HISTORY OF THE HOLY PI'RS
"Pi'r Sadruddi'n, Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n, Pi'r Naseeruddi'n, Pi'r Sa'hib'di'n and othe Pi'rs went through great difficulties and insults with great tolerance, sacrificed property and life and propagated the Isma'ili Faith in India. They brought you to the doorsteps of the House of Ima'm Isla'm Shah."92 (Mowla'na Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah)
Pi'r in Persian means an elder, a sage, a learned, an advanced person. In Isma'ilism the word is especially used for the Ima'me' Musta'uda that is Hujjatul Ima'm, the Ima'm's trustee or deputy. The Pi'r is the Head of the Da'wat, the mission department, and acts as a link between the jama't and the Holy Ima'm.
It is the Pi'r through whom the disciple recognizes the Ima'm, the Noor of Allah. The Pi'r teaches the faith. Without a teacher nothing could be learnt properly.
The Ima'm is the Supreme Authority appointed directly by Allah. He is the asa's (foundation, cause, root) and Pi'r is the na'tiq (conversant, conversationist, messenger). Ima'm is Hujjatullah and Khali'fatullah, the Vicegerent of God;93 while Pi'r is Hujjatul Ima'm and Khali'fatur Rasoolullah. PJi'r is appointed from the family of the Holy Ima'm and remains as such for life. There is always a Pi'r-one at a time-for all the jama'ts of the world. He is holy and divine and must be obeyed because he is second only to the Holy Ima'me'Zama'n. It is the concern of the Ima'm solely whether to appoint a Pi'r or to keep that authority to himself.
Among the Su'fis a pi'r is called mu'rshid, meaning: a spiritual guide or a teacher. In our Gina'ns there are various references to Pi'r mentioned as mu'rshid, pi'r, agu'wa, satgur, gu'r and gu'ru.
1. NABI MOHAMMED
The world has already passed nine cycles of 432,000 years each and is now passing through its tenth, and the last, cycle starting from six thousand years before the time of the Holy
_______________________ 92. KIM vol-I, p. 234 93. HQ ch. 2 v. 30
Prophet of Isla'm. Naboowat, the Prophethood, ended with him. He was the last Nabi.
He was the first and the greatest teacher of the Religion of God, Isla'm. Sufi's consider him to be the mu'rshidil awwal, the first teacher or the first master.
2. PI'R HASAN
The second mu'rshid was Hazra't Hasan bin Ali. The Holy Prophet said: "Hasan is from me and I am from him." The Holy Prophet used to teach him the Holy Qura'n and its meaning. Pi'r Hasan used to teach and preach whenever and wherever he got a chance to do so. He was very kind and gentle. Once he was passing through a busy street of Medina. A Syrian from Mua'wiya's kingdom abused him. Hazrat Hasan smiled at him and invited him to a lunch as he (the Syrian) seemed to be a traveller. The Syrian at once threw himself at the feet of Pi'r Hasan and cried for forgivemenss. Pi'r Hasan was poisoned to death by Mua'wiya in 50 A.H.94
3. PI'R QA'SIM
The third in line was Pi'r Hasan's son Pi'r Qa'sim. He was born in Median in 47 A.H. He was very handsome and robust. From his early childhood he spent most of his time in prayer and mediatation while his friends played.
He sacrified his life for the sake of his Ima'm at Kervala at the age of fourteen.
4.PI'R JA'FER
The fourth Pi'r was Hazrat Ja'fer bin Ima'm Husain. He was born in 49 A.H. in Medina. He was also martyred at Kerbala.95
5. PI'R ZAINUL A'BEDI'N
The fifth Holy Pi'r was Ima'm Zainul A'bedin. He was born in Medina in 38 A.H. He was with his father at Kerbala. He became Ima'm and Pi'r of the momineen at the age of twenty-two. He was tall and thin. He fasted most of the days in a month and spent the greater part of night in prayers.
His name was Ali but popularly known as Zainul Abedi'n. He was very wise and learned. He spent most of his life in teaching
_______________________ 94. See the History of the Isma'ili Ima'ms 95. According to Isma'ili tradition the age of an
Ima'm or a Pi'r is not important. He is already a developed soul before he is appointed as Ima'm or Pi'r according to the Divine Will.
and preaching. Once he was in a deep mediatation at night. A fire broke out in the house due to the negligence of a servant. All of the occupants ran away outside the house but the Shah Pi'r Zainul Abedi'n did not move. Hundreds of people gathered quickly and extinguished the fire. Next day he told the inquisitive people that he was busy with his Creator. He wrote a book "Sah'fa'e'Sajja'dia". He died in 95 A.H. at the age of fifty-seven.
6. PI'R AMIR AHMED
Pi'r Amir Ahmed the sixth Isma'ili Pi'r, was none other than Ima'm Ja'fer es-Sa'diq.96 Ami'r means a prince. His names were Ahmed and Ja'fer; and his kuni'yat was Abu Isma'il. But he was popularly known as As-Sa'diq. He was born in Medina in 83 A.H. He and his father Mohammed were trained by Ima'm Zainul A'bedi'n. From his early childhood he remained in the personal care of his grandfather. He was twelve years old when his grandfather died.
Away from the politics of the time this great Ima'm and Pi'r worked very hard for Isla'm. He was the Holy Pi'r throughout the Ima'mat of his father Ima'm Mohammed el-Ba'qir. He sent two da'is, Musa bin Abdullah Mahz, grandson of Pi'r Hasan, and Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Mahz, to India for propagation of the holy faith. Two other da'is, Suriya'ni and Halwa'ni, were sent to Syria before the arrival of Ima'm Isma'il in Salamiya.
He died in Medina in 148 A.H. His grandson Mohammed Nooruddi'n bin Isma'il succeeded him as the Pi'r.
7. PI'R NOORUDDI'N
Pi'r Nooruddi'n succeeded his grandfather, Pi'r Ami'r Ahmed, as the seventh Holy Pi'r of the Isma'ilis. His name was Mohammed but his grandfather bestowed upon him the title of Nooruddin, Light of Religion. He was also known as Al-Reza.
