Moulana Shawkat Husain Keng
His Splendid dynasty: ‘Shabeeb’ the ancestor of the excellent dynasty of Hazrat Allama Baba Dawood Mishkwati (RA) accepted Islam on the hands of the follower of truth Hazrat Khalifa the fourth Amir-ul-Moominin Jenab Ali-ul-Murtaza (KW) Thereafter a number of people of this tribe became the owners of government and establishment in different places, and countries in different times.
The Sultans of Ghour, kings of Bamyan (Afghanistan) and the rulers of Hindustan have been the kings of this very chain, among whom the name of the king of Dehli Jalal-ud-din Ghouri is well known and famous.
His Gracious father: When his great ancestor Malik Jalal-ud-din Thokar arrived in Kashmir, he stayed at Gojwarahi (Srinagar) during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Shahmiri and there he built a khanqah-i-sharif, which is known as Masjid Malik Jalal-ud-din Ghouri near Jamia Masjid Srinagar. Near the Masjid Sharif there is the grave of the eminent Wali of high status Jenab Hazrat Shaikh Ahmad Fareed (RA) and his dynasty.
The gracious father of Hazrat Allama Malik Masood Thokar had gone to Baramulla district, the history is silent about his events and date of death.
His Birth: His auspicious birth took place in the month of purity Rabi-ul-Awal 1000 AH in some village at Baramulla district.
His Education and training: He acquired his initial training from his honored father and headed to Srinagar for a higher education and stayed at khanqah-i-Shaikh Musa Baldimiri for education and training.
His gracious teachers: Among his gracious teachers the following persons are well known and famous:
Hazrat Shaikh Musa Baldimiri (RA)
Hazrat Shaikh Hasan Haji (RA)
Moulana Jamal-ud-din Kashmiri (RA)
Qazi Abul Qasim (RA) elder son of Moulana Jamal-ud-din (RA)
Hafiz Shams-ud-din (RA)
His Venerable teacher: But he acquired the knowledge of Hadith and its source from Hazrat Sayidna Mufassir Quran Muhaddith Azam Moulana Khwaja Haidar Charkhi Qadri (RA) ( venerated student of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlavi RA) According to Khwaja Azam Dedamari he acquired other branches of knowledge from him as well.
His Path of Salook: He was already inheritor of the Alvi wealth according to the background of the family inheritance in intrinsic knowledge (Tariqat) which is called by the term of ‘Ihsan’ in Quran and Hadith.
Still he turned towards Hazrat Shaikh Musa Baldimiri (RA) besides Hazrat Shaikh Abu Raza Abdullah (RA) like contemporary Mashaikh for acquiring the intrinsic knowledge. These majesties guided him and made him aware of a great good news.
The great Suhrawardy order: The founder of the great Suhrawardy order is Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Shayookh-ul-Alam Qutb-ul-Aqtab Imam Shaikh Shahab-ud-din Suhrawardy (RA). The first foundation of any order that was laid in Kashmir was of this very auspicious order, because the founder of Islam Jenab Hazrat Sayid Abd-ur-Rahman Bulbul Shah Saheb Turkistani (RA) was a close disciple of Hazrat Shaikh-ul-Shayookh. After Bulbul Shah Sahib (RA) came here Hazrat Sayid-us-Sadat Sayid Husain Simnani (RA). Before him Sayid Jalal-ud-din Bukhari (RA) blessed this region with his auspicious footsteps. Both these majesties were the evergreen flowers and venerable preceptors of Suhrawardy order.Hazrat Pir Simnan (RA) was the true khalifa of Hazrat Makhdum Jahanyan (RA). Although there was majority of Sadat of high status accompanying Hazrat Bani-Islam Amir-i-Kabir Jenab Mir Sayid Ali Hamadani (RA) belonging to Kubravi order yet there were no less number of Shaikhs attached to the other orders as well, for instance Sayid Badr-i-Hilal Naqshbandi (RA) {who was the true khalifa of Khwaja Khwajgan Sayid Mohammad Baha-ud-din Naqshband Mushkil kusha (RA)} and Hazrat Janbaz Wali Rufai (RA) who was the great Shaikh of Suhrawardy order etc., particularly the descendants of Hazrat Makhdum Jahanyan (RA). But when Hazrat Sultan-ul-Arifin Shaikh Hamza Makhdum Kashmiri (RA) entered in to the bayat of Hazrat Sayid Jamal-ud-din Bukhari Dehlavi (RA) and joined the great Suhrawardy order, the other orders of Kashmir went in to oblivion, hence during the sacred period of Allama Baba Dawood Mishkwati (RA) was the pinnacle of the Suhrawardy order. Hence at a very young age he went in the presence of the true preceptor Hazrat Abul Fuqara Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi (great Khalifa of Hazrat Sayidina Shaikh-ul-Islam Allama Baba Dawood Khaki RA)
His first meeting: The description of the first meeting has been composed by the famous historian of Kashmir Jenab Mulla Baha-ud-din Mattoo (RA) in his book ‘Sultani’ in Persian verses, the translation of which is presented here:
Translation of the verses: The first meeting that I had with him was excellent with the grace of Allah tala. Hazrat Shaikh was at the place of Wullar in a state of meditation along with his servants. I became over powered with the desire to meet him and thought of being present in his sacred attendance. He was seated in the suburbs of Wullar at the house of his close disciple Baba Shankar Rishi. Hazrat Abul Fuqara (RA) was present in his house and his gathering was adored with the presence of the possible disciples. His group of devotees with angel like traits were seated along with him. Some were busy in the recitation of Holy Quran, some were busy in chanting wazifas, some were busy in zikr by heart and some majesties were busy in contemplation. Among these some were in meditation with their heads down in their knees and some were busy in examining their souls. Among these persons some were busy in acquiring religious education and some were observing in a state of silence.
