Popularly known as Shah e Hamdhan, Sayyid Mir Ali Muhammad came from Hamdhan in western Iraq. His father, Ali bin Shihabuddin, belonged to the ruling elite of the city, playing an important role under the Seljuks. The family traced their lineage to Prophet Muhammad through Imam Ali.
The centre of the Kubrawiya Sufi order in Kashmir came to be established towards the end of the 14th century. After completing his education, Shah e Hamdhan became a disciple of some well-known Sufis of the Kubrawi Order, which had gained prominence in the Central Asian region under Shaykh Alauddawla Simnani. He came to Kashmir in 1384 AD during the reign of Sultan Qutubuddin, and remained a royal guest. Prior to the journey, the Sufi had sent his cousins, Sayyid Hussain Simnani and Sayyid Tajuddin to explore the situation in the valley.
They became the first Kubrawi Sufis to settle in the valley and were given land grants by the Sultan. Both Sufis made considerable impact on the local population. Sayyid Hussain Simnani established a khanqah in the village of Kulgam that became the nucleus of welfare activities. It is largely held that it was Simnani’s teachings that had led Nund Rishi’s father Salat Sanz, the village watchman, to embrace Islam and is believed to have enrolled Lal Ded as a disciple. The Shaivite wandering mystic is said to have had a spiritual experience with Sayyid Mir Ali Muhammad Hamdhani.’
Shah e Hamdhan is said to have written over 100 books of which 50 short treatises have survived. The most famous of these is ‘Zakhirat ul Muluk’ that explores the social and political ethics which rulers and the governing classes were expected to follow. His writings created an ambience for the evolution of an Islamic consciousness.
The scholar’s classification of state subjects as Muslims and non-Muslims, coupled with a missionary zeal have faced some criticism. He supported his arguments by quoting Caliph Umar, the third ruler of the Islamic Caliphate. However, he wrote that a Muslim ruler, being the shadow of God should render equitable justice and beneficence to both believers and non-believers. He was concerned with ensuring the viability of the Shariah through reforming the behaviour of the Sultans and the ruling elite.
Shah e Hamdhan translated the twelfth century’s Sufi scholar Ibn al Arabi’s ‘Fusus al Hakim’ into Persian and wrote many treatises explaining his mystic philosophies. Another important book written by the Sufi scholar is ‘Risala e Futuwwa’, where he defines the different concepts of chivalry in Sufism. These ideas of brotherhood and chivalry added a mystic flavour to the organization of Anatolian and Iranian dervishes, involved or associated with merchants and artisans.
The mystic is credited with the revival of Kashmiri handicrafts, an industry that was then on the decline. Nearly 700 Sayyids (descendants from the family of Prophet Muhammad) from Central Asia are said to have accompanied the Sufi Master to Kashmir, many of whom were skilled artisans and masters in the art of shawl weaving. Encouraged by the Sultan, they shared their skills with the local craftsmen, giving a boost to the handicraft sectors. The Sufi encouraged people to earn their livelihood through honest and hard-working means.
Even today, shawl-making in Kashmir is often called kar- e- amiri, the work of a king, referring to Shah e Hamdhan, who earned a living by making caps with his own hands. He gifted a cap that he had made to Sultan Qutubuddin, who wore it under his crown. The cap remained a family treasure, worn by several descendants of the Sultan. Eventually, the ruler Fath Shah willed that the cap be placed in his shroud and buried with him.
After a brief spell in Kashmir, Shah e Hamdhan headed towards Makkah for a pilgrimage. He died on the way at Pakhli on 6 Dhul Qada 786 Hijri/1385 AD. His body was carried to Khuttalan, in present- day Tajikistan where it lies buried. The Urs of Shah e Hamdhan is celebrated with great fervour in the valley. Thousands of devotees gather at the Khanqah e Moulla, the mosque built on the banks of the Jhelum River by Sultan Sikander in 1400 AD to honour the Sufi.