Pi'r Nooruddi'n was born in 128 A.H. in Medina, during the Ima'mat of his grandfather Ima'm Ja'fer es-Sa'diq who appointed him as his Hujjat or Pi'r. He was very learned and wise. In the popular list of the Holy PJi'rs he is mentioned as Pi'r Satgur Noor which is not correct. PJi'r Sagur Noor lived during the Ima'mat of the eighteenth Holy Ima'm Mustansir Billah. He was the fifteenth Pi'r Mohammed Nooruddi'n. Their common name caused a confusion. Pi'r Nooruddi'n did not go to India at any time.
_______________________ 96. Mansamjha'ni, p. 146. Also Ria'zul Ansa'b, vol-II, p. 139
Pi'r Nooruddi'n had six sons. When he became Ima'm after the death of his father Ima'm Isma'il in 158 A.H., he had appointed his second son Isma'il Tha'ni as the Ji'r and bestowed upon him the title of Ima'muddi'n.97
8. PI'R IMA'MUDDI'N
Pi'r Ima'muddi'n was born in 151 A.H. in Mohammedaba'd. He was only seven years old when he became the Pi'r of the Isma'ilis. He served his father Ima'm Mohammed bin Isma'il and brother Imam Wafi Ahmed. He died at the age of fifty-one in 202 A.H.
Pi'r Ima'muddi'n had seven sons. The eldest son Sayyid Mohammed Mansoor was appointed as the Pi'r after his death.98
Pi'r Ima'muddi'n is mentioned as JPij'r Indre Ima'm'di'n in the popular list of the Holy Pi'rs. Indre is an Indian title. The Pi'r never visited India. Some transcriber has made this mistake in confusion. The twentieth Holy Pi'r Salaamuddi'n was Ima'muddin who went to India where he was called as Mahadev. According to Hindus Maha'dev is Indre.
Another Sayyid Ima'muddi'n alias Ima'm Shah was a son of Pi'r Hasan Kabir'di'n. Sayyid Ima'm Shah was not a Pi'r, or Hujjatul Ima'm. He served the Ima'me'Zama'n as a da'i throughout his life. He converted thousands of people to Isma'ilism.
9. PI'R MOHMMED MANSOOR
The ninth Isma'ili Pi'r Mohammed Mansoor bin Pi'r Ima'muddi'n was appointed by Ima'm Wafi Ahmed. He was born in 172 A.H. in Mohammedaba'd, also known as Mahmoudaba'd. He spent most of his life in travelling in Iran and Iraq. The work of da'wat was done in strict secrecy because of the Abbasid enemy. The Holy Ima'm, the Pi'r and the high-ranking da'is moved from one place to another to avoid detection.
The Holy Pi'r had five sons. The eldest son was Sayyid Gha'lib Ali; also known as Gha'libuddi'n. Pi'r Mohammed Mansoor died in 242 A.H. at the age of seventy during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Razi Abdullah.
_______________________ 97. TGST, p. 309 98. Malfu'ze' Kama'liya cited: TGST, p. 311.
10. PI'R GHA'LIBUDDI'N
Hazrat Pi'r Gha'libuddi'n was born in 220 A.H. in Mahmoudaba'd during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Taqi Mohammed. Mowla'na Ima'm Razi sent him to Africa on a special mission. He witnessed the birth of an Isma'ili empire and the Fatimid Caliphate in 296 A.H. in Africa during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mehdi. The Pi'r had four sons. The youngest, Sayyid Abdul Maji'd, was appointed as the Pi'r by the Holy Ima'm.
11. PI'R ABDUL MAJI'D
Hazrat Pi'r Abdul Maji'd was born in 300 A.H. in Afriquiya. After the death of his father he was appointed as the Pi'r when he was only fifteen years old. He travelled widely and wrote many books. Finally he settled in Yemen and died there at the age of ninety-seven in 397 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Ha'kem. He served six Ima'ms, Mowla'na Mehdi, Mowla'na Qa'im, Mowla'na Mansoor, Mowla'na Mo'izz, Mowla'na Azi'z, Mowla'na Ha'kem as their Hujjat. He had two sons: Sayyid Munt'zir Billah and Sayyid Munt'khib Billah. The former succeeded his father as the Pi'r.
12. PI'R MUSTANSIR BILLAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Ha'kem appointed Sayyid Munt'zir Billah as his Hujjat, and bestowed upon him the title of Mustansir Billah. Pi'r Mustansir Billah was also known as Sayyid Anvari. He was born in Yemen in 362 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mo'izz. He travelled throughout the Fatimid empire but he spent most of his life in Yemen where he died at the age of sixty-three in 425 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Za'hir. His son Sayyid Ahmed Ha'di succeeded him as the Pi'r.
13. PI'R AHMED HA'DI
Pi'r Ahmed Ha'di was appointed by Mowla'na Ima'm Za'hir as Hujjatul Ima'm. The Holy Pi'r was born in Yemen in 387 A.H. in the first year of Ima'm Ha'kem's Ima'mat. He started reading and writing at an early age and took a keen interest in religious literature. He travelled with his father to various places and met the famous da'i's.
Pi'r Ahmed Ha'di had six sons. The eldest was Sayyid ha'shem Ali who succeeded him. The Pi'r died in 448 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah at the age of sixty-one. According to another report he died in 438 A.H. at the age of fifty-one. He died in Yemen.
14. PI'R HA'SHEM SHAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Mustansir Billah appointed Sayyid Ha'shem Ali as his Hujjat. He was popularly known as Pi'r Ha'shem Shah in Iran and Iraq. He was born in 404 A.H. in Yemen. He travelled to Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and all over the Fatimid empire.
Pi'r Ha'shem Shah had seven sons. The eldest was Sayyid Mohammed who was born in Yemen. Later the family shifted to Cairo where the Holy Pi'r died at the age of fifty-four in 458 A.H. He was a generous person. His patience and cool temperment would wim his visitor's heart in the very first meeting. He was loved by everyone.
