First Safar Urdu Month, Friday 1228 Hijrah. English Date (1819) at Dewa Sheriff which is 13 Km from Barabanki and 28 to 30 Km from Lucknow. 

 

Belongings: 

 

Our Saint Belongs to a family of learned and distinguish Syed of NISHAPUR (IRAN), 

 

Syed Ashraf Abi Talib Migrated to India with his family. He settled in the out skirts of Kuntur. Town of Barabanki District. He built a home there now known as Rasoolpur.

 

Generation 

 

Miran Syed Ahmed Ali was born at Dewa Sheriff in 1141 Hijrah. Syed Karmallah was his son. Whose sons were Syed Salamath Ali, Syed Bisharat Ali, and Syed Sher Ali. Syed Salamath Ali has two sons, one was Syed Qurram Ali and other was (Syed Qurban Ali Father of our Saint Waris Ali Shah.). For more details open the Genealogical Table of Sarkar Waris.

 

Parents Marriage: 

 

Syed Qurban Ali married his uncles Syed Sher Ali's Daughter Syeda Bibi Sakina alias 

 

Chandan Bibi. On Whom God had bestowed the honor of being the mother of such an Inimitable personality as our Saint.

 

Prophecy of Sarkar Waris Birth 

 

One day Miran Syed Ahmed was sitting on the tank, an unknown Dervish Approached and announced in Arabic the glad tidings of the birth of spiritual mentor of world Wide fame and a prodigy of divine favor who would lead the astray to the right path of love of God and humanity. And he will take Birth after Five Generations. The Dervish said, “My greeting to you and the same to him who will take birth in your family. Undoubtedly the glorified God has illuminated your Forehead. By his light and manifestation has lightened the world. Oh my Chief I offer to you my Hearty Congratulations. His name will be one of the beautiful ninety-nine Epithets of Gods Almighty. His qualities will spill over the boundaries of two Worlds. His behaviors and kindness will resemble the light of Mustapha's (Chosen holy Prophet's title). In this tavern the secret of the creation's day is 

 

Hidden. He is the crown head of continent good office and patience. He will Popular from east to west, in youths, in Christians and they will acknowledge him as there leader and he will be the guide of every religion. He will fulfill. The aspirations and hopes of every one. 

 

Place of Sarkar Waris Birth: 

 

Dewa Sheriff earned the proud name of being the birthplace of such an earnest Personality as our holy saint Waris Ali Shah. It has also been historical as well as Laudable land of illustrious, intellectual luminaries, religious learned personalities 

 

And men of intellect who took birth there. It is also a place higher university education from whose portals came out savants of universal fame. 

 

Many aged and specially venerated persons of Dewa sheriff have declared when the time for the birth of our saint was nearing his mother at different times.

 

Bought up: 

 

Our Saint lost his father's protecting hand at the age of two years and the solacing care of his mother at the age of three. His grand mother Janaba Hayathunissa Saheba Under took the duty of carefully bringing him up. And the strange fact is that unlike other children he would not drink his milk hurriedly but gradually and slowly, moreover his thirst would be quenched with just a few Gulps, which reflected the future qualities of patience and contentment.

 

The ladies of Dewa Sheriff were also surprised at the noble behavior of the child and expressed that such a marvelous child is rarely to be seen; unlike other children his sleeping bed was clean, free from filth. Unlike other children he never cried but was mostly silent. Whenever he felt urge to answer the calls of nature he made strange signs and the nurse promptly attended to easy himself. During nights he was seen gazing at the moon and stars as if to appreciate the artistry of the Creator. He used to sleep very little; he would always awaken with the smiling face.

 

Witnessing the same and Serene activity of the precocious child, elder people of Dewa Sheriff begin to respect and hold him in high estimation. As the child begin to grow his habits assumed dignity and a sprit of independence. At the age of five his grandmother engaged a fit instructor to begin his education 

 

Childhood games of Sarkar Waris Pak: 

 

The aim of his plays and games was to display the quality of Devine truth, Dignity, generosity and kindness. In the grab of games he was distributing sweets purchased from a sweet meat seller name Lukai Halwai. Even through games one can discern his aversion towards worldly life and glorification of divine love. His most delightful pastime was to distribute clothes and coverings to the poor and needy. He would even distribute home utensils of value. These innocent acts of charity are signs of revulsion towards mundane life. 

