Hazrat Munem Pak

Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Muhammad Munam Pak (R.A.)

(1082-1185 Hijri / AD 1671-1771)

Naqshbandia Silsilah, one of the most popular Sufi orders of the world, spread in India by the efforts and influence of two great Sufi saints and formed two chains or lineages. One chain is linked with Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi (R.A) who is also described as Mujaddid Alf Thaani (reviver of the second millennium). That is why his chain is called Naqshbandia Mujaddidia. The other chain got associated with his contemporary Sufi saint Hazrat Syedna Ameer Abul-Ula Ahrari (R.A). A resident of Agra, Hazrat Ameer Abul-Ula (R.A) was a descendant of the world famous Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Obaidullah Ahrar (R.A). It is his name why this chain is known as Naqshbandia Abul-Ulaiya. It will not be an exaggeration if it is said that “Naqshbandia Abul-Ulaiya” is one of the largest and most widespread Sufi orders in the Indian sub-continent. It will not also be an exaggeration to say that the most popular name in this order after Syedna Ameer Abul-Ula (R.A) across the sub-continent is that of Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Munam Pak (R.A).

 

Memoirs of his Life:

He was born in 1082 Hijri (AD 1671) in the village named Pachna in the district Shaikhpura in Bihar. Even today his place of birth in the village Pachna surrounded by beautiful mountainous region is a seat of reverence. His family lineage meets up with a great Sufi saint Hazrat Makhdoom Shamsuddin Haqqani (R.A.) whose shrine is present at Billouri in the district Lakhisarai. Makhdoom Haqqani (R.A.) is a descendant of the great Sufi Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham Balkhi (R.A.) who is also famous by the name Abu bin Adham (R.A).

Having completed his primary education at his paternal village he came to Deewan Syed Abu Sayeed Jaafer Muhammad Quadri’s (R.A.) khanqah at Barh district near Patna. He not only acquired higher education there but also continued receiving recondite knowledge of Sufism. After his death Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) received knowledge from his son Deewan Syed Khaleelullah (R.A.) and became his “murid” (disciple) under Quadria Qutubia order and was rewarded with “Khilafah”. Having accomplished his education after strenuous efforts of several years he moved to Delhi with the instruction and permission of his “peer”. Here in Delhi, for around forty years, he taught the students of higher education at the Madrasa situated behind Jama Masjid.

During his stay in Delhi also he ceaselessly continued his spiritual practices. Those days Hazrat Khwaja Shah Muhammad Farhad (R.A.) was popular all over Delhi as a legendary Sufi saint . Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) also went to him and dedicated himself fully to his service. Biographers have mentioned that he remained there in his service for eleven years and during this period he remained completely engrossed in practising the spirtual teachings of Naqshbandia Abul-Ulaiya Silsilah. Hazrat Shah Farhad’s (R.A.) peer, Hazrat Syed Dost Muhammad Burhanpuri (R.A.), was a mureed and khalifa of Hazrat Syedna Ameer Abul-Ula (R.A.).

After Hazrat Shah Farhad (R.A.) had passed away in 1145 Hijri, Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) got benefitted from his mureed (disciple), khalifah (caliph) and successor Hazrat Meer Syed Asadullah (R.A.)and got the honour of Ijazah and Khilafah as a testimony to his accomplishment. By the time Hazrat Meer Syed Asadullah (R.A.) passed away in  1147 Hijri, Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) had gained so prominent stature that he was enthroned as inheritor of Hazrat Shah Farhad (R.A.)

Having imparted spiritual guidance to people for several years there, one day, he received indication from the prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.S.) to migrate to Patna. In Patna, he initially stayed at Meer Taqi mosque near Meetanghat and then came to Mulla Meetan’s mosque which was famous as “ Jama Masjid Hazrat Mulla Meetan” and his khanqah got established here. Having satisfied the spiritual thirst of lacs of people for a long period of time he left for his heavenly abode, at the age of about 103 years, on the eleventh day of Rajab in 1185 Hijri (AD 1771). He was consigned to grave next to Jama Masjid Hazrat Mulla Meetan. Later on, his mausoleum was built there which remained very simple in early days but its glittering stateliness is worth watching now. Hundreds of devotees and venerators visit here and pay their tributes everyday.

 

His nature and conduct:

He was obedient, calm, gentle and affable from his childhood. By temperament, he possessed in-built curiosity for knowledge. Everyone who met would be impressed by him. He had keen interest in Ibadah (prayer to Allah) from his childhood. He relentlessly continued stringent and strenuous prayers, meditation and contemplation throughout his life. He often performed Roza (fast). Sometimes he would eat something after three or four days of fast. When his mureeds and khalifahs, who lived with him, felt that he would not be alive any more, he would recite a line in Persian which meant that “hunger has been created for special devotees of Allah.” These words pronounced by him would fill everyone with such spiritual strength as it would wash away the feeling of hunger or thirst.

