Hafiz Jamal Multani: Another pearl of city of Saints

    چهار چيز است تحفه در مولتان…..گرد وگرما گدا و گورستان

    Four things are Gifts of Multan. Dust, summer, Beggars, & Graveyards

    Multan aka the city of Saints is the 6th largest city of Pakistan with 227sq.km area and is present on the bank of River Chenab. Usually, places are famous for their cuisine, sites, gardens, and other endearing things whereas Multan on the other hand is renowned for its Saints.  Multan also referred to as the “City of Pirs and Shrines,” is a thriving city filled with bazaars, mosques, and exquisitely crafted tombs. The Multan International Airport serves as a hub for flights to significant Pakistani cities as well as places along the Persian Gulf. Metalworking, flour, sugar, oil milling, textile production, fertilizer, soap, and glass making are among the city’s industries. Moreover, Multan is renowned for its handicrafts, particularly its pottery and embroidery work.

    Brief history:

    The old names of Multan are Hanspur, Sanb, and Kashtpur. As per experts, its current name might be derived from Mulasthan which refers to the city’s ancient idol in the temple of the sun god from the pre-Muslim period. Alexander the Great took control of the city around 326 BC after which the Arabs occupied it in the 8th century, and the Muslim Turkish conquerors Mahmud of Ghazna in 1005 and Timur in 1398 all took control of it. Under the Mughal emperors’ authority, Multan experienced tranquility throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. After a while, the Sikh leader Ranjeet Singh took control of the city in 1818. From 1848 until Pakistan’s independence in 1947, the British controlled it.

    Hafiz Jamal Multani:

    Another pearl of pearls of Multan is Hafiz Jamal ul Haq Chisti Multani a Sufi saint who opened his eyes to the world in 1747 AD.  He was the offspring of Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf moreover his grandfather was Hafiz Abdul Rasheed. Hafiz Jamal was given the honorary surname of Jamal Allah by his spiritual master Khawaja Noor Muhammad Chisti Nizami Maharvi (1746-93) (a Chishti Sufi saint who later founded a madrasa in Multan to spread Chishti mysticism).  Hafiz Jamal is usually compared to Abu Hanifa (R.A), Ganj Shakar (R.A) and Sallahu din Ayubi by his followers for his skills and knowledge of the Quran.

    Multani was recognized for being a good fighter who was also skilled with the bow and arrow and martial arts, despite his primary concern in spiritual issues. These abilities came in handy during regular Sikh raids in the city.

    When Hafiz Jamal was alive, Ranjeet Singh’s armies repeatedly attacked Multan, but they were unable to take the fort and the city. He used to fight and command the men of Nawab Muzaffar Khan, the ruler of Multan.

    The biography “Jamalia,” authored by Maulvi Abdul Aziz Parharvi, is the most trustworthy source of information about Hafiz Muhammad Jamal’s life.

    The Chishti order of Sufism in Multan was initially given legitimacy by Hafiz Jamal, a saint. He also founded a significant educational institution.

    On 5 Jamadi ul Sani 1226, Hafiz Jamal passed away at the age of 66. (7th May 1811). Using these verses of the Holy Qur’an, “innl muttaqin fi jannat,” his devoted student Munshi Ghulam Hassan created a chronogram for the day of his passing. Above the eastern gate of the tomb are two further Persian poetry chronograms.

    Structure of Hafiz Jamal Mosque and Tomb:

    The Mausoleum and Mosque are situated near Daulat gate Multan. The area surrounding the tomb is coated with marble and black slate. The tomb is situated on a marble pedestal. There is a tunnel-like, arched corridor on the north and west sides. A large congregational hall with a decoratively ornamented timber roof is also there to attract the eyes of visitors.

    On the other hand, the date of construction of the mosque is unknown; however, the architect of the mosque is inspired by the Mughals which gave the idea that the mosque could be constructed in the final era of Mughal rule. Their triangular exterior and corner tower resemble minarets.

    Sajada Nasheen Makhdoom Muhammad Javed Ashraf Jamali:

    The Hereditary Administrator (Sajjada Nashin) of the shrine Makhdoom Muhammad Javed Ashraf Jamali while Talking to Minute Mirror stated that Hafiz Jamal was a Holy and Brave person.

    “It is undeniably true that the Suhrawardi order developed in the area following the great Bahauddin Zakariyya Multani. His Peer-o-Murshid Hazrat Khawaja Nur Mohammed Maharvi (R.A) gave him the order to build the Khanqah in Multan and induct the first Chishti into the order on the tomb of Hazrat BahaUddin Zakriya,” Javed Jamali said.

    He also revealed that the grandfather of Hafiz Jamal was from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and migrated to Jhelum.

    The custodian of the shrine also told that Hafiz Jamal used to wear a ring which was engraved with the words “Allahu jamilun wa Yohibbul Jamal” (God is beautiful and loves beauty).

    Regarding Urs, he added, “The 3-day Urs took place on 3, 4, and 5 Jamadial Awal. At the event, we arrange nasheed gatherings. Islamic scholars and their followers come from far places to pay their tributes and Salam to the saint. We also arrange langer for Urs and the shrine becomes very crowded during these days.”

    Makhdoom Muhammad also claimed that this tomb is under the Auqaf department but they don’t get any support from the government in Urs arrangement and maintenance.

    He also stated that there are no particular arrangements made for tourists, they arrive, visit, and depart, since the administration is unable to provide services because the Auqaf department does not assist them.