Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki

Muhammad bin Shuja'Al-Deen
محمد بن شجاع الدين  (Arabic)
Sayyid Hashemite Naqvi 'Sher Sawar' 'The Lion Rider'

1

The historical tomb of Sayyid Muhammad.
Born Mecca
Died Sindh, Pakistan
Cause of death
 Death by Natural Causes
Resting place
 Sindh, Pakistan
Ethnicity Arab (Quraysh Sayyid)
Religion Islam
Children Sayyid Sadruddin
Sayyid Badruddin
Sayyid Maah
Sayyid Shams
Parent(s) Sayyid Muhammad Shuja' Al-Deen
Relatives Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari
Shahab al-Din Abu Hafs Umar Suhrawardi
This map shows the journey Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki undertook from his birthplace to his resting place
Sayyid Hasnain Al-Naqawi, a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Makki
Sayyid Baqir Jawad, a descendant of Sayyid Muhammad Makki

Sayyid Muhammad ibn Shuja Al-Dīn ibn Ibrahīm ibn Qāsim Shah Al-Hussaini Al-Makki (Arabic: السيد محمد الحسيني المكي) (born 1145, died 1246), also known as Sayyid Mahmood Shah Al-Makki (Urdu: سيد محمود مكي) and well known by the nickname of "Sher Sawār" or "Lion Rider" (Persian: شیر سوار) is the ancestor of the Bukkuri or Bhaakri Sayyids(Urdu: بهاكري سادات), who founded Bukkur and was the first Sayyid to ever migrate from the Middle East to the Sindh region in today's Pakistan. He was a saint of the people of Sindh, a warrior who fought battles against Abbasids, a ruler over Yemen and an explorer who travelled frequently. He was a Sayyid and a descendant of Ali and Fatimah through Ali al-Hadi.[1]

Birth and upbringing

The father of the Sayyid was Abu Ahmad Muhammad Shuja. Sayyid Muhammad Shuja once left his native Mashhad with the intention of pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. On the way Sayyid Muhammad Shuja passed through Baghdad where he met Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi, after spending some time in his presence, Suhrawardi gave his daughter in marriage to Sayyid Muhammad Shuja. Proceeding to Mecca along with his wife, he found that his wife was pregnant and was in immense pain. Unable to bear the pangs of child birth, the lady gave birth to Sayyid Muhammad in the courtyard of the Kaaba who was born in 1145 and the Islamic year of 540 AH.[2] He later became well known as Muhammad the Meccan.[3] Some scholars however disputed this marriage of Sayyid Muhammad Shuja to a daughter of al-Suhrawardi and have mentioned that it was Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki himself who married the daughter of al-Suhrawardi.[4][5]

Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki was taught the sciences of Islam by his father and brother, Sayyid Ahmad, who both ensured the young Sayyid was well trained to propagate and spread Islam in his wanderings. To fully understand the childhood of the Sayyid, it must be taken in to consideration that he grew up in the era of the Crusades while he was brought up in the heart of Islam, Mecca.[6] It shaped his psychology which eventually led to his interest in military training and his later military endeavors.

In Yemen

In 1174 AD, Turan-Shah, the brother of Saladin conquered Zabid and Aden in South Yemen and this eventually led to all of Southern Yemen being under Ayyubid control. Abbasids, who were allies of Ayyubids also gained influence in Yemen. Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki, who was now twenty nine years old, entered Yemen from the North from his native Mecca. With the force of the sword, he killed many Abbasids, routing them away from Yemen. His hostility towards the Abbasid caliphate, being an Alid, was a result of the historical on going feud between Alids and Abbasids who on numerous occasions killed Alids wherever they were able, the Battle of Fakhkh and the murder of numerous ancestors are notable reasons. He ruled his province in Yemen for approximately ten years. Sayyid Muhammad decided to leave Yemen for Sindh and left a representative, claiming he saw his ancestor, the Prophet of Islam Muhammad in his dream instructing him to leave for India as it awaited him.[7]