His contentment had reached the zenith and he never preserved anything for tomorrow. Anything that was left unconsumed on a particular day would be distributed by the end of the same day, so much so that the leftover water in the pitcher would also be poured out in the night. Obviously, for such a selfless and stoic person it was difficult to distinguish between rupees and paise. This was probably the reason why he never thought of building a house, marrying or settling down.

 

His spiritual life:

Having come to Patna also he remained distressed for some time. Initially he felt restless and lacked  concentration even in prayers. Then he went to Biharsharif and stayed there for three months meditating near the mausoleum of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Makhdoom-e-Jahan Shaykh Sharfuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri (R.A.). After this his entire condition got changed. Having returned from there, while residing at Meetanghat, he became a point of attraction for one and all. From ordinary people to dignified personalities from reputed khanqahs and renowned Sufi families started to assemble at his khanqah.

Prominent Sufi saint Syed Waris Rasoolnuma Banarsi’s (R.A) caliph and Hazrat Hakeem Izzatullah Kareemchaki’s (R.A.) son Hazrat Hakeem Farhatullah Kareemchaki came from Chapra and urged him to satisfy his thirst for the knowledge of God.

Sajjada Nasheens (inheritors) of renowned sages like Hazrat Peer Jagjot and Hazrat Adam Sufi (R.A.) also got to his tutelage to acquire erudition. Both the sons of the eminent scholar Mulla Ghulam Yahya Bihari, Mulla Kamal and Mulla Jamal came under his supervision and guidance. Hazrat Shah Hassan Ali Shoaibi, who was a descendant of Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Shoaib Firdausi and a great saint of his times, was his mureed and khalifa. Hazrat Syed Shah Ghulam Hussain Danapuri, who came from a renowned Sufi family of Shahtoli Danapur, also got associated with him. Hazrat Maulana Hassan Raza Raipuri, who belonged to a prominent Sufi family of Bihar, was his mureed, khalifa and inheritor.

Hazrat Ruknuddin ‘Ishque’ (R.A.) and Hazrat Shah Muhammad Azeem Dehlavi, the descendants of his spiritual teachers at Delhi Hazrat Khwaja Shah Farhad (R.A.) and Hazrat Shah Asadullah (R.A.), came to Patna to benefit from him. Hazrat Ruknuddin ‘Ishque’ (R.A.) settled here only. His khanqah is situated even today in front of the same Meer Taqui’s Mosque where Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) had initially resided after his arrival from Delhi.

Hazrat Sufi Muhammad Daayem (R.A) came to Patna from Dhaka to meet Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) and dedicated himself to his service. There are dozens of khanqahs engaged in promoting this Silsila (order) not only at Dhaka but in entire Bangladesh even today.

The total number of khanqahs (abbeys) associated with this Silsila spread across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka would be around 150 and the number of devotees and people associated with them would come to crores.

According to the contemporary Sufi literature Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A) was regarded as the greatest Sufi saint of his era in Bihar. Based on these sources of information the belief comes to the light that he presented himself in the assembly of Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W.S. This was a stage of extraordinarily high degree of elevation in the field of spiritualism. That is why he was also known as “Haazir-e- Bargah-e- Laulak” (present before prophet Muhammad, S.A.W.S.). This belief is also authenticated by an incident. When somebody presented a “Mou-e-Mubarak” (a sacred hair of His Holiness Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W.S.) to the founder of Khanqah Mujeebia, Phulwari sharif, Hazrat Peer Shah Mujeebullah Quadri (R.A.) a question cropped up as to how it would be considered original. It was unanimously decided to put this issue before Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.). He listened to everything and asked them to come the next day. The next day he not only affirmed that it was a hair from the sacred beard of prophet Muhammad S.A.W.S but also explained what part of the face the hair belonged to. Everybody was satisfied with the reply because they believed that the information was obtained by asking prophet Muhammad S.A.W.S. Nobody has ever doubted that “Mou-e-Mubarak” until now.