This state of affairs made me too unconscious. The self observation and intellect and wisdom appeared to be useless. My parts of body began to shiver and whole body became weary and helpless. Hazrat Shaikh paid lot of attention. He asked about my tribe and family and asked me where from had you come? And with what do you remain busy? I replied, “My real tribe is Ghouri and am Thakur according to this lineage.” On hearing this he smiled and cast a look on me and I fsomeelt that a king of kings has bestowed a status of kingdom to me also and said further, “Thakurs are of lower caste, you are not Ghouri but Noori. Of this tribe there is some one a darvish, pious person in every time, In the present time it is now your turn and you will vividly become a pious person and an eminent darvish.
Benefit of his meeting: By this discussion it is revealed, as stated by himself in “Arar-ul-Abrar” thatHazrat Abul Fuqara Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi (RA) was already acquainted with the fame of his dynasty, particularly the magnificence and the birth of the great ancestor of this family in Kashmir Malik Jalal-ud-din Ghouri Thakur, the confession of which was made by Hazrat Moulana Husain leader (RA) known as Akhoon Husain Naqshbandi (buried Gojwara Srinagar) to Hazrat Allama Mishkwati (RA)
His great dream: Hazrat Allama Mishkwati (RA) states that after getting education and training, all the disciples got involved and busy in their respective businesses and I too got busy in ‘azkar’ in seclusion in a corner. During this very process I got blessed with the vision of Hazrat Shah-i-Konain (SAWS). He (SAWS) He appeared as a light of sun and I requested him,
“O’ helper of the helpless! I have no support, I am really helpless. Please come to my rescue.”
He replied, “If you are helpless, you will remain in the company of someone.” In the morning I described this dream to a seeker of the pure preceptor and he informed about it to Hazrat Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi (RA) Hazrat Shaikh called me to himself and stated:
“O’ darvish! Describe the dream that you have dreamt.”
I related the whole dream. Hazrat seconded it and stated, “the dream that you have dreamt is a good news for you to find nearness to Allah. On this, the dream of yours is a witness. This very dream was shown to me as well and many more wonders were shown to me about you. These will occur at their own time, soon but not after very long time.”
(In Sultani of Baha-ud-din Mattoo this event is described in verses in Persian)
His Shajra Tariqat (Lineage of Tariqat): Hence he entered in to the bayat of Hazrat Baba Naseeb-ud-din Ghazi (RA) and obtained the blessing of joining regularly the great order of Suhrawardyah. At this instance his lineage of Tariqat is presented here for the readers in verse:
His companionship of Pirs: Hazrat Shaikh Baba Majnoon Suhrawardy, Hazrat Shaikh Dawlat and Hazrat Shaikh Tahir have been counted by him as Pirs of his companionship. After the death of Hazrat Abul Fuqara (RA) he spent about fifty years in the company of these very men of Allah.
His eminent contemporaries: Hazrat Akhund Mulla Tayyib Saheb, Shaikh Yousuf Rishi, Jenab Suha Rishi, Shaikh Kangi Rishi, Shaikh Mohammad Hasan, Khwaja Mohammad Afzal, Mulla Shah Badakhshi Saheb, and Shaikh Abd-u-Raseed etc., are counted among his contemporaries and great friends. ( Here it is added that Shaikh Sayid Mohammad Moomin Shah the 8th ancestor of the translator too was his contemporary as borne out by the handwritten manuscripts preserved in my ancestral library- translator.)