 

Instead of enjoying the fruits of his inherited property he lavishly spent it out for the benefit of poor. In short this was an essential and inherits quality of our saints full and genuine love, which appears to us as children's play.

 

Secular Education of Sarkar Waris: 

 

He learned Qraran-e-Sherif from his uncle Hazrat Ameer Ali, on returning home he would not open his book to revise his lessons. Later seated in the lap of nature, in the quiet stillness, would be immersed in deep meditation. 

 

With the aid of God given intellect, within two years he memorized the whole Quran and become a Hafiz (One who learns the Quran by heart). And Maulvi Imam Ali Shah imparts to him secular education. Though the teacher was venerable yet he treated our saint with great respect. The reason for respecting a young was that he was himself a saint and could make out a man's urgings for acquiring a Divine love. Our saint teaches men such lessons that are acquired without learning and without any teacher's aid thus our saint was in not need of worldly education. He wanted to teach such lessons to others which were beyond the compression of laymen. He never forgets whatever was taught to him.

 

And at the age of eight he was deprived of his grand mother and there was none except the lord of the universe to look after him. There after his brother in law Hazrat Haji Syed Khadim Ali Shah Sahib a resident of Lucknow took him under his supervision and continued his education where he learnt under renowned savants.

 

From his sayings and particular circumstances it is quite clear that he was proficient scholar of literature and have a perfect knowledge of Quranic exegesis, one such incident was that when our saint was the guest of justice at Maulvi Syed Sharfuddin, he was a well known literary expert of literature and philosophy. He recited to our saint Waris-e-Pak a lengthy encomium Ode Couched in high flown Arabic Language decked with metaphors and similes. Hardly he finished reciting two of three couplets when our saint took it from his hand and read it fluently, explain the difficult words and figures. From this one can estimate our Saint's literary, ability of Arabic Language. Our Saint had perfect knowledge of recitation of Quran and its Verses exegeses. The power of his memory was so sharp that what was taught to him at the age of 12 or 14 he would recollect at the age of eighty. It has also been noticed that our Saint conversed fluently with the Arabs and Persians in there respective languages. Such people do not need acquisition of worldly Knowledge but they are fit to answer any question as if they are experts of art and sciences. 

 

Performing Haj 

 

In 1838 A.D. Sarkar Waris Pak decided to visit holy places to perform Haj. His devotees and disciples insisted to take some one as his companion but refusing all worldly arrangements for his journey, started on foot towards the holy shrine. Then Sarkar Waris Pak reached Unnao, Shikohabad, Ferozabad, Agra, Jaipur Ajmer, Nagore, and they're after a voyage from Bombay to Jeddah. And Sarkar Waris got down at Jeddah and continue his journey to the holy shrine on foot. 

 

MECCA on the night of 29th Shaban our saint sat his foot in to Mecca, and saw the reality of holy Kaaba. He beheld with what his heart was aspiring without any veil draping it. There after he spent the whole day in visiting historical and sacred places, there also many prominent persons joined his cult and became his disciples. And during the pilgrimage season every year he performs the holy Haj.

 

Sarkar Waris Final Haj and trips abroad 

 

Sarkar Waris also visited Egypt and returned to Medina passing though Palestine and from there went to Mecca to perform Haj rites. There after a while he went to Aden and again returned to Medina to participate in Haj ceremony. There he remained two weeks in Medina and after Friday prayers visit the tombs of high spiritual leaders.

 

From Bombay via Ajmer Sarkar Waris reached Dewa Sheriff in 1266 Hijrah 1853 (A.D.)

 

IN SHORT OUR SAINT SPENT FOURTEEN YEARS COMPLETELY, TRAVELING TO THE HOLY SHRINE OF KAABA AND PERFORMED SEVEN OR ACCORDING TO TRADITION ELEVEN HAJ. 

 

More important and significant is the devotional sprit, purity of heart with which it is performed rather than the mere display of adding the application of Haj with ones name.

 

Pardah of Sarkar Waris (Death) 

 

Friday 6th April 1905

 

It was nearing four ‘O' Clock Hakim Mirza Yaqub Baig was feeling the pulse and Our Saint was awaiting the approaching time to join his beloved. All of a sudden the Hakim Sahib withdrew his hand and began to weep profusely and the duration of separation of eighty six or eighty eight years came to an end and Our Saint's Soul flew to Heaven to merge with the Infinite Beloved. 

