Shah Jewna, the most famous and spiritually enriched town of Sadaat Bukhari, is situated at a distance of 30km towards North from Jhang city. It is ancestral town of Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, the Sajjada Nasheen of the holy shrine. Towards south from this town, a Faqeer of Allah is resting in his grave for the last five centuries, located in the middle of the thickest and vast forest of Jal tress. The holy grave is made of ordinary mud and is of extraordinary size. This grave is inside a Haveli, made of mud, under the open sky. Despite this humble plight, this grave is continuous source of “Faqeerana”dignit and Qalandarana grace. This Faqeer II-Allah is known as Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA). However, his real name is Syed Mahboob Alam (RA). The holy tomb and the shrine exudes spiritual bless to its millions of devotees.
Ancestry
The family of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) is the family of famous and known world-over Auliyaa-e-Karaam. The ancestral father of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA), Makhdoom Sher Shah Jalaluddin Surkh Bakhari (RA) came to subcontinent from Bokhara in the time of the Slave dynasty. Muhammad Hafeezuddin Hafeez has written about him in Uch-Nama that he extended invitation to embrace Islam even to Changez Khan. But upon that the latter went furious and threw the former away in the fire. But, miraculously, the fire turned into a rose garden for him. This incident inclined Changez Khan towards Islam and he accepted and became convinced of his piousness. Similarly, Syed Raees Ahmad Jaafri writes in his book Anwar-e-Auliya (kamil) about Makhdoom Jahaanayan Jahaan Gasht, the founding father of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA), that when he returned to Jeddah from his last journey to Harmain Sharif, the people brought a dead body in a casket to bury. Upon his inquiry, the people told him that Sheikh Badruddin Yamani had met his creator and it was his funeral. He stopped them for burying him and asked them to place it in the mosque. Afterwards, he locked door of the mosque from inside and offered two nawafil, the optional prayers to seek pleasure of Allah Almighty. After this, he started reciting Quran-e-Pak. The moment, he reached the second verse
The corpse of Sheikh Badruddin Yamani started moving and he got up alive. Upon this he started kissing hands and feet of Makhdoom Jahaanyan Jahaan Gasht.
Later on Sheikh Badruddin led the Zuhr prayers. Upon seeing this miracle, the people of Jeddah became followers of Makhdoom Syed Jahaanyan Jahaan Gasht. A similar happening has also been written by the Emperor Jahangir in his autobiography Tuzuk-e¬Jahangiri, about Hazrat Shah Alam (Gujrat, India) the contemporary and closed relative of Pir Jewna (RA).
Miracle in Qanuj
One such narration associated with Hazrat Pir Jewna (RA) and coming from generations, seems absolutely true, if we analyse it in the perspective of above mentioned authentic narrations, that around 1556 when Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) was in Qanuj, someone mistakenly seriously injured the son of Raja of Qanuj during a game with knife. The blade cut the stomach and a cleavage was clearly shown. The boy died on the spot. The Raja took the dead body of his son to Hazrat Pir Jewna (RA). The latter recited verses of the Holy Quran and moved his hand on the child’s stomach. It is narrated that by the will and decree of Allah Almighty, the child got up and returned to life. Seeing this miracle, the Raja embraced Islam. And the people started calling Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) as “Shah Jewna paate seeona” meaning that Shah Jewna had the miracle of stitching the cleavages of ruptured bodies.
Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) bade farewell to the land of Qanuj in 1558, the reign of Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar. For the cause of preaching of Islam he reached Pel Padhrar enroute Hyderabad Deccan and Lahore. At that time it used to be a barren land. He started reciting day in and day out there and in just matter of few days the barren land produced natural fountains and as such the people there were blessed with water. Crops began to grow and greenery encompassed everything. The miraculous natural water fountain of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) even exists today in the form of a well in PeI Padhrar. It is called “Well of Pir”. The devotees consider the water of this well as elixir and drink it to their fullest. They use it as a cure against physical and spiritual illnesses. Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) kept the sacred work of preaching and spreading of Islam for long in Pel Padhrar and kept strengthening the conscience of people through his miracles. The most rude and rigid tribes of the region embraced Islam over this holy hand.
Blessings
Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) moved from Pel Padhrar to the land of Jhang and set his camp in the existing region of Shah Jewna. This region was uninhabited and known as ‘Rara’ i.e. a vast desert, in local language. But he prayed to Allah and said “This is not Rara but filled pot of Ghee (vanaspati).” In just matter of few days after this pray, this region started populated. Greenery prevailed everywhere and the people went prosperous. By his preaching, the tribes of this region including Smraal, Siyal, Bharwanay, Jappay, Noi, Khokhar, Kharal, Sanpal and Rajput embraced Islam and he became famous with little ‘Mal Qatal’ meaning he one who struggles or does jihad against dirt of infidelity.
