Prophet Muhammad's Sacred Relics in Hyderabad

Alawa Qadam Rasul-Hyderabad 

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Hyderabad is home to the maximum number of relics associated with Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. Two of them are most prominent and attract large number of devotees. The city was blessed with these sacred relics in its infancy itself. Founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah(1580-1612), Hyderabad received ‘Asar-e-Mubarak’ (holy relics) with the arrival of Syed Muhammad Ali Isphahani from Medina in 1597.He had brought with him a number of relics with proven testimonials to their authenticity. The most notable among them was a footprint of the Prophet of Islam. A pious and devout Muslim, Syed Isphahani purchased a large house in Aitbar Chowk area and earmarked a separate place for the relic so that maximum number of people could see it freely and gather on occasions like Milad-Un-Nabi, Muharram  and other Islamic festivals for its ‘Ziyarat’.

Since then, the place housing the relic has evolved into Alawa ‘Qadam-E-Rasul’. The literal meaning of Alawa is ‘Fire-Pit’ but in Hyderabad the term refers to ‘Ashurkhana’ (place of mourning).The Alawa has two ‘Hauz’ cut in black stone.   The inner and outer circumference of the Hauz is forty-seven and fifty-seven centimeters respectively. The thickness of the stone is about three centimeters. The Alawa is located opposite Ashurkhana Panj-E-Shah on the eastern side of ‘Gulzar Hauz’ near Charminar and owes erection of its present structure to the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. On 10^th Muharram, famous ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ also comes to this Alawa. On 12th of Rabi’ Al-Awwal the relic is displayed throughout the day and hordes of devotees visit the Alawa.    

Relics of Holy Prophet on Hillock

      

The other eminent ‘Qadam-E-Rasul’ is on a hillock opposite the shrine of Maula Ali in Secundarabad. It is believed that an Asaf Jahi employee Mohammad Shakrullah Rehan had placed the relics of the Prophet on the hill. The location of these two ‘Qadam Rasuls’ symbolizes the great affection between the Prophet and his Ahle-Bait. The close proximity between ‘Qadam-E-Rasul’ and Maula Ali shrine exemplifies the bond between Prophet and his cousin and son-in-law Hazrat Ali. Likewise, existence of Alawa Qadam-e-Rasul opposite Ashurkhana Panj-e-Shah represents the closeness of pious five of Mubahila event. The arrival of ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ at Alawa Qadam Rasul also reminds devotees how the Prophet and his daughter Hazrat Fatima Zahra loved each other. Apart from these two popular ‘Qadam-e-Rasuls’, few relics of the Prophet are also with some religious institutions and individuals. These relics are displayed on the occasion of Milad-Un-Nabi in Hyderabad.

References:

1- Radio Chronicle

2-Website of Salman Book Depot, Hyderabad

3-WoNoBo

4-The Siasat Daily, October 24,2015

5-Legacy of Nizam’s-L.Raya

6-Photo Courtesy-Google Images