652nd Urs of Shah-e-Hamdan celebrated in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 29 :  The 652nd Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdan, popularly known as Shah-e-Hamdan, was celebrated today, the 6th of Zil Haj (month in which Hajj pilgrimage takes place) all over Central Asia and the Kashmir valley. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has greeted people on the occasion and prayed for peace in the valley. Last year not much people could participate in the Urs due to unrest in the Kashmir valley, where 75 people were killed and over 7000 others injured in security force and police action following violence after Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani and two other militants were killed in an encounter in Anantnag on July 9. The main congregation was held at Khanqah Moulla on the bank of river Jehlum in the Shehar-e-Khas (SeK). Many saints have graced the valley of Kashmir but no one is identified with Kashmir the way Sahah-e-Hamdan is. His real name was Ali and he was the descendant of Prophet Muhammad through Imam Zain-ul-Abideen. He was born in Central Asia around 1313. He arrived in Kashmir along with 700 Syeds and his followers. However, before his arrival here he had already sent two of his closest followers in Kashmir. By the time he arrived in Kashmir, the local ruler had already became the followers of one of his disciple. Hazrat Shah Hamdan did not stay in the valley permanently but visited on various occasions. Hazrat Shah Hamdan had a multi-dimensional personality. He was a social reformer besides being a preacher. Among the 700 followers, who accompanied him to Kashmir, were men of arts and crafts who popularised shawl-making, cloth weaving, cap making, pottery and calligraphy. He also introduced the different handicrafts besides teaching Islam as a result the handicraft industry received a fillip in Kashmir. Hazrat Shahi Hamdan laid greater emphasis on earning legal livelihood and so rejected all the means available for the support of the Sufis. He earned his livelihood by cap making. On his third visit to Kashmir, he fell ill and died after five days in 1394. During his early childhood, he memorised the whole Quran and later became the spiritual disciple of Sheikh Sharaf-Ud-Din, who advised him to complete his education by extensive travels to foreign lands. As a result, Hazrat Shahi Hamdani undertook many travels over a period of 21 years. UNI