15. PI'R MOHAMMED SHAH (SATGUR NOOR)
The fifteenth Holy Pi'r was Sayyid Mohammed alias Satgur Noor. Mowla'na Ima'm Mustansir Billah appointed him as the Pi'r and honoured him with the title of Nooruddi'n. But he is popularly known as Satgur Noor. He adopted this name during his visit and stay in India. Satgur means: the True Teacher or the Teacher of Truth.
Pi'r Nooruddi'n Mohammed "Satgur Noor" was born in Yemen in 425 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Za'hir. His name was Mohammed but he had many titles, such as: Ha'ji Nooruddi'n, Sayyid Sa'daat, Satguru, Satgur Noor. He was very intelligent and witty. Physically he was very strong, attractive and extremely handsome. His mother was Sayyidah A'mena bint Sayyid Husain al-Husaini.
He was educated and trained by his grandfather Hazrat Pi'r Ahmed Ha'di. When Ima'm Mustansir Billah appointed him as the Pi'r Hazrat, Satgur Noor was thirty-three years old. He spent most of his time in travelling throughout the Fatimid empire and visited Iraq and Iran frequently. But his family had settled in Sabzwa'r. In 474 A.H. he went to India by sea. He landed at a port in Gujrat. He was forty-nine years old at that time. He learned the local languages, Gujrati and Devnagri, within ashort time and started his mission. He converted thousands of Hindus of Kanbi, Kha'rwa and the Kodi tribes in Gujrat. He also converted the ruler of Pa'tan (Navsa'ri), Ra'ja Su'rchand, and married his daughter Ra'ni Pa'lan Devi.99 He performed many miracles. He composed devotional songs, known as Gina'ns, in Gujrati and Devnagri (mother of modern Hindi) which are still popular among the Isma'ilis as well as the Kanbi Hindus in India.
_______________________ 99. Aa'ila-e'-Haqqiqat Numa, p. 269.
During his Pi'ratan (Pirhood) Hasan bin Sabbah had established an Isma'ili kingdom at Alamut in 483 A.H.
Pi'r Satgur Noor died in 487 A.H. at the age of sixty-two, afew months before the death of Ima'm Mustansir Billah. The Holy Pi'r was buried at Navsa'ri. Abeautiful tomb was erected over his grave afterward. Pa'lani Devi or not but he had three sons from his first wife Sayyidah Anwar Bibi whom he had married in Cairo earlier.100
After the death of Pi'r Satgur Noor his eldest son Sayyid Mahmood Shah was appointed by the Holy Ima'm. Pi'r Mahmood Shah was born in Sabzawa'r in 443 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah. The ruler of Sabzwa'r and Khorasan, at that time, was Sultan Sanjar Saljooki.
16. PI'R MAHMOOD SHAH
Pi'r Mahmood Shah was also known as Sayyid Mahmood Sabzwa'ri. He took a keen interest in the activities of Isma'ili da'wat while he was a teen-ager and worked with his grandfather Pi'r Ha'shem Shah. In 487 A.H. he received Pi'ra'tn. As usual with the Holy Pi'rs he travelled widely but he kept his headquarters in Sabzwa'r. According to Tadhkiratus Sa'daat he went to Lahore (Pakistan) with king Masood bin Ibra'hi'm of Ghazana. There he was killed by an enemy in 509 A.H. He was sixty-six. He had six sons: The youngest, Sayyid Mohibbuddi'n, succeeded to Pi'ratan.
17. PI'R MOHIBBUDDI'N
Pi'r Mohibbuddi'n was born in Sabzwa'r in 462 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah. He was forty-seven years old when Ima'm Ha'di had appointed him as the Pi'r.
Isma'ili da'wat was spreading far and wide and with it the political influence of Alamut was getting stronger. A surge of renewed spirit was being felt by the faithful. Isma'ili da'wat was named as da'wat-e'jadi'd (meaning: the new mission) to distinguish it from the Isma'ili da'wat of the Musta'lian branch in Egypt.
Pi'r Mohibbuddi'n had served his Ima'm for thirteen years before he died in 522 A.H. at the age of sixty. He was buried in Sabwza'r. His son Sayyid Kha'liduddi'n was appointed by the Holy Ima'm as the Pi'r.
_______________________ 100. TGST, p. 313
19. PI'R ABDUL MU'OMIN
Mowla'na Ima'm Ha'di appointed Pi'r Kha'liduddi'n. His name was Ali Kha'lid; but his title was Khaleequddi'n. He was popularly addressed as Sayyidina Khaleequddi'n.
He was born in Sabzwa'r in 480 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Ha'di. His Pi'ra'tan lasted eighteen years. He died in Sabzwa'r in 540 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Moh'tadi. He had two sons: Sayyid Abdul Mu'omin and Sayyid Abdullah. The former succeeded him.
19. PI'R ABDUL MU'OMIN
Pi'r Abdul Mu'omin (it is Mu'omin which means the Protector and not Momineen which means the believers) was forty years old when Ima'm Moh'tadi appointed him as the Pi'r. He was born in Sabzwa'r in 500 A.H. He was a great scholar but he was very gentle and humble.
During a journey to Kufa the Holy Pi'r met King Mohammed bin Tommara't. The king became his disciple.101 Later the Pi'r went to Morocco with the king where he converted thousands of the native tribesmen. He was honoured and obeyed more than a king is obeyed. After two and a half centuries Isma'ilism was revived in Morocco. He was loved by the people and he himself loved his followers extremely. He used to call himself Abdul Momineen, meaning: the servant of the believers, as a gesture of love and humility.
At the age of fifty he died in Morocco in 550 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Moh'tadi. He was survived by four sons. The youngest, Sayyid Ali, succeeded after him as the Pi'r.
20. PI'R SALAAMUDDI'N
Mowla'na Ima'm Moh'tadi appointed Sayyid Ali as the Pi'r and bestowed upon him the title of Salaamuddi'n. He was also known as Sayyid Ima'muddi'n. He was the twentieth Holy Pi'r.
