By Haroon Rashid Bhat
While turning the pages of history, we came to know that the valley of Kashmir always remain a place of attraction for historians, travelers and for those who are the seekers of truth. This place always proved the calm and serene shelter for them. They took their abodes in the remote corners of the valley for purposes of seclusion and meditation. This land welcomed the great scholars of Islam like Abdul Rahman Bulbul ShahRA, Sayyid Ali HamadaniRA, Mir Mohammad Hamadani RA,, Syed Jalal Uddin BukhariRA, Baba Ji SahabRA,, Syed Taj UddinRA,, Syed Hussain SamnaniRA,, etc. A few of them spent some time here and stepped back to their native places but there are some who made this place as their permanent resting place. Kausar Ali Shah AfghaniRA was one of them who visited the valley in the early nineties from Afghanistan and stayed here till his last breath. He was a great Sufi saint and a knowledgeable soul who spent some time in seclusion in the village known as Hari-Pora Harwan (New Theed Harwan Srinagar) at Sharasbal This particular place is 30 km away from Srinagar. After staying there for a brief period, he moved Chek-i-Reshipora Banidpora in 1957 stayed there till the last. He did not have any formal education but right from his childhood days, he got an ample opportunities to sit in the Company of saints and scholars to acquire the true knowledge of life. During his life time, he traveled extensively to Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Jordan. He also visited the shrine of Shahi-Jeelan in Baghdad. He also visited Makkah and Madina, performed Hajj.
According to “ Al Hayat-UL- Kausaria” biographical sketch written by Moulvi Aziz-Ulla Akhoon in which he mentioned that the personalities like Abdul Hassan Ali Nadvi, (great Islamic Scholars) Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (Ex- PM/CM of J&K State), Qurat-Ul-Aain Hyder, ( renowned Urdu Writer/poetess) Professor Qazi Ghulam Mohammad (Famous Mathematician KU) Ghulam Rasool Nazki (Prominent scholar and broadcaster)Mohammad Rahmatullah Qasim, (Founder of Darul Uloom Rahimia Bandipora) were highly influenced by his lifestyle and philosophy. They paid the occational visits to Bandipora and spent many hours under his great company. A young man of 34 years old research scholar from Holland, Mr Raan Giri had been directed by his spiritual master to search his spiritual guide in India for further guidance and enlightenment on the path of spiritualism. Being the seeker of the truth and the staunch believer of spiritualism. He visited Kashmir in 1970 through the mountains of Hindkush and met Hazrat Kousari SahabRA requesting him for spiritual guidance. As this whole region was supposed to be the central location of Silsila Naqshbandiya, Shah Shab welcomed him with open heart. Shah Sahab not only enlightened him with the teachings of Islam but also acquainted him about the Sufi orders of Islam. When Shah shab first time recited the verses from 1st to 16th from the glorious Quran (Sura Bakara) with an extensive explanation before the visitor, he got so impressed and showed his willingness to accept Islam and took Allegiance) (baiyat)- gripped his hand with the hand of Shah Sahab . As soon as he uttered Kalima Shahadat, Shah Sahab changed his name from Ron Gari to Abdulla. After spending 3 days under his guidance and supervision , he left for his native land -Holland with special instruction/Zikir- repetition of the holy word “Allah”.
According to his disciples, Shah Sahab never missed to offer Tahjud Nimaz. ( Special prayer offered before the dawn) He was against all the kinds of self-created practices/Bidat. He always stood against the social evils like drug addiction, dowry, bribery etc. Whenever any matter was brought under his notice for any guidance or solution, he sorted out that particular matter in the light of the teaching of the Quran and the traditions of the beloved Prophet Mohammad.
It was the routine practice on the part of him to arrange frequent meetings in order to enlighten the general public about the teachings of of Islam.
His contribution towards general and religious education is exemplary, he motivated few of his disciples to invest in the education sector. They constructed many mosques and educational institutions various places. One of his disciples, the prominent Islamic Scholar and X-HOD of Arabic department University of , Professor Abdul Gani Azhari established the institution (Daru Uloom Kausaria ) after his name at New Theed Harwan. Shah Sahib left this world on 24 Feb 1982 at the age of 86. He spent 25 years of his life at Banidpora. Before leaving this world, he left following assets: Shalwar Kameez, a piece of cloth which Hazrat usually puts on his shoulder, handkerchief, standing stick, (Assa Sherif), Jia Nimaaz, and books like Tafsir Ibin Abbas (RA) Mushkati Shrief. His annual day (Urs) is observed every year at Chekreshipora on 29 Rabi-UL- Sani- the fourth month of the Isamic calendar. May Allah bless his noble soul! It is a great privilege for me to introduce such great personality to our younger generation through this brief write-up.
Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher Zone- Ganderbal, can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com
