Multan is one of the ancient towns in Pakistan. Beside its historical importance in the geo politics of Subcontinent, the city has been the hub of great sufis and saints who were the harbingers of Islamic teachings.
Just as Bahawalpur’s architecture is defined by its political heritage, Multan’s architecture is defined by its religious heritage. Multan is commonly described as the city of saints and shrines. Within the radius of twenty five miles, one finds hundreds of Mausoleums of those saints who propagated Islam in subcontinent with a message of love, peace, fraternity and tolerance and religious harmony.
Sometime back ATP carried a post on the Gateways of Multan. Today, I want to share this pictorial about the Multan’s saints and shrines.
Sheikh Bahauddin Zakariya commonly known as Bahawal Haq was born in 1170 in Layyah. He went to Iran and received religious education from Sheikh Shahab-ud-Din Suhrawardy in Baghdad. After performing Hajj, and visited Jerusalem, Syria, Baghdad. On his return to subcontinent he settled in Multan in 1222 AD and preached his teachings.
Beside religious importance of the Mausoleum (pictures above), its archeological value cannot be undermined. It is o
ne of the iconic building in Multan with loft dome that stands 100 feet high from the ground. The use of red bricks with wooden beams is ornamented with blue and white ceramic tiles (Multani tiles) brings a majestic beauty in the building.The descendents of this family have always been influential in government and politics. Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi is currently the custodian of this Mausoleum.
Shah Shams Sabzwari, also known as Shah Shams Tebrez, came to Multan in thirteenth century and preached his teaching among the inhabitants of the area. He died in 1276.
Many miracles are associated with his personality. Lot of people comes to this shrine (picture on the left) to pay homage.
Musa Pak Shaheed, was originally from Uch Sharif and descendant of Hazrat Abdul Qadir Jillani. He died in eleventh century and is buried inside the wall city called Pak Gate. The famous Gillani family is the descendant of Hazrat Musa Pak Shaheed.
Yousaf Shah Gardezi came to Multan in 1060 and preached his teachings to his disciples. He died in 1088 AD and was buried inside Bohar Gate. He has rectangular Mauseleum with white and blue tiles. His descendant family is still very influential in the area.
Following are some of the famous shrines in Multan.
- Shrine-Bibi Pak Daman
- Shrine-Hameed-ud-Din Hakim
- Shrine-Qutab-al-qutaab “Moj Dariya”
- Shrine-Syed Pir Sakhi Shah Hassan Parwana
- Shrine-Qazi Qutab-ud-Din Kashani
- Shrine-Syed Hasan Khanjzee
- Shrine-Hazrat Shah Dana Shaheed
- Shrine-Abu Hassan Hafiz Jamal-ud-din “Musa Pak Shaheed”
- Shrine-Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadari
- Shrine-Hafiz Muhammad Jamal Chisti Nazami
- Shrine-Pir Chup Wardi Waly
- Shrine-Mollana Hamid Ali Khan Naqshbandi
- Shrine-Allama Syed Ahmad Saeed Kazmi
- Shrine-Hazrat Khawaja Awais Khagga
- Shrine-Pir Syed Wali Muhammad Shah(Chadar Wali Sarkar)
- Shrine-Hazrat Gul Shah
Roshan Malik is a development practitioner; his earlier posts at ATP include one on the architecture of Bahawalpur. All pictures except those of the shrine of Shah Shams Sabzwari are by the author.
I love visiting the sofi shrines. This give us the message of peace and harmony and also to interact with the poor and needy people.
What’s the difference between visiting one of these shrines and visiting a hindu temple? After all, both involve asking and making dua to other than Allah to have your needs fulfilled!
The write-up on the shrines of Multan was very educative, informative and inspiring; the colourful photographs made it more so. Iwould like to see more of such articles on the other cities and towns of Pakistan that have shrines.
wow i was just looking into my roots and even though im not from pakistan my parents are..they once took me 2 shah shamas in multan ..whom are also my ancestors..looking at this now brings back many memories ..x
This website is much more better then others. But there is a lack of data about the “SUFI’s”. You must write about the bio-graphy of the “Sufi’s”, on the whole life of sufi.
Regards
Sir
I am also descendent of Hazrat shah shams subzwari. I am feeling lucky that I have visited many sufi saints mazaars.I love Sufiaaaaasm because It gives the message of love, peace and to help others.and to deliver the true message of Islam without any change. this website is very usefull for people like me because I am doing research work on sufiaasm. Thanks
this is a true effort to promote and flouris the religion info and courage among the people of world.
Roshan Malik,
Drama- Bazi hay sab neshinaan-e-Gad’dian,
Hayra-pheri hay jo under and over Gad’dian
Kufr-o-Shirk atta hay nazar, nazar mein yun,
hotay hein Buzurg, nazar Tokri-e-rad’dian
RK
@Multan Sharif, Gujrat Sharif, Uch Sharif, Golara Sharif
So many Sharifs, the whole Pakistan seems to be a Shrine,
only shrines, left behind, have they taught something else??
Do they serve anything to a muslim in Pakistan ?
if all these thousands of shrines everywhere in Pakistan only
“removed the confusion”, on differences between, Hindu,
Sikh, Muslims, Christians, jews, Jains, Parsis, Marxists
and seculars, believers and non-believers, then they are no
more ” HOLY ” , therefore,
replace them with ONE AND ONLY GOD.
@Abder-Rehmaan
Wahdat-ul-wajood = ” Wajood ki wahdaniat ”
Wahdaniat, qualificative of GOD’s Wajood =
“ONLY GOD” posseses eternal wajood, therefore,
Wajood is GOD, and GOD is Wajood, The Creator of
Wajood itself, but only with “unique” wahdat = unity, oneness, without a second & onwards, as you know, countless is the opposite of oneness.
Further research on
Muntaha, Inteha, La-mutanahi = Al-Fanah
Mystics say, He is One as well as Countless (I refrain from
borrowing Indo-European very limited terminologys ).
Even Greek mythology could’nt challenge ” oneness ” among
its waste pantheiesm.
any short comments ??