Pi'r Salaamuddi'n was born in Sabzwa'r in 516 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Ha'di. At the age of thirty-four he received Pi'ra'tan. He spent many years in Afghanistan and Badakshan (now in Russia) for the propagation of Isma'ilism. Thousands of Isma'ili missionaries were working in various countries. He went to India during the Ima'mat of Ima'm ala'Mohammed. The exact year of his Indian visit is not known but he stayed there for many years. He converted thousands of Hindus who devotionally called him Maha'dev, the Great Lord.102 According to this he was Pi'r Indre Ima'muddi'n, referred in the list of the Holy Pi'rs, after Pi'r Satgur Noor. According to the Hindus Maha'dev is Indre; also Shiva.
Pi'r Salaamuddi'n served four Ima'ms: Ima'm Moh'tadi, Ima'm Qa'hir, Ima'm Hasan Ala'Zikrihis Salaam and Ima'm Ala'Mohammed. He returned to his native town of Sabzwa'r from India and died there in 579 A.H. at the age of sixty-three. He was succeeded by his son Sayyid Mohammed Noorbakhsh.103
21. PI'R SOLEH'DI'N
Sayyid Mohammed Noorbakhsh was Pi'r Soleh'di'n, the twenty-first Isma'ili Pi'r. Mowla'na Ima'm Ala'Mohammed appointed him as the Pi'r. The Pi'r was forty-five years old. He was born in Sabzwa'r in 534 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Moh'tadi.
Pi'r Soleh'di'n was very weak and thin. He was a great mystic. He spent most of his life in fasting and meditating. His Pi'ratan lasted five years. He died in Sabzwa'r in 584 A.H. His son Sayyid Sala'huddi'n succeeded him.
22. PI'R SALA'HUDDI'N
Pi'r Sala'huddi'n was born in Sabzwa'r in 554 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Qa'hir. From his childhood he was very active in da'wat. He travelled with his father to all the places he went. He wrote many books on various religious subjects; the most famous of all was "Fiqah Aahoot".
He was a great dervish. Many Su'fi Orders considered him to be the Qu'tub (the Grand Master of the world) in Su'fism. Khawa'ja Mo'ayyinuddi'n Chishti of Ajmer, India, went to Sabzwa'r in about 560 A.H. to see Pi'r Sala'huddi'n and remained with him for sometime as a disciple.104
The Holy Pi'r travelled to Iraq, Turkey, Azervaijan, Chinese Turkistan, Badakhshan and Afghanistan. He lived through the Ima'mat of Ima'ms Ala'Mohammed, Ruknuddi'n Khorshah and died in 664 A.H., at the age of one hundred and ten years, durint the Ima'mat of Ima'm Shamsduddin Mohammed. The Holy Pi'r had three sons: Sayyid Shamsuddi'n, Sayyid Abdul Husain and Sayyid Abdul Ha'di. The eldest son was appointed by the Holy Ima'm to succeed his father.105 perhaps not correct. 105. Mansamjha'ni, p.23
_______________________ 102. Satwarni, p. 125 103. Tawa'ri'khe' Pi'r p. 74 104. Ibid. p. 75. The year 560 A.H. is 23.
PI'R SHAMSUDDI'N
Pi'r Shamsuddi'n bin Pi'r Sala'huddi'n was born in Sabzwa'r in 639 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Ala'uddi'n Mohammed. Like father like son: he too travelled with his father wherever he went. He was very fond of travelling. He travelled to Afghanistan, Arabia, Bangla Desh, Burma, China, Ceylon, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Kashmir, Malaya, Tibet, Russia, Turkey and many other places. He went to hajj several times. He was popularly called as Haji Ba'ba'Qalander, Shams Iraqi, Shams Chot, Shams Darya, Shah Shams etc.
Our Holy Pi'rs and their children converted millions of people in twenty-four countries. Many of these sailed in a paper boat. The following story is popularly told in Multan, Pakistan, and is also written in many books.
Pi'r Shams arrived in Multan at a time when the city was populated by thousands of holy men, saints, faqirs, dervishes, among whom the most eminent was Shaikh Baha'ul Haqq Zakaria. Pi'r Shams found difficulty in getting accomidation because nobody wanted him in a city where practically everyone was a mu'reed of some shaikh of faqir. So he went out of the city and stationed himself under a tree on the bank of the river Sind. The next day a servant of Shaikh Zakaria brought a bowl of milk filled to the brim. The Pi'r understood the message that there was no room for more milk in the bowl, meaning that there was no room for saints and that there was no room for him. Pi'r Shams plucked a blooming rose and placed it over the milk and returned it to the sender. The reply was: I will float over all of you like the rose in a bowl of milk.
One day Pi'r Shams sailed in a small boat made of ordinary paper without the boat absorbing water. Thousands of amazed spectators followed the boat walking on both the banks of the river which narrowed upon entering the city. There was a huge building on the right bank where Shaikh Zakaria was living. He saw the Pi'r through a narrow window of his house and shouted in a curse. Instantly the boat absorbed water and started rolling in rocking motions. The Pi'r understood his malice and replied, "Let there be horns on thy head," and there appeared instantly two large cow-like horns on Zakaria's head preventing him from withdrawing his head from outside the window. The Pi'r corrected his boat and happily sailed away. The frightened Shaikh sent his son and prominent disciples with gifts begging the Pi'r's forgiveness. He was forgiven conditionally. He would have to keep away from any more mischief. Horns would disappear but as a mark of rememberance he would retain, and his generations would be born with, two small projections on their uupper foreheads like those of a kid or a calf. Even today, after nearly eight centuries, hundreds of the children of the Shaikh in Multan and the surrounding districts have these projections from birth.106
Durint the one hundred and eighteen years of his life Pi'r Shams converted over a half million disciples in many countries.107
Pi'r Shams was Shams Sabzwa'ri and not Shams Tabriz who was the Master of Jala'luddi'n Ru'mi. Shams Tabriz was the son of Ima'm Ala'uddi'n Mohammed and the brother of Ima'm Ruknuddi'n Khorshah. Both were Isma'ili saints. They were contemporaries.
Pi'r Shams died in Multan in about 757 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Qa'sim Shah. He was succeeded by his eldest son Sayyid Naseeruddi'n.
