Bu Ali Shah Qalandar

Shaikh Sharafuddeen Bu Ali Qalandar Panipati (1209-1324 CE), born at Ganja, Azerbaijan) was a Sufi saint who lived in India. His mausoleum in the town of Panipat is a place of pilgrimage.

Birthplace

One account says he was born in early 1400 in Panipat, India. However an epitaph on his tomb in Persian gives his birthplace as Ganja in present-day Azerbaijan. It traces his descent from Imam e Aazam Nauman Ibn Thaabit Abu Hanifa.

Tomb

The dargah (mausoleum or shrine), mosque and enclosure at the Qalandar Chowk in Panipat were constructed by Mahabat Khan a Muslim noble in service of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Mahabat Khan's own tomb in red sandstone is adjacent to the saint's mausoleum. The tombs of Hakim Mukaram Khan and the Urdu poet Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali are also located within the enclosure.

The left wall of the mausoleum has a qasida (panegyric) embossed and painted in blue and gold, written by Zahuri Neishabouri who visited India during the reign of Akbar.

A large number of people from all walks of life - Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians - visit the tomb and offer prayers there each Thursday.

Legends

Various legends exist about the saint. One legend says after the ibadah (act of obedience and submission) of 36 years standing in the water in Karnal he was awarded the status of "Bu Ali" (Fragrance of Ali) by Muhammad. After achieving this Rutba (rank) he was visited by many other Sufi saints. An alternative legend to explain his name says that Muhammad appeared to him in a dream and offered him a wish. The Qalandar asked for prophethood and was told that all positions has been filled and Muhammad was the last one. He asked to be Ali and was told that position was also filled. He then asked for at least the fragrance of Ali and that wish was granted. A scholarly view of his name is that "Bu Ali" is simply another form of "Kuniyyat" "Abu Ali".

Further reading

*Mulla Abdul Qadir Badayuni, "Muntakhab-ut-Tawaareekh". English translation by John William Greers. The Royal Asiatic Society Calcutta. India.

*Sir Ghulam Yazdani, "Epigraphia Indo-Islamica". Vol XIII. Archaeological Survey of India. Institute of Archaeology, New Delhi.India.

*Dr. Shaikh Muhammad Ikram, "Aab-e-kausar". Shaikh Ghulam Ali & Sons. Lahore. Pakistan.

*Shaikh Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dehlavi, "Akhbaar-Ul-Akhiyaar". ( Urdu translation by Professor Ghulam Rasool Mehr). Maktaba Usmania. Hyderabad.A.P. India.

External links

* [http://panipat.nic.in Panipat municipal website]