His close connection with Naqshbandya dynasty: He had close connection and ceremony with the inheritor of the position Hazrat Khwaja Mohammad Parsa (RA) the successor of Khwaja Buzarg Sayidna wa Sanadina Khwand Mamood Naqshbandi (RA) known as Hazrat Aishan, the mention of whom he has made in ‘Asrar-ul-Abrar.’ After him these relations continued to be maintained with Hazrat Mufassir-i-Quran Abu Zia Khwaja Moin-ud-din Hadi Naqshbandi (RA) rather according to Hasan Shah Khoihami the historian of Kashmir, Hazrat Sahah Moin-ud-din Naqshbandi (RA) sent him along with his disciples to the king (probably Awrandzeb) as an advocate for prosecution.
His majesty of knowledge: He possessed an upper hand in all branches of knowledge, particularly in the knowledge of Hadith. After Hazrat Aishan Shaikh Yaqoob Sarfi (RA) all the historians are united on his mastery of knowledge. Hence whole of Mishkwat-i-sharif he remembered by heart, so on this account he got the appellation ‘Mishkwati’
Translation: Since all the Hadiths of Mishkwat-i-Sharif were committed to his memory and he was rich with the Hadiths of the Prophet (SAWS) and whole Miskwath was in his memory, that is why the teacher blessed him with the appellation of ‘Mishkwati’
His authored books: Hazrat Allama Baba Dawood Mishkwati (RA) was a master of pen Muhaddith litterateur, historian, and a poet. By writing Asrar-ul-Abrar in Persian language he donated to the nation and humanity an everlasting memorial. He wrote in verse ‘Asrar-ul-Ashjar’ following ‘Mantaq-ut-tair’ of Hazrat Mufti Tariqat Shaikh Farid-ud-din Attar (RA) besides presenting ‘Minhaj-ul-Rishiah’ a masterpiece in Arabic language and literature.
Asrar-ul-Abrar: The status of Asrar-ul-Abrar among all the books of Hazrat Allama Baba Dawood Mishkwati (RA) is unique. The current researcher late Allama Dr. Sayid Mohammad Farooq Saheb Bukhari has written a review with detail of Asrar-ul-Abrar in his book ‘Kashmir mein Arbi Shaar wa Adab ki Tarikh’ published by Jammu & Kashmir Cultural Academy and has proved as quoted by ‘Maarif’ Azamgadh that Hazrat Fana fil Ilm Allama Dr. Sayid Sulaiman Nadvi (RA) has counted this boom among the knowledge of Hadith due to some specifications and it is written in this history that the former minister of education late Hazrat Imam-ul-Hind Moulana Abul Kalam Azad studied this book for six months.
This book has been published by Adarah Sultaniah Srinagar without its original text I.e., Urdu translation only. The translation of the book has been accomplished by Jenab Mir Abd-ur-Rasheed Nazki (former head of Kashmiri department, Ubiversity of Kashmir) and Jenab Moulana Mohammad Tahir Saheb Wutraheli. Tahir Saheb is the son and the successor of the said Hazrat Allama Sayid Mohammad Yousuf Saheb Bukhari Wutraheli Kashmiri and the bright student of Hazrat Mufassir Quran Allama Shariat Sayid Mohammad Qasim Shah Saheb Bukhari (RA)
His family life: He married the daughter of Shaikh Saleh Saheb Muttaqi. There is no evidence available quoting reliably in the history about his family and progeny
His death: He passed away at the age of 97 years on 27th Rabi-ul-Awal 1097 AH.and was buried near his own mosque located at Ganderpora Eidgah Srinagar.
Similarly Shabakh Mominan is chronogram of his death. His auspicious mausoleum is the center of light of Allah, where there is celebrated the urs-e-pak on 27th Rabi-ul-Awal every year. His mention has been made in their biographies by the following biographers:
Hazrat Khwaja Mohammad Azam Dedamari -the historian of Kashmir.
Hazrat Mulla Baha-ud-din Saheb Mattoo.
Jenab Pir Hasan Shah Saheb Khoihami
Historian of Kashmir Miskeen Mohi-ud-din Saraibali
Hazrat Allama Dr. Sayid Sulaiman Nadwi (b.Pakistan)
Jenab Shaheed-i-millat Mirwaiz Moulana Mohammad Farooq saheb (RA)
Jenab Dr. Sayid Mohammad Farooq Saheb Bukhari (s/o Moulana Sayid MohammadQasim Shah saheb Bukhari RA Sadr Unjaman Tablig-ul-Islam Jammu & Kashmir)
I could not dear to write some thing on the auspicious biography of Allama Baba Dawood Mishkwati (RA) and is like ‘interference in categories’ but it is worth encouraging:
Moulana Shawkat Husain Keng is a Chief Guardian Unjuman Himayat-ul-Islam
Jammu & Kashmir
(English translation by Er. Mohammad Ashraf Fazili (Sayid Ashraf Shah)