24. PI'R NASEERUDI'N
The Holy Ima'm appointed Pi'r Naseeruddi'n bin JPi;r Shamsuddi'n as his Hujjat. He was born in Sabzwa'r in 657 A.H. and worked under his father for all his life except the last ten years of his own Pi'ratan. He died in 767 A.H. at the age of one hundred and ten. During the ten years of his ministry he travelled widely in the Punjab, Kashmir, Sind, Gujrat and the southern provinces of India.
25. PI'R SA'HIB'DI'N
After the death of Pi'r Naseeruddi'n the Holy Ima'm appointed the Pi'r's eldest son Sayyid Sheha'buddi'n. Pi'r Sheha'buddi'n alias Pi'r Sa'hib'di'n was born in Sabzwa'r in 675 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Shamsuddi'n. His Pi'ra'tan lasted thirty-three years. Like his father and grandfather he composed many Gina'ns and travelled mostly in the Punjab, Kashmir, Sind and Gujrat. He died in 800 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Isla'm Shah. His one-hundred-year-old son Sayyid Sadruddi'n was appointed by the Holy Ima'm as the Pi'r. All the above three holy men, Pi'r Sadruddi'n, Pi'r Sa'hib'di'n and Pi'r Naseeruddi'n, were educated and trained by Pi'r Shams.
26. PI'R SADRUDDI'N
Pi'r Sadruddi'n was born in Sabzwa'r on the second of Rabi-el-Awwal, 700 A.H. (A.D. 1299) during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Shamsuddi'n Mohammed. He had many names and titles: Ha'ji
_______________________ 106. TGST, p. 329 107. Ibid.
Ba'ba', Sadar Shah, Pi'r Salaamat, Satgur Soh'dev, Baar Gur, Makhdoom Shah Sadar'di'm, Satguru, Gur Harichand. He was an extraordinary orator. He travelled extensively and wrote many books.
He studied Sanskrit and debated successfully with the pundits and scholars in Ka'shi (Benaras), the centre of theology and learning in those days. The University of Benaras later conferred upon him the degree of Sha'stri, equivalent to Doctrorate, with a title of Soh'dev, a divine being. An Iranian- Arab Satgur Soh'dev son great eminence among the top theologians of India.
He converted hundreds of thousands of followers and named them Khawa'ja (or Khoja) for equality and integrity among them. He used to sleep only two hours daily and earned his livelihood by writing and selling copies of the Holy Qura'n. He spent sixteen hours daily in religious services, teaching and preaching.
He died at the age of one hundred and nineteen years on the twelfth of Rajab, 819 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Isla'm Shah. The Holy Pi'r had five sons: Sayyid Zahi'ruddi'n, Sayyid Sala'huddi'n, Sayyid Pi'r Ta'jdan, Sayyid Jala'luddi'n and Sayyid Pi'r Hasan Kabi'rd'di'n. The latter was appointed to succeed his father by the Holy Ima'm.
27. PI'R HASAN KABI'R'DI'N
Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n was another famous Isma'ili saint who spent most of his time in prayer and preaching. Nevertheless, he wrote many books and travelled widely lik his father. He was born on the twenty-second of Sha'ba'n, 760 A.H. in Uch during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Qa'sim Shah. According to Sayyid Ima'm Shah he was born in 731 A.H.
His name was Hasan and the title was Kabi'r'di'n, meaning: the Chief of Religion. But he was popularly known as Pi'r Hasan Darya that is Pi'r Hasan the Generous like a river. He was also known as Sayyid Hasan Shah, Pi'r Hasan Uchwi, Sayyid Hasan Shamsi and Sayyid Hasan Kufr-Shikan. His Hindu disciples called him Gur Hasan Shah.
One of the most important events of his life is the weaving of five hundred yards long and nine inches wide cloth from the cotton-like substance from the pods of a wild plant known as aak. He cultivated the plant himself, plucked its pods, prepared the yarn and wove it into a pjiece of cloth five hundred yards long on handlooms. The product was finer than muslin. Using saffaron, dissolved in water, for ink he wrote a lamentation and praise, in poetry, to the Holy Ima'me'Zama'n Mowla'na Isla'm Shah. In each yardspace he wrote each of the 500 stanzas in Khojki character-an invention of his father. This work is known as Anat Akh'do. He went to see the Holy Ima'm in Kahak and presented the cloth which the Ima'm wore as a turban.
He was married seven times and had eighteen sons and a daughter who made a good team of earnest workers in his ministry. They were assigned missionary duties in various parts of the country.
After his fifty-two years of Pi'rat'an Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n died at the age of one hundred and eleven years on the twenty-seventh of Safar, 871 A.H. at Uch, in Pakistan, during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah-II.
28. PI'R TA'JDI'N
After the death of Pi'r Hasan Kabir'di'n the Holy Ima'm appointed Pi'r Ta'jdi'n bin Pi'r Sadruddi'n. Pi'r Ta'jdi'n was born in Uch on the seventh of Ramaza'n, 756 A.H.
He was popularly known as Shah Turail. He converted the peasants of Sidhpur, Gujrat, and called them Mom'na, the momineen. He worked in the Punjab, Sind and Gujrat under his brother Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n.
His Pi'ra'tan lasted five years. As a result of a physical assault and insult caused by a group of his disciples108 the Holy Pi'r died on the ninth of Zil Hijja, 876 A.H. during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Mustansir Billah-II. He was one hundred and twenty years old. It is not known whether he had any children.
29. PI'R MUSTANSIR BILLAH (PANDI'YA'TE' JAWA'NMARDI)
On the death of Pi'r Ta'jdi'n the Holy Ima'm became unhappy with the jama't. He did not appoint another Pi'r and kept the Pi'ra'tan with himself. Thus the twenty-ninth Holy Pi'r was Ima'm Mustansir Billa-II himself. He wrote a book, in Persian, Pandi'ya'te'Jawa'nmardi (Maxims of the Righteous) which contains the advices for the behaviour of the Isma'ilis, the momineen.
With the death of Pi'r Ta'jdi'n, Pi'ra'tan came to an end in the family of Pi'r Sadruddi'n. This line of Holy Pi'rs, as explained above, came down from the eighth Pi'r Sayyid Isma'il Tha'ni alias Pi'r Ima'muddi'n, a son of Ima'm Mohammed bin Isma'il.
