sultan of Delhi, Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah,
hearing the news of Kaliyars devastation, was so scared
that he pleaded Baba Farid for protection. Baba Farid consoled
him but instructed him to stay twelve kos away from Kaliyar.F
or
12 years, Baba Sabir stood under the Guler tree which is still
there in Kaliyar. People who visit Kaliyar light candles around
this tree.
In 1435, another saint, Qutbe-Alam-Shah was born. It is believed
that one day when Qutbe-Alam was sweeping the floor of his grandfathers
graveyard, an old man passed by and said: Please sweep
my graveyard also. This old man was none other than Baba
Sabirs image. Alam realised that it was time for him to
go to Kaliyar. But before leaving for Kaliyar, Qutbe-Alam prayed
for 40 days. It is said that Baba Sabirs soul was so impressed
with his austere reverence and humility that he withdrew his
curse, shunned his wrath and allowed everyone to visit Kaliyar.
From this day onwards, Kaliyar Sharif became a famous pilgrim
spot. Qutbe-Alam built Baba Sabirs grave and a mosque
at Kaliyar and visited it every month. Today Qutbe-Alams
descendant, Shah Mansoor Aijaz Sabri is the religious head of
Kaliyar Sharif.
Every Urs is celebrated with a lot of fanfare in the month of
May-June in Kaliyar Sharif. After a glimpse of the moon of Rabi-ul-awwal,
the head priest goes to his old house (in Kaliyar village).
Inside the room, he reads Khatam Sharif and walks out with a
plate on his head. The plate has mehndi and dori in it. Next
he goes to the dargah and reads the Fatiha. After this the dori
is distributed to everyone. Mushaira and Qawwali take place
at the dargah and the mood is festive.
HOW
TO GET THERE
Kaliyar
Sharif at Roorkee is about 5 km along the canal from the market
premises. Roorkee is approximately 160 km north of Delhi.
By
Rail: Shatabdi Express from Delhi to Dehradun via Saharanpur.
By
Road: Delhi via Meerut and Muzzafarnagar to Roorkee.
Urs
celebration: May-June.
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