Great Patron of Azadari- Abdullah Qutb Shah

Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Historians have not acknowledged the immense contribution of Abdullah Qutb Shah, the seventh ruler of Golconda, to promotion of Azadari in Deccan. They have preferred to portray him as polyglot, lover of poetry and music. His reign from 1626 and 1672 is described as full of sorrow and trouble. This fact is rarely mentioned that he not only patronized Azadari and taziadari but also architecture, literature, art, culture and sciences.  He was an accomplished Persian poet himself and established religious institutions in Hyderabad that are still functional and become hub of Muharram ceremonies. His mother, the sagacious lady, Hayat Bakhshi Begum, was the daughter of the founder of the city of Hyderabad, Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah. His father Sultan Mohammad Qutb Shah was the nephew of and successor of Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah.

Abdullah had inherited tremendous love for Ahle-Bait from his pious mother. He owed his existence and enthronement to the blessings of Masoomeen. He was aware of his miraculous escape from certain death as a child. He was impulsive in his early age and once he wished to ride ‘Murat’- a favorite elephant of his father .As the tusker was in a foul mood, his attendants tried in vain to stop him from riding Murat. He however did not pay any heed. Upon reaching the bank of river Musi, Murat turned uncontrollable. The furious elephant knocked down the Mahout, trampled few other persons and entered the nearby forest with Abdullah. No trace of Murat and Abdullah could be found for next three days. As his hapless mother awaited her son, the Muharram moon was sighted. Begum Hayat Bakhsi    prayed to Imam Husain and took pledge to present her missing son bound in chains at the doorsteps of the Hussaini Alam Ashurkhana if he returned safety. Her vow evoked positive result and Abdullah returned safely at the gate of fort. Begum honored the pledge by getting prepared a gold chain of 40 ‘maund’ weight. She took her son, bound in golden chains, barefoot on the red carpet, from the fort to the Ashur Khana where the chain was broken into pieces and distributed among the poor along with food and sherbet.

After ascending throne, Abdullah strived to add to the grandeur of Azadari. He invited scholars from, Ira n and maintained   correspondence with Safavid Emperor Shah Abbas II. During his rule, Ibn Babawaiy Qummi’s celebrated book on the 8th Infallible Imam of the Prophet’s Household “Oyoun Akhbar ar-Reza” under the title “Toḥfa-e Malaki” was translated by Ali Ibn Taifur from Arabic to Persian. Abdullah also wrote Marsiyas. His collection has four Marsiyas with fifty four couplets. He has even written that Imam Hussain helps those who attended Majalis to recall his martyrdom..
Mirza Nizamuddin Ahmad has given a vivid description of Muharram ceremonies during the period of Abdullah in his work ‘Hadiqat-us-Salatin’. Meer Abul Qasim in Hadiqa-ul-Alam has also made similar observations. History records that the moment the moon of  Muharram was sighted, the Sultan used to wear black clothes. The musical instruments were placed in their containers and no music was played and no dance performed.  People belonging to all the sections of the society abstained from eating meat or drinking liquor. Even Pan was not chewed.  Black costumes were distributed to all the employees. Fourteen Alams made of gold and studded with jewels were installed Baadshahi Ashur Khana. Every evening the Sultan used to visit Ashur Khana along with his nobles and offered floral tributes to the martyrs of Karbala. In the Majalis organized to mark the occasion, marsiyas of Sultan were recited. During Muharram, he distributed food with his own hands to the poor and the needy, irrespective of religion, sect or caste. On the tenth Muharram, the Sultan used to come to the mosque bare footed to perform Amaal-e-Ashura and returned. Due to sheer devotion of their King, people throughout the Golconda Empire raised Alams during Muharram days in their Chowries and Dewan Khanas. People used to sit in Ashur Khanas and silently prayed throughout the night for the fulfillment of their wishes. The popularity of Abdullah among his people raises doubt over his portrayal as a man of personal weaknesses.( References available on request).