Spirituality
Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) spent long 12 years in spiritual practices, self identification, Khalwat-o¬Muraaqaba and excitement of selflessness alongside bank of river Chanab. The fruits of wild trees were his feed. Verses of Quran always used to be on his tongue. He was preoccupied with it in states of sitting, standing and walking. In the deserts of river Chanab the echo of his recital of the Holy Quran used to be heard in far flung areas. Birds and animals used to gather around him to listen to the Holy Quran and felt pleased. He had cordial love with Surah al-Muzamil. He recited this Surah for tens of thousands times in the thickest woods alongside River Chanab . He overcame the hearts of the people of wild tribes. That is why he became known as “Pir of Crores”, i.e. the Pir having devotees in millions. The devotees always used to remain present around him to benefit themselves in abundance from his spiritual holdings. He used to give them the lessons of conscience, the love of Allah, the ways and sayings of the Holy prophet (PBUH), respect and honour etc. In such manner, he, as the greatest spiritual leader and the most valuable reformer, put their lives on right track.
A man of action
Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) was not a mere reciter of Sura al-Muzamil, but he was also man of action. That is why making the sketch of his inner-self is not a difficult task. His inner-self is reflection of Surah al-Muzammal. ‘Ya Muzammil’, ‘Ya Muzammil’ used to be on the tip of his tongue. It clearly shows that he had great love and affinity with the Holy Prophet (PBUH).Al-Muzammil is one amongst the respected names of the holy Prophet (PBUH)). Since the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was Al-Muzammil (The one who wears shawl), Hazrat Shah Jewna (RA) also used shawl as his dress out of extreme love with the Prophet (PBUH).
According to the orders he was a worshipper of Allah in nights and a Sufi Saint. As per the verse, he was a melodious reciter of the Holy Quran. Similarly, following the verse, he was not convinced with suspending the chores of the world or to show disinterest in it. He was also not convinced with sitting idle all day long, but according to the sacred model of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) he actively participated in the entire chores and other occupations. He also advised his devotees to be hard working, to plough the fields honestly, and to do the labour heartily so that they could earn Halal sustenance and to up-bring their siblings and offspring with clean and neat livelihood. He was against the worn-out system of showing disinterest in the affairs of the world only to seek the pleasure of Allah Almighty. He considered Faqeeri as opposite to this system.
Ideology
The ideology of hardwork and labour is still reflected through various traditions performed on the eve of his Urs. Sajjaada Nasheen i.e. the existing representative of his court grinds the mill himself while performing the tradition of ‘Chakki Chung’. Similarly, he fires the tandoor while reviving the tradition of ‘Bhatti Jhalka’. And in this way, he urges his followers to earn Halal livelihood.
Through the recitation of a verse
of Sura al-Muzammil, we come to know that Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA) considered Jihad as an important chapter of Islam. That is why he was known as “Mal Qatal” i.e. the one who does Jihad against pagans. Hence, it is revealed to us through the teachings of Sura al-Muzammil and the Hazrat’s code of conduct, that he was not merely a pious man, but he was a great reformer, spiritual leader, literati with action and leader of people. He was aiming at taking the Ummah towards success in the very light of teachings of the Holy Quran. He was a revolutionary and torch bearer Faqeer. He was teeming with the love of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He run to preach Islam in forests, deserts and in habitats. We see him reciting the Quran in streets of Qanuj at one time, the other time we find him reciting Sura al-Muzammil on the banks of river Chanab. Similarly, sometimes we observe him voicing aloud the oneness of Allah in valleys of Pel Padhrar and sometimes we come across him teaching the teachings of Islam among the rigid tribes. In the same manner, we often see him helping in the up-bringing of the poor and often notice him telling the solution of Sharia-related issues. And, frequently we find him raising the slogans of Al-Muzammil, Al-Muzammil reflecting his sheer love with the apostle of Allah.
‘Sakhi Habib’
Hazrat Pir Habib, the son of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA), was also a Saint. Due to his generosity, he was famous as ‘Sakhi Habib’ i.e. the most generous Habib. His Langer used to be served the entire day. It is narrated that a local Sardar (elder) stopped all well-to-do people from giving charity and alms to his Langer burning in jealousy and to check that either the Langer could remain operational. When Hazrat Pir Habib came to know about it, he ordered to double the quantity of Langer. It is said that he also started reading out the verse
After some days, the jealous local elder inquired about the status of Langer. He was told that it had gone doubled than before. He regretted and lamented over it and said that some external and superior power was involved in that.
Pir Ghora
Hazrat Pir Ludhan Imam bin Sakhi Habib, the grandson, of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA), was also a miraculous Waliullah. It is told about him that one day he was playing outside far from home. Suddenly the infidels attacked the place. Upon seeing this, he rode on a wall while making a hunter out of a snake and ordered the wall to run. With this he started reading the Qüranic verse and by the will and order of Allah Almighty, the wall started running like a horse and reached the city. The remains of this wall still exist today in the city of Shah Jewna, and known as ‘Pir Ghora’ means ‘Pir of Horse’ because the Pir had had miracle of turning the walls into horse.
Mujahida
Amongst the successors of Hazrat Pir Shah Jewna (RA), the traditions of Mujahida are still continuing. Every year, on the eve of his Urs, the tradition of ‘Kari’ is performed, which is a type of ‘Mujahida’. After performing custom, the Sajjaada Nasheen does the Mujahida for around a week at the sacred court. He recites the Holy Quran and does the rosaries. He prays for his followers. Then he lightens the lamp to formally inaugurate the Urs Mubarak. Through this lamp-lightening custom, the Sajjaada Nasheen calls the followers towards the ever shining way of Hidayat. (Contributed)