805th Urs of Ghareeb Nawaz & Gesture of Iran

A View of Flag Ceremony

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Iran government deserves all praise for presenting a ‘Tughra’ (Calligraphic monogram) for 805^th Urs of Great Sufi Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz that commenced with the flag hoisting ceremony in Ajmer city of India on March 24,2017. The gesture of Iran will surely bring more close the followers of Ahle-Bait-E-Athar(Progeny of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad ) and cause heart-burning among those who don’t want harmony among the various sects of Muslims and wish to promote Salafi ideology in the name of purifying Islam. It is probably for the first time Iran has sent a ‘Tughra’ containing couplets in praise of the Great Sufi before his Urs. It is a shift from the previous stand of Iran government and the move aims at sending message across the globe that all Muslims are brothers, they should live in harmony and different in their respective school of thoughts should not prove a hindrance to this cause.

An Illustration of Tughra Calligraphy)

By presenting Tughra, Iran has acknowledged Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz’s matchless contribution to propagation of Islam in India Sub-Continent and promotion of Taziadari in memory of Imam Hussain’s martyrdom at Karbala. Indian government has also attached significance to gesture of Iran. It is evident from the fact that it has directed one of its senior Ministers, Mr. Mukjhtar Abbas Naqvi to place Tughra on Buland Darwaza of  Khwaja’s sprawling Dargah on march 25,2017.

Moinuddin Chishti (1141 - 1236) ,popularly  known as Gharib Nawaz (Benefactor of the Poor), is considered as a founder of Chishti Sufi order in India sub-continent. He  gave the message of love to all ,irrespective of caste, creed and religion.Throughout his life, he expressed his deep love for Imam Hussain and recalled his martyrdom during Muharram with great solemnity. Khwaja also asked his followers to hold congregations and take out Tazias in memory of the martyrs of Karbala. As a result, hosepipes of Chishti all over India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are known for Muharram rituals. As Khwaja never allowed any kind of discrimination among the visitors, his Urs is attended by people from all walks of life and religions. His Urs begins with the flag hoisting ceremony at Buland Darwaza. The flag is brought to Ajmer by Gori family of Bhilwara in a procession and it reaches the venue after passing through   Langerkhana Gali and Mustafa  Bazaar with Drums and bands following. The Gori family of Bhilwara is performing this ritual since 1944.The ritual of flag hoisting was started in 1928 from Peshawar.Khwaja Moin Uddin Chishti’s love for Imam Hussain has been best illustrated by his famous quatrain as under :

"SHAH AST HUSAIN, BADSHAH AST HUSAIN
DEEN AST HUSAIN ,DEEN PANAH AST HUSAIN,
SARDAAD ,NA DAAD DAST DAR DAST-E YAZEED,
HAQQUAA KE BINA-E LA ILAH AST HUSAIN."

(Husain is Shah (spiritual leader), Husain is Badshah (the administrative leader or the king) of this world. Husain is himself "religion" and also the one who gave shelter to the religion. He preferred to give his head but not his hand to Yazid. The fact is ...Husain is the foundation of The Religion, the foundation of la ilah ilallah).

It is a known fact that it was Sufis like Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz who not only preached true Islam in Indian Sub-Continent but also kept alive the tragic martyrdom of Imam Hussain by organizing programs during Muharram at their respective shrines or hosepipes. During the present scenario, Iran is considered to be the most active nation in protecting and spreading Imami ideology. By presenting Tughra, Iran has communicated to the entire world that they hold all such personalities in high esteem who love martyrs of Karbala and denounce the followers of Yazid.(References available on request. Photo Courtesy Google Images)