The Sayyid then headed North and stopped at Medina, where he visited the grave of his ancestor Muhammad and other ancestors in Al-Baqi'. He then went to Mecca and sought refuge with the Kaaba. Eventually, it is said he had another dream of Muhammad instructing him to proceed towards India.[8]

In Mashhad

Sayyid Muhammad on his way to Sindh, stopped at many places to camp. He first stopped at Baghdad, then Mashhad, then Herat and finally Sindh. When he stopped at Mashhad he visited the shrine of his forefather Ali al-Ridha at Mashhad. The Sayyid was very much attached to Mashhad for it was a city some of his ancestors lived in. He visited the library of his grandfather, Sayyid Ibrahim Jawwādi and remained in Mashhad. By the time he left the land of Iran, he had an army of 30,000[9] and lead this army towards the land of Bukkur, fighting his way through native hostile armies of India who challenged him.[10]

In Sindh

It is mentioned in many sources that Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki arrived in Bukkur at dawn.

Delighted at the peaceful setting and beautiful view of the sun rising, he famously and joyfully exclaimed : "God has ordained my morning in this blessed place!" (Arabic: ! جعل الله بكرتي في البقعة المباركة). Sayyid Muhammad also named this place 'Bukkur' from its former name 'Fareshta'.[11] Upon being asked where he wanted to live by the welcoming natives he told them he wanted to live where the cow bells could be heard and the rising sun would be visible. Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki obtained a grant of land in Rohri with the condition expressed in the deed that he should cultivate the land in lieu of the military duties obligatory on all granted land owners.[12] Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki became a well known saint whose preaching brought many people towards Islam. He established a centre of spiritual learning in Sindh and remained the religious figure of Sindh until the early 13th century.

Death

The Sayyid died at the age of 101 in 1246 AD and 644 AH. He was buried in the fort of Arak between Sukkur and Bukkur[13]

Grandfather

Sayyid Ibrahim Al-Jawwadi was born in Mashhad in 1040 and died in 1132 during the era of the Seljuq dynasty and was the grandfather of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki. Although Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki did not ever meet his grandfather, it is proven from sources that he inherited books and other items which belonged to Sayyid Ibrahim and it greatly influenced his upbringing in the realm of spirituality. He received books and journals relating to events in the life of Sayyid Ibrahim.

It is mentioned in sources related to Bukkuri Sayyids that Sayyid Ibrahim had mastered fourteen Islamic sciences and was a very generous, hence he was nicknamed 'Jawwadi' or 'The Generous One'. It is mentioned that in the time of Toghril Beg, the The Assassins group which was founded by Hassan-i Sabbah was causing havoc in the region and spreading bloodshed and plundering. Upset at this, Toghril came to Sayyid Ibrahim and asked him to pray. Sayyid Ibrahim went to the tomb of his ancestor Imam Ali al-Ridha and made a prayer while Toghril said ; 'Amen'. Shortly after it is mentioned that the Assassins had stopped murdering and plundering for a time.

Sayyid Ibrahim was childless for a long time and was very upset at this. It is mentioned that he would frequently visit the shrine of Imam Ali al-Ridha and pray to God. One day, he lost patience and began to cry bitterly and became unconscious. Leaving the shrine happy, he told people that he saw Ali al-Ridha in his dream who told him ; "Do not cry Ibrahim, Allah (God) will give you a child". Shortly after this event, the father of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki, Sayyid Muhammad Shuja, was born.[14]

