Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) has authored many books and pamphlets in Arabic and Persian, which lay stress on recognition of unity of God, worship of One God, His remembrance and reflection. Aurad-I-Fathia is one of these priceless compositions, concise primer, describing the unity and attributes of Allah (SWT) in a grand style. It is often recited daily after Fajar prayers (early dawn) and Isha prayers (before going to bed) in most of the mosques of the Kashmir valley. It is committed to memory by tens of thousands of Kashmiris, even illiterate, and has been found very effective whenever faced with any problem. It has been found to serve as a real healer of the worried mind, when recited with full understanding of its meaning.
HazratAmir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadan (RA) has himself given an account of how hecame to give the title “AURAD-I-FATHIA”. “As I collected and compiled the”Aurad” obtained from 400 divines, the righteous, the scholars and wasconsidering, what name to give to it, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) graced me by hispresence, when I reached Madina Munawara and said, “Hold this AL-Fathia” When Itook from the holy hands of the Holy Prophet (PBH), what was gifted to me andglanced over it, I saw it was the same ‘Aurad’ that had been compiled by me.”Aurad are means to success and felicity.”
Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (1314–1384) was a Persian Sufi of the Kubrawiya order, a poet and a prominent Shafai Muslim scholar. He was born in Hamadan. Hamadan was then a great center of Islamic learning. At a young age Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) mastered all the available knowledge in theology, philosophy, metaphysics and Sufism and travelled extensively seeking knowledge and practicing spiritualism, till he became a scholar of repute, a mystic and a perfect saint.
He spent his life in propagating Islam and undertook several extensive tours through difficult terrains and over hazardous routes and played a major role in spreading Islam in Kashmir and also influenced the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was known as Shah-e-Hamadan (“King of Hamadan”), and Amir-I- Kabir (“the Great Commander”).
Hazrat Amir-I-Kabir (RA) came to Kashmir three times i.e. in 774 AH/1372 AD, 781 AH/ 1378 AD and 785 AH/ 1383 AD. The first visit lasted 4 to 6 months. During this brief stay, he held intellectual and spiritual debates with a Hindu yogi Shahpore-the keeper and chief priest of the large temple in Srinagar, by Raja Parversen in the second century AD. The learned Hindu Sadhu wielded great influence on the Hindu masses and also on the Hindu intelligentsia.
The Yogi accepted Islam amidst a large gathering. This in turn resulted in mass conversions. The Muslims of Kashmir owe a great debt of gratitude to this luminary of Islam for bringing them en-masse within the fold of Islam. He is lovingly known as the founder of Islam in Kashmir (“Baniay-Musalmani”). He had brought two relics of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with him.
MirSyed Ali Hamadani (RA) spent his early years under the tutelage of Alaud-DaulaSimnani, a famous Kubrawi saint from Semnan, Iran. Despite his teacher’sopposition to Ibn Arabi’s explication of the Wahdat al-Wujud (“unity ofexistence”), Hamadani wrote Risala-i-Wujudiyya, a tract in defense of thatdoctrine, as well as two commentaries on Fusus al-Hikam,. Ibn Arabi’s work on Al-Insanal-Kamil. Hamadani is credited with introducing the philosophy of Ibn-Arabi toSouth Asia.
Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA)traveled widely. It is said he traversed the known world from East to Westthree times. In 774 AH/1372 AD Hazrat Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) lived in Kashmir. AfterSharif-u–Din Abdul Rahman Bulbul Shah, he was the second important Muslim tovisit Kashmir. Hazrat Amir-I-Kabir (RA) went to Mecca, and returned to Kashmirin 781/1379, stayed for two and a half years, and then went to Turkistan by wayof Ladakh. He returned to Kashmir for a third time in 785/1383. Hazrat Syed AliHamadani (RA) is regarded as having brought various crafts and industries fromIran into Kashmir. It is said that he brought 700 Sadat’s/ followers, includingsome weavers of carpets and shawls with him, who taught the craft of pashminatextile and carpet-making to the local population.
SyedAli Hamadani (RA) travelled and preached Islam in different parts of the worldincluding Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Syria, and Turkestan. The Mausoleum ofMir Syed Ali Hamadani in Tajikistan. Chihil Asrar, Zakhiratul Maluk,Sirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala Dah Qaida, Mirat-ul-Talibeen, Risala MashiaMeeriah, Risala Munajat, Risala Fatwia,Risala Zikriya, Risala Farsia, Risala Hamadania, Risala Wajoodia, Risala Eitiqadia,Masharibul Azwaaq, Munqabatul Jawahir, Muwadatul Qurba , Sharah FasoosulHikam, Asrarul Nuqt, SharahQasida-i-Khumria Fardia, Maktoobat dar soorat-u-seerati Insan, RisalaIstilahat-i-ilm-ul-Qiyafah, Kitab-u-sabeen-fe-fazail Amirul Mumineen Ali, Arbayeen,Raudatul Firdous, Firdausul Akhyar, Manazil-us-Salikeen, Khulasat-ul-Manaqib. These are the names ofsome books authored by Syed Ali Hamadani (RA).
Shah-I-Hamadan belonged to Shafai School of fiqah, but as the Muslims of Kashmirbelonged to Hanfia School of fiqah, he suggested no changes in this practice inthe overall interests of Islam. When Sultan Shahab-u-Din was engaged in a warwith King Feroz shah, Hazrat Shah-I-Hamadan (RA) got peace restored betweenthem. Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) left for heavenly abode in Kunar Province ofAfghanistan, and was carried to Khatlan, Tajikistan, where his shrine islocated.
(ShahKhalid is a freelance Columnist)