 

For more details open page (Last days of Sarkar Waris)

 

Now every year at Dewa Sheriff Karthic Mela will be held after Dusshera accordingly. Every year this Mela will be organized to pay respect and Homage to Syed Haji Qurban Ali Shah, Father of Our Saint Al Haj Hafiz Syed Sarkar Waris Ali Shah. Sarkar Waris himself had fixed the date of the URS (yearly Ceremony) of his Father after Karvachauth.

 

 

Sarkar Waris-E-Pak Instruction's 

The instructions of our Saint were not confined to one particular body of religious persons. They were of high nature, glorious and cosmopolitan and none were against any religion, to Muslims he taught the fundamental aspect of unity of God. To Hindus he pointed out the disadvantages of polytheism and blessings of God's oneness. Many of them inclined towards monotheism and their number exceeded those of Muslim devotees. 

 

About Unity of God 

 

Our saint said,” God is the creator of each and everyone, in it. God is the sustainer. One who searches truth through truth his unity of God is correct; one who searches truth through self his unity of God is imperfect. Unity of God is knowledge if Heart and one in whose Heart there is no room for others. Unity of God cannot be achieved by speech nor by writhing. The discovery of God's truth is achieved by a Unitarian through supplication.

 

Or Saint declared that a Unitarian is one who is absorbed entirely in God's meditation not in other things. Hence a mystic definitely is one who is a complete Unitarian, who has attained the rand of believing that God is one and has no partner.

 

One, who has the knowledge of the unity of God, forgets worldly things and becomes one with God. That mosques and temples are one; whatever there is in a mosque is also in the temple, only the name differs. 

 

 Our Saint has emphasized that Rab and Ram are one. 

 

 Our Saint had instructed, “That Behold one face and this was the easiest way to acquire the knowledge of God.”

 

 Our Saint had instructed,” the face of the Pir (Spiritual Guide) is like a Divine Mirror reflecting the reality of God.”

 

 There were such pious devotees whose state of condition and action needs no clarification and who by seeing g the Divine face of Our Saint became so intoxicated that some gave up their property and adopted and ascetic life, some shed their ancestral temperament, some cut off the shackles of worldly life while some others led a lonely life to commune with God and in his remembrance. They were so absorbed that they witnessed Divine luster in the face of their spiritual guide. 

 

 Sarkar Waris said, “The first condition of a disciple is he should not over step the boundaries fixed b his guide. A true disciple is one who forgets every thing in the presence of his guide.” 

 

Some Important Instructions about Pir (Spiritual Guide)

 

 It is necessary for a Pir to sacrifice his life in the cause of God and not to amass any worldly wealth. He also stressed that a Pir is one who owns nothing, never to rely on anyone except God, A Pir Is Imperfect if he calls anything his property. One who makes Profession a means of subsistence is not a mendicant. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed,” It is necessary for a Pir (Spiritual Guide) to sacrifice his life in the cause of God and not of amass any worldly wealth. He also stressed that a Pir is one who owns nothing, never to rely on any one except God, he should not hoard for the tomorrow, should not seek help from anyone other than God. A Pir (Spiritual Guide) is imperfect if he calls anything his property. One who makes profession a means of subsistence is not a mendicant.

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed,” It is the dignity of a Pir to be free, independent and self less, should never fear adversity, never complain if any trouble occurs because hardship and comfort are God given and if so to whom should he complain? A Pir is one who for love of God should obliterate himself. A fakir is one who has no capital in this world and after life. A Pir is one who maintains his behavior and manners. One who relies in God succeeds and one who trusts humanity e loses. A Pir is one who should not think of others except aloof from this world A Pir should not pray for a friend or curse and enemy. A Pir should never indulge in making amulets or knotted strings. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed,"Mustaqim Shah not to open his eyes, Hafiz Gulab Shah Sahib to be awake day and night, Abdul Razaaq Shah Sahib not to speak and to Qadr Baqsh Sahib to abstain eating vegetables, beef meat or birds. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed,” It is necessary for a Pir to sacrifice his life in the cause of God and not of amass any worldly wealth. He also stresses that a Pir is one ho owns nothing, never to rely on any one except God, he should not hoard for the morrow, should not seed help from anyone other than God, A Pir is imperfect if he calls anything his property. One who makes profession a means of subsistence in not a mendicant.

 

 Our saint often advised mendicants not to sit on a stool or sleep on a cot. The heaven of a man is mud and he should merge himself in mud. 

 

 Sarkar Waris instructed his disciples never to wreck vengeance even on an enemy. 

