Muhammad Al-

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 ﻣﻜﻲ‬and well known by the
nickname of "Sher Sawār" or "Lion Rider"
(Persian: ‫ )ﺷﯿﺮ ﺳﻮار‬is 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]
 Muhammad bin Shuja' Al-Dīn
‫ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﺑﻦ ﺷﺠﺎع اﻟﺪﻳﻦ‬  (Arabic)
Sayyid Hashemite Naqvi 'Sher Sawar' 'The Lion Rider'

The historical tomb of Sayyid Muhammad.

Born Muhammad
1145
Mecca

Died 1246 (aged 101)

Sindh, Pakistan

Resting place Sindh, Pakistan

Residence Sukkur

Title Sayyid
Opponent(s) Abbasids Ayyubids

Children Sayyid Sadruddin

Sayyid Badruddin
Sayyid Maah
Sayyid Shams

Parent(s) Sayyid Muhammad

Shuja' Al-Dīn

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

Inside View Of Shrine Muhammad Al Makki

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 led this army towards the
land of Bukkur, fighting his way through
native hostile armies of Khurasan and
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: ! ‫ﺑﻜﺮﺗﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺒﻘﻌﺔ‬ ‫ﺟﻌﻞ ا‬
‫)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] Due to the warlike nature
of this tribe, they were entrusted by the
authorities to prevent marauders and
bandits from thieving and looting.[13]
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[14] His
shrine is located near Deputy
Commissioner Office Sukkur. Location of
Shrine Of Muhammad Al Makki In Sukkur
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 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.[15]

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, a ruler in 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.[16]

Ancestors
1. Ali ibn Abu Talib
2. Husayn ibn Ali
3. Ali ibn Husayn
4. Muhammad al-Baqir
5. Jafar al-Sadiq
6. Musa al-Kadhim
 7. Ali al-Ridha
8. Muhammad al-Taqi
9. Ali al-Hadi
10. Ja'far al Zaki
11. Ismail Harifa
12. Aqeel
13. Harun
14. Hamza
15. Ja'far
16. Zaid
17. Qasim
18. Ibrahim al Jawadi
19. Muhammad Shuja
 20. Muhammad al Makki[17][18][19][20][21]
Makhdoom

Makhdoom Muhammad
Badruddin Bhaakri

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 Khalji[23] and Sayyid
Sa'adullah.[24] Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi's
descendants migrated all around Pakistan
including Attock, Rohtas Fort, Kallar
Syedan, Mansehra, Taxila, Sialkot 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 Shaban ul 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.
However they have no known progeny.[29]
Research
The research into the life of Sayyid
Muhammad Al-Makki is currently led by
Sayyid Hasnain Al-Hussaini Ar-Ridhawi An-
Naqawi Al-Bhakari who has dedicated his
life to uniting the descendants of Sayyid
Muhammad Al-Makki from around the
world. He was titled 'Naqeeb' or
'Representative' of the tribe by the top
genealogist of Pakistan, Sayyid Qamar Al-
Hamdani, as this term has been used to
describe one who generally holds the
burden in the bulk of research and
representation. He is currently writing a
book regarding the life of the Sayyid and
he himself is a descendant of Sayyid
Muhammad through his son Sayyid
Badruddin.[30]

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 Archived 2015-04-02 at
the Wayback Machine
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. Balfour, Edward Green (1885). The
Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern
and Southern Asia. Lawrence &
Adelphi Presses. p. 434.
14. Storey, C.A., ed. (2002). Persian
Literature: A Bio-Bibliographical
Survey. 1. Psychology Press. p. 949.
ISBN 9780947593384.
15. Shah Bukkuri, Sayyid Faiz Ali, ed.
(1943). Tarīkh Jāgīr Bukkur. Bukkuri
Sādāt. p. 3.
16. Shah Bukkuri, Sayyid Faiz Ali, ed.
(1943). Tarīkh Jāgīr Bukkur. Bukkuri
Sādāt. p. 5.
17. Al-A'raji Al-Hamadani, Sayyid Qamar,
ed. (2016). Kitab Mudrik At-Talib. 1.
Idara Niqabat Sadat Al-Ashraf
Pakistan. p. 436.
ISBN 9789699836022.
18. Rajāi, Sayyid Mahdi, ed. (2006). Al-
Mu'aqqabūn. 3. Mu'asassah Āshūra.
p. 35. ISBN 9789647263580.
19. Al-A'raji, Sayyid Ja'far, ed. (1998).
Manāhil Al-Darab Fī Ansāb Al-Arab. 1.
Al-A'raji. p. 420. ISBN 9789646121232.
20. Al-A'raji, Sayyid Ja'far, ed. (1997). Al-
Asās Fi Ansāb Al-Nās. Mu'asassah
Āshūra. p. 137.
21. Abu Sa'eeda, Sayyid Hussain, ed.
(2004). Mashjar Al-Wāfi. Dār Muhajjat
Al Baydā'. p. 122.
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.
30. Al-A'raji Al-Hamadani, Sayyid Qamar,
ed. (2016). Kitab Mudrik At-Talib. 1.
Idara Niqabat Sadat Al-Ashraf
Pakistan. p. 286.
ISBN 9789699836022.
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