_______________________ 108. GHK, preface.
The Isma'ili da'wat shifted from India to Iran but the vaki'ls and da'i's in India continued their activities enthusiastically.
A deputation of Indian Isma'ilis went to Iran to express, on behalf of the jama'ts of India, their apology to the Holy Ima'm Mowla'na Mustansir Billah for the death of Pi'r Ta'jdi'n. But when they arrived in Iran they learnt that the Ima'me'Zama'n was Mowla'na Abd Salaam. They prayed to the Holy Ima'm for kindness and forgiveness and to send a Pi'r to India. They were forgiven. The Ima'm gave them a copy of Pandi'ya'te'Jawa'nmardi and ordered them to respect and consider it as their Pi'r. It is addressed as Pi'r Pandi'ta'te'Jawa'nmardi.
30. PI'R HAIDER ALI
Pi'r Haider Ali was appointed as the Pi'r by Ima'm Mustansir Billah-II. The Pi'r sent his da'i's to Turkey and to Central Asia.
When Sayyid Ima'm Shah bin Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n went to see the Holy Ima'm in Kahak and prayed to Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali to show him the Heaven and the Hell109, the Holy Ima'm ordered Pi'r Haider Ali to fulfill his desire. The Pi'r was known among the followers as Jabr'eel.110 The Pi'r guided Sayyid Ima'm Shah to attain the ba'tini vision of his desire.
Pi'r Haider Ali served his brother Ima'm Abd Salaam, Ima'm Ghari'b Mirza and Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali. He died during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali.
31. PI'R SAYYID ALA'UDDI'N
After the death of Pi'r Haider Ali his son Sayyid Ala'uddi'n was appointed as the Pi'r by Holy Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali. He travelled to Afghanistan and Badakhshan and sent his da'i's to the various parts of the country. Soon after his appointment, by Ima'm Abu-Zar Ali, the Ima'm died and Ima'm Mura'd Mirza ascended to the throne of Ima'mat. His Ima'mat lasted five years. The Holy Ima'm was succeeded by his son Ima'm Zulfiqa'r Ali who was also known as Shah Khali'lullah.111 It was during this period that Pi'r Ala'uddi'n died at an advanced age.
_______________________ 109. Satwarni, p. 291
In India, Sayyid Ima'm Shah son of Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n also died on the twenty-sixth of Ramaza'n, 920 A.H.112 All through his life he served Ima'm faithfully. He wrote many books of Gina'ns and converted thousands of people to the Holy Satpanth -- Isma'ilism.
It is alleged that Sayyid Ima'm Shah had deviated from Isma'ili Niza'ri faith and founded his own sect namely "Ima'm Shahi Panth" after the death of his father Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n. There is no truth in it. The fact is that he sincerely served his Ima'me Zama'n and the Isma'ili faith throughout his life. His son Sayyid Khan and Sayyid Ahmed Shah and their children served the holy Isma'ili faith devotedly for over a hundred years up to the Ima'mat of Mowla'na Ima'm Shah Nizar-II (d. 1038 A.H.).
Lack of communication, social problems and greed among the descendants of Ima'm Shah and their followers gradually divided the jama't in India. This happened particularly among the new converts.
Even today the followers of Ima'm Shahi Panth pray in the name of Ima'm Shah Niza'r morning and evening.
32. PI'R QA'SIM SHAH
After the death of Pi'r Ala'uddi'n his son Sayyid Qa'sim Shah was appointed by the Holy Ima'm as his Hujjat.
Ima'm Zulfiqa'r Ali's Ima'mat lasted just two years and he was succeeded by his son Ima'm Nooruddi'n Ali. Pi'r Qa'sim Shah died after a short illness.
33. PI'R NASEER MOHAMMED
Mowla'na Ima'm Nooruddi'n Ali appointed Sayyid Naseer Mohammed bin Pi'r Qa'sim Shah as the Pi'r. Both the Pi'rs, the father and the son; worked silently and secretly because of the hostile attitude of the ruling class.
Pi'r Naseer Mohammed died during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Khali'lullah Ali, the thirty-ninth Isma'ili Ima'm, who later appointed Sayyid Ha'shem Shah, the elder son of Pi'r Naseer Mohammed, as the Pi'r.
34. PI'R BA'BA HA'SHEM SHAH
Pi'r Agha Ha'shem Shah, popularly known as Pi'r Ba'ba Ha'shem, was highly respected by all communities. He assisted his father in the work of da'wat and took keen interest in literature since his youth. After the death of his father he was appointed as the Pi'r by Ima'm Khali'lullah Ali.
He did not stay at one place for long. He spent most of his life in travelling. He did not visit India as is generally thuoght. A few Gina'ns, which are attributed to him, were in fact composed by his contemporary Sayyid Ha'shem Shah bin Mohammed Shah bin Sayyid Khan who was a great-grandson of Pi'r Hasan Kab'r'di'n. Both, Pi'r Ba'ba Ha'shem Shah and Sayyid Ha'shem Shah, had sons named Mohammed.
Another famous da'i of this period was Sayyid Abdul Nabi who worked in India and composed many Gina'ns.
Pi'r Ba'ba Ha'shem Shah died during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Niza'r Ali who later appointed the Pi'rs eldest son Sayyid Mohammed Zama'n.
35. PI'R MOHAMMED ZAMA'N
Pi'r Agha Mohammed Zama'n worked under his father Pi'r Ba'ba Ha'shem Shah for many years. Nothing much is known about him except that he died during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Zama'n.
36. PI'R AGHA AZI'Z
Pi'r Agha Azi'z son of Pi'r Mohammed Zama'n was appointed by Ima'm Sayyid Ali. He sent his da'is to Afghanistan and Turkistan. He died during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Hasan Ali-I.
37. PI'R MEHRA'B BAIG
Mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ali Shah appointed Sayyid Mehra'b Baig bin JPi'r Agha Azi'z as the Pi'r. Within a few years the Holy Pi'r died and was succeeded by his son Sayyid Ali Akber Baig.