Father

Sayyid Muhammad Shuja was an expert in the field of Hadith and Fiqh. He was also an expert in the arts of swordsmanship, archery, wrestling and on horseback. He was also very brave in battle which gave him the title of 'Shuja' or 'The Brave'. In 1132, the sovereign of Iran, Sayfullah Khan and Turkey went to war. Sayyid Muhammad Shuja, who was then ruling Khorasan, was appointed in command of an army of 10,000 and fought the Turkish army in a mountainous region. Sayyid Muhammad Shuja then returned to Iran victorious after a bloody and lengthy battle. The king of Iran gave his daughter Safiyya Khatūn in marriage as a gift to Sayyid Muhammad Shuja. This was the first marriage of the Sayyid before the daughter of Suhrawardi. It has also been mention in ancient sources that the Sayyid also travelled to places including Karachi, Thatta and Lahore.[15]

Ancestors

Here is the ancestry of Sayyid Muhammad:

Ali al-Hadi → Ja'far → Ismail → Nasir (Aqeel) → Haroon → Hamza → Ja'far → Zaid → Qasim → Ibrahim → Muhammad Shuja→ Muhammad[16][17][18][19][20][21]

Sayyid Mahdi Rajāi, an authority on Sayyid ancestry in his book, 'Al-Mu'aqqabūn', mentions the ancestry of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki. Sayyid Ja'far Al-I'raji, another well known authority also quotes the ancestry of the Sayyid. Sayyid Fathi Sultān mentions the ancestry of the Sayyid in his book while Sayyid Maqsood Naqvi mentions the ancestry of Bukkuri Sayyids in more detail in Riaz Al-Ansab.

His Sons

Sayyid Muhammad Badruddin

Not to be confused with his nephew from Sayyid Sadruddin who shares the same name, Sayyid Muhammad Badruddin was born between 1205 and 1210 AD in Bukkur. He was a pious Sayyid who was often known by his strength in his religion, keen interest in spirituality and remembrance of God. He was instructed in a dream by the Islamic Prophet Muhammad to marry his daughters, Sayyidah Fatima Sa'eedah Habeebah and Sayyidah Tahireh to Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari. However, since Jalaluddin was known to be someone who dressed like a poor person due to his spirituality and humility, the brothers of Muhammad Badruddin, Sayyid Mah, Sayyid Shams and Sayyid Sadruddin objected to this marriage. When the objection was not taken in to consideration by Sayyid Muhammad Badruddin, the brothers ordered his exile and the exile of Sayyid Jalaluddin from Bukkur. They said to Sayyid Badruddin, "You go as well and hang around with him (Jalaluddin) like a beggar". Sayyid Badruddin and his son in law, Sayyid Jalaluddin migrated to Uch where both are buried.[22]

Sayyid Badruddin's descendants are plenty in number. His descendants come from many sons including Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi who was born from the daughter of Alauddin Khilji[23] and Sayyid Sa'adullah.[24] Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi's descendants migrated all around Pakistan including Kamalpur Syedan in Attock, Rohtas Fort, Mansehra, Taxila and many other places. From this line is Waris Shah, the author of Heer Ranjha, the famous romantic story.[25]

Sayyid Sadruddin Al-Khatib

The saint Sayyid Sadruddin, the son of Sayyid Muhammad Shah Al-Makki was born in 1204 AD in Bukkur. His influence spread all around the Indian Sub-Continent and was well known for his spirituality. He spent most of his life travelling and seeking knowledge from other parts of the world. He died in 1270 AD and is buried on Bukkur Island.[26]

Sayyid Sadruddin's son Ali Badruddin had many sons including Sayyid Murtadha also known as 'Sha'ban Al-Millat',[27] whose descendants are found mostly in Allahabad in India. From the descendants of Sayyid Ali Badruddin comes the author of Manba Al-Ansab, Sayyid Muin Al-Haqq and many other famous historical personalities. Other sons of Sayyid Ali Badruddin are Sayyid Daulat Ahmad, Sayyid Ruknuddin and Sayyid Muhyuddin.[28]