 

His works:

He authored three books during his stay in Delhi. These three of his “Mukashifat-E-Munami”, “Ilhamat-E-Munami” and “Mushahidat-E-Munami” enjoy a distinguished position in the world of spiritual writing. These books written in 1119 Hijri, 1120 Hijri and 1123 Hijri respectively are unique on the basis of their subjects and importance. In these books Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) has given an account of those experiments and experiences that he observed during the process of his spiritual advancement. Normally saints do not reveal these things before all but he discussed these subtle and deep-seated

realities in figurative form in his aesthetic and literary Persian which is matchless. The manuscripts of “Ilhamat-E-Munami” and “Mukashifat-E-Munami” are available at Khudabakhsh Library at Patna and many other libraries of the subcontinent. Comparatively, the manuscripts of “Mushahidat-E-Munami” are not so widely available. But the manuscripts of all these books are available in the library of his Khanqah-E-Munamia at Meetanghat in Patna City. Besides the manuscripts of his other two hand-written books are also available here. His enthusiasm and involvement in the promotion of knowledge lasted till his life. That is why, even at the age of eighty years when he came to Patna from Delhi,  he somehow managed to spare time to teach the students of higher education despite his exceptionally busy spiritual schedule.

He is regarded as one of the greatest Sufi saints of the Sufi world. He was well-informed of all renowned Sufi orders and he possessed deep insight into their secret values and nature. That is why he had the central position in all the Sufi orders and acted as a confluence of all of them. So all the Sufi orders extending forward from him were adorned with the sub-title of Munamia. He would impart the teachings and invocations of the same order as desired by the person who approached him. He had the privilege of such spiritual nearness with Bade Peer Hazrat Syedna Shaykh Abdul Quadir Jeelani (R.A.) and Makhdoom-e-Jahan Hazrat Shaykh Sharfuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri (R.A.) as if he were their direct Mureed and Khalifa.

A number of miraculous or superhuman events were witnessed during his stay in Delhi and particularly when he resided in Patna. But he never wanted or expressed interest in making presentation of such acts.

Everybody was welcome at his khanqah, be it Sufi or Yogi (hermit), Hindu or Muslim. Benevolence, compassion and charity were his main qualities. He liked his mureeds (disciples) very much, loved them as his offspring and treated them affectionately. Having spent more than half of his life, a Hindu Yogi who was a follower of Guru Nanak and whose name was Gurbakhsh came to him and made a request. He explained that he was a devotee of Krishna and that he had been earnestly willing for a long time to catch a glimpse of him. He also mentioned that he had traveled all over the country, met a lot of reputed Yogis but nobody could help him make his dream come true. He urged that he had heard so many a thing about him and came to him with a lot of hope. Listening to him, Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) smiled and got into meditation. The yogi also went into meditation and after a while he suddenly got up and started dancing. Rapt in gaiety, he kept on dancing for sometime and then fainted and fell down. When his condition improved and he returned to senses, the people present at the khanqah that time asked him how he felt. He said that when he meditated he felt as if he had reached Vrindavan and there he saw Krishna with his eyes. He said that Krishna was playing the flute which produced the sound “Laa Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah”, Gopis were dancing and the environment was full of frolic. He affirmed that seeing all this he also got enraptured and started dancing. Thereafter, he became a disciple of Hazrat Munam Pak (R.A.) and attained accomplishment. He told him that the teacher’s role was to take his pupil to God and he had done it by making him Khuda Bakhsh from Gurbakhsh.

Hazrat Makhdoom Munam Pak (R.A.) spent all his life in devotion to God and service to mankind. He remained so engrossed in spiritualism that he never thought of marriage. Selfless service to the mankind was

his sole objective. For him, his true disciples were his children and his family members. During his stay at Delhi and Patna, a large number of people became his Mureed (disciples), some of them attained accomplishment and became his Khalifa (caliphs). Following are those of his caliphs who are well known and frequently mentioned:

Caliphs

1. Maulana Syed Hassan Raza Raipuri :

(Death 1215 Hijri)

His grave is situated in the open premises of Eidgah beside the national highway at Raipur Fatuha in Patna district.

2. Hazrat Khwaja Ruknuddin Ishque Azeemabadi:

(Death 1203 Hijri)

His grave and khanquah are situated in the east of Meetan Ghat and popularly known as ‘Bargah-e-Ishque’.

3. Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Hassan Ali:

(Death 1224 Hijri /AD 1809)

His grave (dargah) and khanquah are situated at Neemghat (west of Khwajekalan Ghat) in Patna city.

4. Hazrat Shah Qutubuddin alias Shah Basawan:

(Death 1210 Hijri / AD 1795)

To the west of Kurji More, Patna,his grave (dargah) is situated  in a premises near Hameedpur mosque.

5. Hazrat Sufi Syed Muhammad Dayem:

(Death 1212 Hijri / Ad1798)

His grave (dargah) and khanqah, popularly known as “Bada Dayera’, is situated at Azeempur an Dhaka, Bangladesh. The chain (silsila) of Hazrat Makhdoom Munam Pak extensively flourished in Bangladesh and expanded to all districts  especially Dhaka, Komilla, Nawarwali and Chatgam. The khanquahs of this order (silsilah)are busy spreading Sufism there through Munami Dayemi ideology.