38. PI'R ALI AKBER BAIG
After the death of Pi'r Mehra'b Baig his son Pi'r Ali Akber Baig was appointed by the Holy Ima'm but the Pi'r died within a few years and was succeeded by his brother Sayyid Ali Asghar Baig.
39. PI'R ALI ASGHAR BAIG
Pi'r Ali Asghar Baig, the brother of Pi'r Ali Akber Baig, was appointed by Ima'm Hasan Ali Shah. But he too died early in his youth and with his death this line of the Holy Pi'rs, which started from Pi'r Haider Ali, came to an end.
40. PI'R HASAN ALI SHAH
After the death of Pi'r Ali Asghar Baig the Pi'ra'tan was retained by mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ali Shah. He acted for both the holy positions, the Ima'mat and the Pi'ra'tan.
41. PI'R MIRZA SHAH QA'SIMALI
Later, Mowla'na Ima'm Hasan Ali Shah appointed his eldest son Mirza Shah Qa'sim Ali as the Pi'r who succeeded also to the Throne of Ima'mat after his father.
42. PI'R AGHA ABUL HASANALI SHAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Qa'sim Ali appointed his teenaged son Agha Abul Hasanali Shah as the Pi'r. He was also known as Shah Hasan Baig. Later, he became Ima'me'Zama'n after the death of his father. Thus, he was the forty-fourth Ima'm in the line of the Holy Ima'ms and forty-second Pi'r in the line of the Holy Pi'rs.
He had appointed Sayyid Hasan Shah a descendant of Pi'r Hasan Kabi'r'di'n through his son Sayyid Rehamatullah Shah, as vaki'l in India.
43. PI'R MIRZA MOHAMMED BA'QIR
Before Mowla'na Agha Abul Hasanali Shah went to India with King Na'dir Shah in 1152 A.H. (A.D. 1739) he had appointed as Pi'r his younger brother Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir.
Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir was very popular among all the communities of Iran. He was highly respected and loved by the jama'ts. He served three Holy Ima'ms, Mowla'na Agha Abul Hasanali Shah, Mowla'na Agha Shah Khali'lullah and Mowla'na Agha Shah Hasanali. Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir gave his daughter Sayyidah Bibi Maryam Kha'tun in marriage to his nephew Ima'm Shah Khali'lullah.
44. PI'R SARKAR MA'TA SALAAMAT
After the death of Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah appointed his own mother as the Pi'r. She was a very good speaker and a highly learned woman. The Holy Ima'm had conferred upon her the title of Ma'ta Salaamat. She was addressed as PJi'r Bibi Sarka'r or Sarka'r Ma'ta Salaamat.
She was sent to India by the Holy Ima'm in 1245 A.H. (A.D. 1829). She was the first Holy Pi'r who visited India in 369 years since the death of Pi'r Ta'jdi'n in 876 A.H. She also travelled to the Persian Gulf countries to visit the jama'ts there. When she passed away in Mahala't, in about 1248 A.H., the Holy Ima'm took over the work of the Pi'r as well.
45. PI'R AGHA SHAH HASANALI
Thus the forty-fifth Holy Pi'r was Agha Shah Hasanali.
46. PI'R AGHA ALI SHAH
Mowla'na Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah appointed his son Agha Ali Shah as the Pi'r when they arrived in India. He was addressed as Pi'r Ali Shah Da'ta'r.
Pi'r Agha Ali Shah worked very hard and travelled to all the places, even to the small villages, where the jama'ts lived. He enforced certain religious reforms among the gupti and Mom'na groups of Isma'ilis. The guptis were practising taqiyya-they were Hindus who were following the Isma'ili faith secretly. The Mom'nas were converted from Kanbis by Pi'r Ta'jdi'n.
During the Ima'mat of Ima'm Agha Shah Khali'lullah and Ima'm Agha Hasanali Shah Pi'r Mirza Mohammed Ba'qir, Pi'r Bibi Sarkar Ma'ta Salaamat, Pi'r Agha Ali Shah, (Pi'r) Sayyid Ghula'mali Shah, (Pi'r) Sayyid Mohammed Shah, Sayyidah Bibi Ima'm Begum and (Pi'r) Vazi'r Isma'il Ga'ngji113 propagated the holy faith and served their Ima'me'Zama'n and the jama'ts.
The children of our Holy Pi'rs were also respectfully addressed as Pi'rs though they were not holding Pi'ra'tan, the status of Hujjatul Ima'm. A Hujjatul Aazam, such as Hasan bin Sabbah, or a Da'i'-ul-Du'a't, such as Abdullah bin May'moon, is not a Pi'r either.
47. PI'R AGHA SHAH KHALI'LULLAH
When Pi'r Agha Ali Shah succeeded his father as the Holy Ima'm he appointed his eldest son Agha Sheha'buddi'n Shah as the Holy Pi'r. His title was Pi'r Agha Shah Khali'lullah. During his four years of Pi'ra'tan he wrote some books out of which only Risa'la dar Haqiqate Deen has been published. The fate of the other works is now known.
He was born in 1269 A.H. (A.D. 1853) in Poona where he died 113. (Pi'r) has been used for those who were either the children of the Holy Pi'rs or given titles of pi'r by a Holy Ima'm; for example: (Pi'r) Isma'il Gangji and (Pi'r) Sabz'ali.
In the month of Rajab, 1302 A.H. (May, 1885) at the age of thirty-three. His infant son Sayyid Abul Hasan Shah was appointed as the Pi'r by Ima'm Agha Ali Shah.
48. PI'R AGHA ABUL HASAN SHAH
Pi'r Agha Abul Hasan Shah died after three months during the Ima'mat of Ima'm Sulta'n Mohammed Shah. Pi'ra'tan remained with the Holy Ima'm for the rest of his life.
49. PI'R AGHA SULTA'N MOHAMMED SHAH
Eight years old Pi'r Agha Sulta'n Mohammed Shah, who was also the forty-eight Ima'm, preached to the jama'ts like an old experienced person.114 He took a great interest in the tableegh (propagation) of Isla'm. As mentioned in a previous chapter thousands of Hindus were converted to Isla'm under his personal guidance.