Sayyid Maah and Sayyid Shams

Both were the sons of Sayyid Muhammad Al-Makki and were born in Yemen. They migrated with their father to India.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Mawsū'at Al-Hussainiyah 3. Dār Al-Arabiyah Lil Mawsū'aat. 2009. p. 706.
  2. ↑ Memoir on the Syuds of Roree and Bukkur. Bombay : Printed for Govt. at Bombay Education Society's Press. 1855. p. 12.
  3. ↑ Thattavi, Meer Qane, ed. (2006). Tuhfatul Kirām. Sindhi Adabi Board. p. 386.
  4. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 318.
  5. ↑ Zulfiqar Ali K. "The Rizvi Saints of Sindh - Part. I
  6. ↑ Abdul Hayy, Sayyid, ed. (1999). Nuzhat Al-Khawātir. Dār Ibn Hazm. p. 166.
  7. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 316.
  8. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 317.
  9. ↑ Shah Bukkuri, Sayyid Faiz Ali, ed. (1943). Tarīkh Jāgīr Bukkur. Bukkuri Sādāt. p. 3.
  10. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 317.
  11. ↑ Abdul Hayy, Sayyid, ed. (1999). Nuzhat Al-Khawātir. Dār Ibn Hazm. p. 166.
  12. ↑ Ross, David (1883). The Land of Five Rivers and Sindh. Chapman and Hall. p. 69.
  13. ↑ Storey, C.A., ed. (2002). Persian Literature: A Bio-Bibliographical Survey 1 (2). Psychology Press. p. 949. ISBN 9780947593384.
  14. ↑ Shah Bukkuri, Sayyid Faiz Ali, ed. (1943). Tarīkh Jāgīr Bukkur. Bukkuri Sādāt. p. 3.
  15. ↑ Shah Bukkuri, Sayyid Faiz Ali, ed. (1943). Tarīkh Jāgīr Bukkur. Bukkuri Sādāt. p. 5.
  16. ↑ Rajāi, Sayyid Mahdi, ed. (2006). Al-Mu'aqqabūn 3. Mu'asassah Āshūra. p. 35. ISBN 9789647263580.
  17. ↑ Al-I'raji, Sayyid Ja'far, ed. (1998). Manāhil Al-Darab Fī Ansāb Al-Arab. Maktabah Mar'ashi Library. p. 420.
  18. ↑ Al-I'raji, Sayyid Ja'far, ed. (1997). Al-Asās Fi Ansāb Al-Nās. Mu'asassah Āshūra. p. 137.
  19. ↑ Al-Mūsawi, Sayyid Hussain Abu Saīda, ed. (2004). Mashjar Al-Wāfi. Dār Muhajjat Al Baydā'. p. 122.
  20. ↑ Mawsū'at Al-Hussainiyah 3. Dār Al-Arabiyah Lil Mawsū'aat. 2009. p. 706.
  21. ↑ Al-Hassani, Sayyid Jamaluddīn, ed. (1992). Umdat Al-Tālib - Indian Edition. Matba Al-Ja'fariyah. p. 187.
  22. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 319.
  23. ↑ Shah, Sayyid Amin Ali (ed.). Shajrat Al-Hussainiyah. Jami' Al-Ameeniyah Al-Ridhawiyyah. p. 130.
  24. ↑ Shah, Sayyid Amin Ali (ed.). Shajrat Al-Hussainiyah. Jami' Al-Ameeniyah Al-Ridhawiyyah. p. 130.
  25. ↑ Naqvi, Sayyid Maqsood, ed. (1991). Riaz Al-Ansab. Izhar Sons Printer. p. 684.
  26. ↑ Abdul Hayy, Sayyid, ed. (1999). Nuzhat Al-Khawātir. Dār Ibn Hazm. p. 173.
  27. ↑ Abdul Hayy, Sayyid, ed. (1999). Nuzhat Al-Khawātir. Dār Ibn Hazm. p. 180.
  28. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 317.
  29. ↑ Al-Haqq, Sayyid Muīn, ed. (2010). Manba Al-Ansab Urdu Translation. Madrassa Faydan Mustafa. p. 319.