 

 Sarkar Waris instructed, “Breaking promise is a sin; greed is a prelude to dishonor.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Envy as an ignoble quality and it spoils one's faith.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “never to speak ill of anybody's religion.” 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Ego separates a disciple from his guide. Obscurity should be regarded as a friend and publicity should be avoided. The yearnings of one's base self keeps one away from God.” 

 

Instructions of Sarkar Waris about Namaz (Prayers).

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Be regular in your prayers, even if there is an excuse for delay, perform it by signs.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Prayer is one of the obligatory tenants of Islam and its importance need not be repeated.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “God likes humility, repent and perform your Namaz regularly. Prayer is an exact picture of humility and a symptom of God's devotee.” God will be merciful. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “one who is not observing Namaz (Prayer), “He will not be admitted as a disciple.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “It is necessary that every one should pray. Prayer is a world's system and if this is abandoned order and law would suffer”. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “In Prayers what is required is intense concentration and punctual performance of prayer is excellent and is a sign of obedience.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “That prayer should be performed with well intention and with one's heart.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “In prayer fear of God and humility are essential and it is an acme of believers for it enables one to reach Divine proximity.”

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Prayer is the food of the soul”. 

 

Sarkar Waris Instructions about Fasting

 

 Fasting is the most exalted duty of Islam and it is a glorious part and parcel which Our Saint explained with great respect and honor. Not to eat any thing from dusk to dawn and only breaks the fast at dawn prayer daily which stretches whole month of Ramzan. Charity in the form of Food, money and clothing were distributed to the poor according to Our Saints order. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Fasting is such a priceless prayer that those who fast are included in the Divine list of Friends. They are also blessed by angelic qualities of ego. It is also a kind of spiritual food.” To display desire for fasting is the tradition of Our Holy Prophet and increases divine love. 

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “for seekers of God, life long fasting is beneficial and Our Saint ordered such fasting to his devotees.” 

 

There were many devotees of Our Saint in other countries beyond India who always fasted for the sake of Divine love, casting aside their mundane earnings and fasted through out their lives spending their nights in prayers. 

 

Sarkar Waris Instructions about Haj

 

Sarkar Waris said, “Who so ever performs Haj with sincerity, his belief was perfect. 

 

Haj is a testing ground of testing questions; whoever was firm in this he was included among the friends of God. Who ever performed Haj in staunch faith, surely he will get unseen help. It is necessary that in quest of love if trouble is caused on should regard it as comfort. 

 

Haj is a testing ground of testing questions, whoever was firm in this he was included among the friends of God, who ever performed Haj in staunch faith surely he will get unseen help it is necessary that in quests of love if trouble is caused one should regarded as comfort. 

 

Sarkar Waris Instructions about Zakat

 

A religious tax is a basic and fundamental injunction of Islam was highly important. Its fulfillment appears easy for it is a prayer of financial obligation. It is to be distributed every year to the poor a needy. God safeguards the wealth from which this tax is paid willingly. “Zakat is a lucrative business; for one rupee paid as Zakat God gives ten rupees and some times awards seventy rupees”.

 

 Sarkar Waris Instructed, “Zakat is paid by one who resides in the same country, earns his own living, owns no property and refuses to touch ill gotten gains. Money taken by one who does not fulfill the above conditions is not legitimate.” 

 

 Sarkar Waris said, “The definition of Zakat, whatever is sufficient for one's needed to be retained and be remaining to be distributed.”

 

Sarkar Waris Instructions on Faith and Social Manners

 

Our saint clearly taught the fundamental articles of faith and social manners. 

 

The external and renowned meaning of unity is to express. God is one and understand him as one, which is the condition for belief. When this is confirmed, the other meaning of unity is to see God as one. This is the stage of Mystics, therefore this meaning regarding God is revealed to the heart of the Unitarian and he sees with his eyes Divine manifestation in every thing. 

 Sarkar Waris instructed, “Concentrate in one being. What ever occurs openly or secretly, think God as a cause for it.” 

 

 Sarkar Waris instructed, “It is customary when you spend a night at any place where there is a shrine you must pay a visit.”

 

 Sarkar Waris instructed, “Just as a woman's marriage with two persons is prohibited, similarly a disciple pledging loyalty to two sheikhs is harmful.”

 

 Sarkar Waris instructed, “It is incumbent on a fakir (Hermit) to see the land and not to look up at the sky.”