In early 1923 the Holy Ima'm and Holy Pi'r sent a famous da'i Sabza'li with a ta'liqa to visit the jama'ts of Central Asia and the Middle East.
Pi'r Agha Sulta'n Mohammed Shah wrote a 75-page book Usoole' wa Fu'roo-e'-Deen, in Khojki script, in 1311 A.H. It was first published in Bombay a year later. A collection of his numerous Holy Farma'ns is known as the Kala'me'Ima'me Mobi'n, in two volumes, which was first published in Gujrati in 1951 by the Isma'ilia Association for India, in Bombay. It is a marvellous book. It explains in detail all the fundamental principles of Isla'm and Isma'ilism and the complete code of conduct with references from the Holy Qura'n and the Hadit. It contains religious as well as material, guidance for the Isma'ilis. For serious thinker, too, it has a thought provoking material. For example:
"What is iba'dat? And what is it? How does it work? The answer is: It is a special way of Ba'tini meditation. It is a spiritual exercise and training of the soul. But only a few understand it."115
"An ordinary religious person desires to enter Paradise, after death, where he will eat, drink and enjoy the company of his wives and children. But to a lover of God it looks like a stable where a horse gets all comforts without work. A momin wants to rise higher. He aims at reaching near the Throne of Allah."
"Like a bird, which is kept in a gold cage, yearning for freedom, the human soul feels imprisoned during the life on earth and yearns for freedom."116
In his Memories he wrote
"The subject should always disappear in the object. In our ordinary affections one for another, in our daily work with hand or brain, we most of us discover soon enough that any lasting satisfaction, any contentment that we can achieve, is the result of forgettin self, of merging subject with object in a harmony that is of body, mind and spirit. And in the highest realms of consciousness all who believe in Higher Being are liberated from all the clogging and hampering bonds of the subjective self in prayer, in rapt meditation upon and in the face of the glorious radiance of eternity, in which all temporal and earthly consciousness is swallowed up and itself becomes the eternal."117
Pi'r Agha Sulta'n Mohammed Shas was succeeded by his grandson as the Ima'm and the Pi'r of the Isma'ilis in the month of Zil-Hijja, 1376 A.H. (July, 1957).
50. PI'R AGHA SHAH KARI'M
Pi'r Salaamat Agha Shah Kari'm, the forty-ninth Holy Ima'm and the fiftieth Holy Pi'r of the momineen, has been working very hard for the spiritual advancement of his spiritual children all over the world numbering between twenty-three and twenty-four million.
He has been spending much of his time in dealing with the affairs of the followers and in travelling to the places where the jama'ts are residing to bless and guuide them. He has always placed a great emphasis on religion. He told the Students' Religious Society in Dar es Salaam:
"You should also remember that only education is of no use. You must have faith and love for religion. If you are in a bus or any where and if you have a tasbeeh with you then say your prayer without hesitation if the time of the prayer comes."
He spoke in Darkha'na,118 Karachi:
"I would like you also to remember that in this world a man's life is not worth the dust in the road unless he has faith. Unless he has faith he will get nowhere and if he gets anywhere in this life he will be unhappy afterwards because without faith his life does not mean anything."
Dhani Salaamat Da'ta'r Pi'r Agha Shah Kari'm Ha'zar Ima'm takes keen interest in the religious affairs of the jama'ts and attends to solve even a small problem of his spiritual children. He is so polite and affectionate that he listens to the humblest spiritual child and satisfies him. He is so loving and kind that he has never given any importance to his own comforts over and above the needs of the jama'ts. Once, in Nairobi, he attended to the religious matters of the jama't from evening till two o'clock past mid-night with a short break for an appointment outside.
Once he visited East Africa with a leg in plaster. In spite of this painful condition he attended to the wishes of the jama'ts and pleased them. Some of his sensitive spiritual children wept in appreciation of his love for them all.
HISTORY OF THE HOLY PI'RS
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations have been used for the books frequently quoted. Full titles are given of all the other books in the notes.
Bu Hadith, Bukhari
EB Encyclopaedia Britannica
EI Encyclopaedia of Islam
GHK Holy Gina’ans, Pir Hasan Kabirdin
GIS Holy Gina’ans, Pir Sadruddin
GSH Holy Gina’ans Pir Satgur Noor
GSN Holy Gina’ans Pir Satgur Noor
HB Holy Bible
HQ Holy Qur’an
KIM Kalame Imame Mobin, Sultan Mohammed Shah
Lt. H A Literary History of Persia, E.G. Brown
MAK The Memoirs of Aga Khan, The Aga Khan III
Mi Hadith Mishkat
Mu Hadith, Muslim
NM Noorum Mobi’n, A.J. Chuna’ra
RI The Religion of Islam, Mowlvi Muhammad Ali
SHS A short history of the Saracens, Ameer Ali
SN Si’rtun Nabi’, Alla’ma Shibli Nomani
TGST Tar’rikhe’ Gulza’re Shams Tabraiz, Mulak Shah
The following abbreviations have been used for the books frequently quoted. Full titles are given of all the other books in the notes.
Bu Hadith, Bukhari
EB Encyclopaedia Britannica
EI Encyclopaedia of Islam
GHK Holy Gina’ans, Pir Hasan Kabirdin
GIS Holy Gina’ans, Pir Sadruddin
GSH Holy Gina’ans Pir Satgur Noor
GSN Holy Gina’ans Pir Satgur Noor
HB Holy Bible
HQ Holy Qur’an
KIM Kalame Imame Mobin, Sultan Mohammed Shah
Lt. H A Literary History of Persia, E.G. Brown
MAK The Memoirs of Aga Khan, The Aga Khan III
Mi Hadith Mishkat
Mu Hadith, Muslim
NM Noorum Mobi’n, A.J. Chuna’ra
RI The Religion of Islam, Mowlvi Muhammad Ali
SHS A short history of the Saracens, Ameer Ali
SN Si’rtun Nabi’, Alla’ma Shibli Nomani
TGST Tar’rikhe’ Gulza’re Shams Tabraiz, Mulak Shah