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A brief biography of Hazrat Shah Shabaz Sahab Burhanpur

The mausoleum of Hazrat Khaja Moinuddin Chisti

Translated by
Mohammed Abdul Hafeez, B.Com.,
Translator ‘ Muslim Saints and Mystics’
(The Tadhkirah al-Awliya of Farid Eldin Attar
Email : hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
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A brief biography of Hazrat Shah Shabaz Sahab Burhanpur

 
His complete name is Malik Sharafuddin Ibn Abdul Quddus
Ilahi. And he has got the caliphate and grace from Hazrat Shah
Ali Qatib Ahmedabadi. He was a learned person as a spiritualist,
and he was eligible and an excellent knower of secrets of
mysticism. And he is known as a unitarian in solitude and
individualization. In the beginning, he was a person of riches
and wealth and a member of the kingdom. He was a resident of
Ahmedabad city. Due to the difference with the ruler, he was
going to Burhanpur during the rule of Adil Shah Faruqi, and the
king had arranged for his residence near the fort of Assirgarh
with much respect and honor. When he was 14 years old, his
father left the world. And his other brothers, who were engaged
in the dealings of the world. But he was always engaged in
acquiring knowledge.
 
One day, he was met with one Majzub (one lost in divine
meditation) person. That person told him some matters harshly
in the style of Majzub. But he has bowed his head in respect and
listened to his instruction in this matter.Then that Majzub person
told him in his ear, "Why did he not meet any holy person?" So
that he can give you news about yourself in this matter. " Upon
hearing this, he went toward his house. In the dream, he was
seen after the passing of midnight by one holy person who was
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standing in the courtyard, and in his loud voice he was reciting

the following verse from the holy Quran.
The Quran says, "O you who believe! Fear Allah and seek a
wasila to him "(5:35)...
Upon hearing this, there was a flame that enflamed the love of
Allah in his heart and, with this, his soul and life were
enlightened. And so, in this passion, he went toward
Ahmedabad. Upon reaching there, he went into the presence of
Hazrat Shah Ali Qatib, who was the caliph of Hazrat Qutub
Alam. He had seen on his face the brilliance of the lights of
Allah, so he accepted his pledge on his hands. He was engaged
in the service of that holy person in mystical exercise and
worship. Afterward  obtaining permission from his spiritual
master, he went to Burhanpur. And when he got close to the
city, he rested in one of the gardens there.He had seen a dream
in which one holy person of light was giving him glad tidings of
the title of Shabaz. And from that day, he became well known
and famous with the title of Shabaz. He was a contemporary
holy person of Hazrat Shah Bajan, Hazrat Shah Bhikari, Hazrat
Shah Hussain Khudanuma, and Hazrat Jalal Shah Quaderi, etc.,
and for a long period of time he was in loneliness, and almost all
the time he used to visit the jungle areas, and he used to engage
at the side of the river in mystical exercise and worship of Allah.
One great miracle of the Shah Shab : the people of the village
were facing problems with the theft of the thieves, and so, for
this reason, they used to wake up in the night time in the village.
In that jungle, the chief of the thieves used to live in one cave.
And he used to harm and cause trouble for the people of the
village. Once that thief came into the village, he saw one person
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of light who was engaged in the revelation in his room. And

dangerous wild animals are sitting with respect and honour near
Hazrat's door.When the animals have seen the thief, they cover
him from all sides. Then there prevailed a condition of shivering
upon the body of the thief due to fear. When Hazrat came out of
the room for ablution, he saw the thief and asked him who he
was. Then he told his story to him with much humility, and
Shaikh Sahib gave his advice to him, and there was the effect on
his heart. And his heart was enlightened with the faith of the
Islamic religion. Then at that time, he recited the Islamic creed
and he entered into the fold of the Islamic religion. And Hazrat
has given him the name Kamaluddin. And he remained in the
Shaikh's company until his death.Due to his company and
affection, he has obtained the position of perfection.
Shah Sahab’s another great miracle :One time a group of Sufi
people came into that jungle. The group of those people who
were suffering badly due to thirst and hunger, And upon seeing
the room of the Shaikh, they went into his presence and, by the
revelation of the innermost Shaikh, he was able to know their
condition of thirstiness and hunger. At that time, there was
nothing in the room of the Shaikh for the guests to eat. He went
into his room and engaged in the encomium of Allah, and then
he went into prostration. So at that time, heavenly sweet and hot
bread came into the tray from the side of the sky. And he
himself distributed the sky food among the guests. The group of
people have eaten with fondness and are full of their stomachs.
After eating, they took some rest, and afterward they left from
there. So Shaikh went into prostration for Allah's thanks.
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He was resting under the shade of a tree one time when he

dreamed that there was punishment on the dead body of one
person in the grave.Then the Shaikh was requested in the
presence of the last prophet of Allah. The punishment was then
halted in the given.Due to the personality of blessing, there were
many benefits manifest and innermost to many thousands of
people. He used to be very busy with his endeavors,
supererogatory prayers, and remembering Allah.And for this
reason, he has obtained perfection in the personality of brilliance
and secrets of engrossment. He was a mystic person of reality
and a follower of reality. In the excellence of knowledge, he has
all perfection. He used to engage always in the remembrance of
Allah in a loud voice and in a hidden voice. He has seen the
prophet and Hazrat Ali Ibn Taleb R.A. in a dream, and he has
obtained knowledge of reality and knowledge of God.
 
Death: At the time of Tahjud supererogatory prayer on Sunday
on the tenth Rabbil Thani in the year 934 Hijiri, corresponding
to 1528 A.D. He left this mortal world during the time of Sultan
Mohammed Shah Bin Adil Shah Faruqi and his tomb is situated
outside of Burhanpur on the southern side of the Doulat ground.
And on the eastern side, there are tombs of kings of the Faruqi
kingdom of Burhanpur.
 

The End.