Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna Al-Naqvi Al-Bokhari (R.A)

Spread of Islam in sub-continent is the fruit of the hard labour of sufis and saints. The Darbar of Hazrat Shah Jewna enjoys a prominent place in this prestigious list. The aim of all the saints of this lineage was to spread the message of Islam.

The forefathers of the Syeds of Hazrat Shah Jewna, Makhdoom Syed Jalalud Din Surkh Bukhari preached the message of Islam to Chengiz Khan, who became very furious and threw the saint into fire. But by the grace of Almighty Allah the fire turned into a garden of roses. Makhdoom stood smiling with flames all around him. (Tareekh-e-Uch by Abdur Rahman).

The barbaric Tartars were stunned by this karamat and their leader Chengiz Khan embraced Islam at that very moment. Daira-e-Maarif-e-Islamiya mentions this incident in the following words:

“The tales and traditions of Eastern Turkistan, like “Chengiz Nama’s portray this ruler of the world just like a Muslim Turk ruler. And the traditions dating back to the start of the 15th century which have found mention in the poetic works of Ahmedi and Anwari also say that Chengiz Khan and his grandson Helugu Khan despite being non-Muslim had an inclination towards Islam.”

To introduce Islam to a barbaric nation like Tartars is a great achievement for the Syeds of Shah Jewna. Hazrat Shah Jewna is linked to Hazrat Imam Ali Naqi by 16 generations and Makhdoom Syed Jalalud Din Surkh Bukhari by eight generations. He was born in 895 A.H. (1493 A.D.) in Qanauj during the reign of Sikandar Lodhi, Bilal Zuberi writes:

“When Hazrat Shah Jewna was born his father had a dream in which he saw that a third Chiragh (lamp) had been lit in his house. When he saw the three lamps radiating light, he immediately packed up and returned to Qanauj. On reaching home he hugged his son, kissed his forehead and remarked that his child would earn a name in sainthood. He named the child Mahboob-e-Alam.”

The grandfather of Hazrat Shah Jewna, Syed Zain ul Abideen and father Syed Shah Kabir were noted scholars of their time. In the field of spiritualism, he benefited from both of them. He got education in Arabic, Persian, Quran, Tafsir, Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence from his teacher Qazi Bahauddin. And thus became a renowned scholar. The fame of his piety and simple lifestyle spread to far-flung places and many ulema and dervishes of his time started paying visits to him.

Hazrat Shah Jewna was born wali. During childhood he started showing his spiritual powers. One of these was the acquisition of religious knowledge.

His grandfather Syed Zainul Abideen once said that Hazrat Shah Jewna had some amazing inner powers due to which he would immediately learn by heart every knowledge that was imparted to him. And it would seem as if they had become his second nature. He would always remain with ablution. His concentration and humility during namaz was exemplary. He was a mystic and had completed the difficult stages of Ishq-e-Illahi. That is why his was a blessed soul.

In 960 A.H. (1558 A.D.) Hazrat Shah Jewna left Qanauj and undertook a journey for preaching Islam. It was during the reign of Emperor Akbar. For some time Hazrat Shah Jewna stayed in Hyderabad Deccan. Then went to the shrine of Hazrat Khawaja Nasiruddin Chirag-e-Dehli. There he got a hint about going to the southern part of subcontinent. So he came to Lahore. Here in dream he met his forefather Hazrat Sher Shah Jalalud Din Surkh Bukhari. He also gave him the same message.

Therefore Hazrat Shah Jewna started his southward journey again and reached Pail Padhrar. In those days this area used to be barren. Here in wildness he established his abode and started reciting the following Ayaat:-

“See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky and causes it to penetrate the earth, as water springs, and afterward thereby produces crops of different colours.” (Al-Zumr: 21)

Within a few days, water sprouted from the hard soil. People got water and food. Vegetation began to sprout and the whole place turned green. Even to this day a well testifies the miraculous spiritual power of Hazrat Shah Jewna. It is known as ‘Pir da Kunwan’ or ‘Well of the Pir’. People drink this water to their fill and get relief from bodily and spiritual ailments.

For quite some time Hazrat Shah Jewna remained in Pail Padhrar. The headstrong tribes of these areas embraced Islam at his hands. After staying in Pail Padhrar for some time, he left for Jhang.

This place was not new for him. The city was set up by his forefather Makhdoom Jalalud Din Surkh Bukhari. The Siyal tribe of Jhang was the Murid of Makhdoom Jalalud Din Surkh Bukhari.

He had a special inclination towards surah Muzammil. He recited this surah crores of times in the wilderness near the Chenab river and reigned over the hearts of the barbaric tribes.

That is why he became popular as “Pir Karoriya” (Leader of Millions). He would spend days together in this area and all the time his pious followers would remain near him to obtain his blessings.