Latest Photographs of Maula Ali Shrine-Hyderabad

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi 

I had the honor of visiting the shrine of Maula Ali in Hyderabad after a gap of almost a decade on February 25,2018.My son, Najaf Naqvi,also accompanied me.I found the shrine as serene and tranquil as ever.Despite renovation,it still maintains its old charm.  

The caretakers like Mir Sakhawat recognized me immediately and instantly remarked " Where have you been all these years.It is good to see you again".He was equally happy to my son who being stationed in Hyderabad visits shrine frequently.He tied 'Kalawa'(Sacred Thread) and prayed for the well-being of my family.                                                                                                          To my surprise, I noticed that Agha                                                                 Khan Foundation has done a lot to                                                                   renovate the  Mahlaqa Bai Chanda                                                                  who was a great devotee of Maula                                                                    Ali.But the foundation has not done                                                                  anything to upgrade the main                                                                          shrine. 

I found more visitors at the shrine.But it was a disciplined crowd of devotees.Each engrossed in prayers. Najaf being too excited took many

Photographs.He took Snaps of main shrine containing the blessed print of Maula's hand. 

Fortunately,I also got a printed history of the shrine for the first time.The pamphlet gives an idea about how over the centuries the shrine has developed.  

One thing that I really admire is the exemplary behavior of caretakers.They always try to respond to any query of the visitors.They also derive pleasure in revealing the history and anecdotes related to shrine.Caretakers also fondly recall the past celebrations and how the character of rituals have also changed on certain occasions. I request all the devotees of Maula Ali to visit the shrine once in their life time.You will find solace their surely.I also suggest you to go through thew 'White Mughals' of William Daryample  to find out yourself as to how entire Hyderabad used to shift to Maula Ali hill during Rajab,the month of Shere-Khuda's birth. Daryample has given a very detailed and  vivid description  of the celebrations.

Calligraphic Tribute to Hazrat Fatima Zahra

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

The blogger had posted about Gauri Yousuf Hussain who had dedicated his life to propagation of Mission Karbala and Sufism through calligraphy. He had earned lot of praise for displaying his work at the International Sufi Conference held at Makanpur Sharif in Kanpur district of India in the first week of February, 2018.Since then, the blogger is in constant touch with him. He happened to speak to him on February 20,2018.During conversation, the blogger reminded him of the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatima Zahra and asked Hussain as to whether he has paid tributes to ‘Lady of Paradise’ through his work or not? He replied apologetically ‘Not yet’. He said “her pious name has figured as a part of Panjatan-E-Pak but there is no exclusive work on her.”Then, he assured to produce an exclusive work on her within an hour, leaving the blogger wondering as to what exactly he intended to do?

After two hours, he mailed me name of Hazrat Fatima beautifully written in calligraphy. Upon inquiry, he revealed that he prepared the portrait containing the blessed name of Bibi after receiving my call. He also said” please treat it as my tribute to Bibi Fatima, the daughter of our beloved Prophet”.The artist also informed the blogger that the blessed name of Bibi was on a covering that was placed on her holy grave by the Ottomon empire much before the demolition of her tomb by Saudi regime in 1925.The part of the covering is now preserved in a museum in Turkey. The blogger has posted the above work of Guari Yousuf Hussain for viewers. Please pray for Hussain that he may be blessed with the choicest blessing of Allah and his Masoomeen.   

Gori Yousuf Hussain-Karbala Messenger through Calligraphy

Writings of Imam Hussain,Hazrat Ali & Imam Musa Kazim by Gauri   

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Gauri  Yousuf Hussain is an example of how the blessed name of Hazrat Imam Hussain can change the attitude of an individual? He was a famous painter but now he has dedicated his life to produce replicas of relics associated with 14 Infallibles(Chahadra Masoomeen).He also devotes his time to glorify Sufis like Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty Ajmeri who are known for their unconditional love for the Holy Prophet and his progeny.

Hailing from Bharuch(Gujrat),the turning point came in the life of Gauri when he met a painter in London during an exhibition. To his dismay, the painter dubbed his work as an average one and invited him to his residence. When Gauri asked his host as to why was he not happy with the paintings that had always been praised .the host replied “what you are doing may be of commercial value but you are not preparing for the day of judgement”. “What should I do was natural query from gauri? The host them suggested him to glorify the mission of Hazrat Imam Hussain through calligraphy. This happened in 2007.

Gauri found the suggestion too appealing to resist. He immediately bid good bye to his brush forever and distributed all his paintings among his friends absolutely free of cost.Upon return to india, He started learning calligraphy and soon become proficient in it through sheer hard work. He visited Iran where a book containing the relicts and letters of Hazrat Ali, Imam Hussain and imam Musa Kazim was presented to him at a famous library. Gauri decided to reproduce the relics through his work and since then he has not looked back. In the past few years, he has exhibited his work in more than 35 countries and has the distinction of perhaps the only calligraphist of India working on Panjatan and Aulia ikram.

 Gauri Presenting His Work to Chairman Kashmir Society, Mr.Renzu Shah

A portrait displaying the letters of Imam Hussain, Hazrat Ali and Imam Musa Kazim is considered to be his most celebrated work. Likewise, he has to his credit of painting the largest painting of Shaaam-e -Ghareeban. His uses natural colors and paper produced with the famous Kaghzi family of Sanganer in Rajasthan. Gauri has also exhibited his work at Ajmer Sharif and he also participated in the international Sufi conference held in Makanpur recently.

Unfortunately, he has never been invited by any Imami organization for displaying his works.But it has not dampened his spirit. He says’ Shias too will invite me one day. i feel that Imam want me to concentrate on his mission among his non-Shia  lovers.”.  (References available on request. Images presented by Mr. Gauri)