Hafidh Ghulam Murtadha
| Hafidh Ghulam Murtadha | |
|---|---|
| Sayyid, Khawaja Sahib, Ustadh of Kasur, Pir Punjab | |
| Died | Kasur, Punjab |
| Major shrine | Kasur, Punjab |
| Influences | Shaykh Abd al-Qadir Jilani, Moinuddin Chishti |
| Influenced | Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Countless Sufi Saints |
Tradition or genre | Qadiri-Chishti |
Hadrat Sayyid Hafidh Ghulam Murtadha was an eminent Sufi saint, scholar, and shaykh of the Qadiri-Chishti Sufi orders in Kasur, Punjab. He was also the teacher of renowned Sufi saints and poets Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah.[1][2] He was the Imam (main spiritual head) of the city of Kasur during its' time as being one of the main centers of higher level Islamic learning in the Indian Subcontinent.[3]
Life
Hafidh Ghulam Murtadha was born into an illustrious Syed family of scholars and Sufi saints tracing its' lineage back to the Prophet Muhammad through both of his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn.[4] Among his ancestors is one of the most notable Sufi saints, the founder of the Qadiri Sufi Order, Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani. His father Khawaja Sayyid Abd al-Malik was also an eminent scholar in his own right, and taught his son much from a young age.
Ghulam Murtadha headed the Madressah Jamia Kot Androon, which was the main institution of Kasur. It was here where he taught the likes of Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah, who both came to Kasur specifically to be under his tutelage as he was a well-known and famed teacher of Islamic knowledge in both Arabic and Persian.[3]
Waris Shah had a great deal of reverence for his teacher, and it is well noted in his epic Heer Ranjha in which he states "Waris Shah is proud of being the pupil of great Makhdum, the Kasur's symbol"[5] When Waris Shah came to Ghulam Murtadha to present his epic Heer Ranjha and gain blessings from his spiritual teacher, Ghulam Murtadha is alleged to have said "I taught Bulleh Shah and he danced and sang playing a violin. I taught you and you wrote a love story". However, once having heard sections from the Heer from Waris Shah himself, Ghulam Murtadha is said to have been consoled and blessed Waris with a powerful remark, "You have strung priceless pearls into a rosary".[6]
References
- ↑ "Waris Shah and his Heer". apnaorg.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
- ↑ "Policy Research Group - Strategic Insight - A story retold through ages...". policyresearchgroup.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
- 1 2 "Encyclopaedia of Untouchables Ancient, Medieval and Modern" By Dr. Rajkumar
- ↑ "Geniuses of Kasur" By Ahmad Ali Kasuri Advocate
- ↑ "Heer Ranjha" By Waris Shah
- ↑ "The Beloved". apnaorg.com. Retrieved 2015-10-26.