6. Hazrat Syed Shah Ghulam Hussain Danapuri:

(Death 1254 Hijri / AD 1838)

His dargah and khanquah are situated Peerbigha in Chakand of district Gaya, Bihar.

7. Shah Ahlullah Sani:

(Death 1224 Hijri / Ad 1809)

8. Hazrat Shah Khuda Bakhsh:

His dargah is situated near Rajauli, Nawadah.

9. Hazrat Shah Fazil:

(1200 Hijri / Ad1785)

His dargah is situated at village Rehi in Patna district.

• Hazrat Shah Maneri:

His dargah and khanquah were situated at Chishtipur, Biharshareef.

• Hazrat Shah Wajhullah Talib:
• Hazrat Shah Muhammad Azeem:

His grave is situated at Muhalla Zeenatulbari, Delhi.

• Hazrat Shah Raheemuddin:

Sajjada Nasheen of Dargah Hazrat Peer Jagjot, Kachchi Dargah.

• Hazrat Mulla Jamalul Haque:

He was the son of Hazrat Mulla Ghulam Yahya Bihari.

• Hazrat Mulla Kamalul Haque:

He was also the son of Hazrat Mulla Ghulam Yahya Bihari.

• Hazrat Shah Nawazish Ali:

(1195 Hijri /AD 1781)

He was grandson (maternal) of Deewan Syed Khaleelullah and his khanqah was situated at Biharshareef.

• Hazrat Deewan Syed Sahib-e-Aalam:

He was the son, Mureed and Sajjada Nasheen of Hazrat Deewan Syed Khaleelullah. Following his father’s Will he obtained caliphate (khilafat) from Hazrat Makhdoom Munam Pak.

• Hazrat Shah Ghulam Nabi Alwari:

Noted among the famous disciples (mureeds) of Hazrat  Makhdoom Munam Pak are the names of Quazi of his times Hazrat Quazi Hassan Raza Khan, the Ustaad-e-Shahr of Patna Hazrat Mulla Shoaibul Haque Musafir, the renowned teacher of calligraphy Hazrat Shah Izzuddin, Hazrat Khairuddin Kashmiri and Shah Quamar Ali, the younger brother of Hazrat Shah Kamal Dewarvi.

Hazrat Makhdoom Munam Pak (R.A.) left for heavenly abode in the evening at the time of Isha after the day of 11 Rajab in 1185 Hijri. His abbey (khanqah) is at Meetanghat, Patna City and his grave (holy dargah) is situated in the premises of Hazrat Mulla Meetan’s mosque. As per his Will, Maulana Hassan Raza Raipuri became his first Sajjada Nasheen. With the permission of Aalahazrat Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain Munami, his Tomb (Maqbara) was constructed for the first time by Sufi Shah Dilawar Ali Lahori in 1249 Hijri. In 1285 Hijri, during the period of Hazrat Syed Shah Muneeruddin Hussain Munami Sajjada Nasheen his Tomb was renovated by Hazrat Shah Aleemuddin Raipuri. Hazrat Syed Shah Salimuddin Ahmad Munami also got the Tomb renovated when he served as the Sajjada Nasheen. The magnificent dome of his tomb got ready in 2010. Devotees belonging to all religions and faith can be seen paying their tributes here everyday. Next to his holy Dargah ang Khanquah Munamia, there stands the grand historical mosque called ‘Jama Masjid Hazrat Mulla Meetan’. It is very large and the only double storey mosque of the Mughal period in Bihar. Mulla Meetan was an eminent scholar (Aalim) and renowned Sufi of the Aurangzeb Era.

Mulla Meetan’s Masjid is an unique example of the architectural expertise of that era. There is the place which enjoys the privilege of being Hazrat Munam Pak’s sacred place of worship. This is also the place where many supernatural performances (karamatein) have been revealed by him. Hazrat Makhdoom Pak used to teach his caliphs the lessons of meditation and penance here.

Next to his grave (dargah shareef), towards the north, there is a beautiful and grandiose building of the Khanquah Munamia. This is also an exquisite example of architecture. In the middle of the khanqah, there is a large central hall surrounded by verandahs and rooms in such a fashion that one can move around the central hall while going into these rooms. Earlier its building was small and ordinary. The present building was constructed in place of the old one by the 7th Sajjada Nasheen Hazrat Syed Shah Azizuddin Hussain Munami.

About 26000 books and precious manuscripts on various subjects are safely preserved in the library of Khanqah Munamia.