Saints And Scholars Of Humayun Sharif

Humayun village is located about 22 km from Shikarpur town on the Shikarpur-Jacobabad road. The village is noted for the shrine complex of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Humayuni. I have visited the dargah of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub several times – the first time in 2003. There was to be found here a beautiful tomb, that was decorated with paintings and glazed tiles. The old tomb and mosque of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub were rebuilt in the 1990s and 2010 respectively.

Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Humayuni, who was from the Pechuho tribe, was an eminent Qadiri Sufi saint and scholar of the 19th century in Sindh and Balochistan. He was born in Chhat village in Balochistan. According to Huma Humayuni by Maulana Mian Muhammad Qasim Hashmi Garhi Yasinvi (2000), Maulana Muhammad Yaqub studied in the madrassah of Maulana Abdul Haleem at Kandi in Bhagnari area in Balochistan. Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi was a famous religious scholar and Qadiri Sufi of the Bhagnari area under whose supervision Maulana Muhammad Yaqub studied Arabic and Persian. He became the leading khalifo of Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi. Maulana Muhammad Yaqub later used to teach in the madrassah of his spiritual master on his instruction.

According to Huma Humayuni by Maulana Mian Muhammad Qasim Hashmi Garhi Yasinvi (2000), a conflict arose between Ghulam Hyder Khan Abro – a noble of Bhagnari – and the Khan of Kalat over a certain issue, that led to the migration of Hyder Khan Abro and his supporters to Sindh. Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi belonged to the party of Ghulam Hyder Abro, so he also had to migrate to Sindh along with Ghulam Hyder Khan Abro, his students and followers. They first settled at Abad village near Jacobabad. On the requests of the landlords of Humayun village, Ghazi Khan Soomro and Masu Khan Sadayo, Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi, Maulana Muhammad Yaqub and others settled at Humayun village where a madrassah was built by them for Maulana Abdul Haleem and his chief khalifo Maulana Muhammad Yaqub.

After staying for some time in Humayun village, Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi handed over the charge of madrassah to his chief khalifo Maulana Muhammad Yaqub and he settled in Rohri. One comes to know from Man Ji Mala by Maulana Abdul Wahab Chachar (2001) that Maulana Abdul Haleem was born in Kandi village in the Bhagnari area in Balochistan. He was first taught by Maulana Noor Muhammad of Bhagnari and later by Allama Syed Muhammad Aqil Shah Hussaini of Halani. According to Nawabshah Zilo Shahar Ain Shakhseyatoon (District Nawabshah: Towns and Personalities) by Dr. Qureshi Hamid Ali Khanani (1987) that Allama Syed Muhammad Aqil Shah was the author of many books. He established his madrassah at Halani, where many eminent scholars studied. Some of his eminent students established madrassahs and mosques in their respective towns and villages. Even Pir Muhammad Rashid Shah Rozay Dhani (d.1818) also studied in his madrassah. He was an erudite scholar of Fiqah and Hadith. Moreover, Dr. Qureshi Hamid Ali Khanani (1987) writes that Allama Syed Muhammad Aqil Shah was a student of Makhdoom Muhammad Arejvi of Areja village near Larkana whose spiritual genealogy traced back to Maulana Abdul Hakeem Sialkoti d.1657). The madrassah of Maulana Syed Muhammad Aqil Shah was located in Halani where many eminent scholars studied.

It is also said that Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi was initiated into the Qadiri Sarwari silsila by Mian Muhammad Kamil Katbari (d.1824), who was himself a deputy of Mian Noor Ahmed son of Mian Muhammad Sadique whose spiritual genealogy goes back to Sultan Bahu (d. 1691). Katbar Sharif was a thriving centre of Qadiri Sufis in the 19th and 20th centuries in the Sibi district of Balochistan. On the instructions of his mentor Mian Noor Ahmed, he migrated from Ghotki to preach in the Katbar region in the Sibi district.

Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasmi writes in Maqalat Qasimi, which is compiled by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mazharuddin Soomro (2000), that Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi had two prominent students or deputies: Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Humayuni and Maulana Noor Muhammad Shahdadkoti. Both were celebrated scholars and saints of Sindh. Maulana Muhammad Yaqub was the founder of the Humayuni school of religious scholars, and Maulana Noor Muhammad, the founder of the Shahdadkoti school of religious scholars. Both schools Humayuni and Shahdadkoti produced many eminent religious scholars who played an important role in imparting religious education in many parts of Sindh and Balochistan. Several madrassahs were established by the scholars who were associated with both the schools: Humayuni and Shahdadkoti. Many books were written by Humayuni and Shahdadkoti scholars in Arabic, Persian and Sindhi.

Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi did not marry, and spent most of his time reading and teaching. He died in 1254 AH / 1838 AD in Rohri. His shrine is located south of the Railway bridge on the main in Rohri town where he is known as Pir Pakho. Maulana Muhammad Yaqub, the chief deputy (khalifo) of Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi continued to teach in the madrassah at Humayun Sharif. Later many of his eminent students who studied in his madrassah became eminent scholars and established madrassahs in their respective towns and villages. According to Tazkira Mashahir-e-Sindh Vol.1 by Maulana Din Muhammad Wafai (1991) some of the eminent students of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub were Maulana Abdullah Rustami, Maulana, Abdul Qadir Panhwari Waro, Maulana Abdur Rahman Sukkurvi, Maulana Sultan Mehmood Sitpuri, Maulana Qadir Bakhsh and many others. Maulana Mian Muhammad Qasim Hashmi Garhi Yasinvi (2000) the author of Huma Humayuni, believes that Maulana Muhammad Hassan Hyderabadi (d. 1309 AH / 1891 AD), who was born in Kandi village in the Dadu district and later moved to settle in Hyderabad in Sindh, was another eminent student of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub. However, Maulana Din Muhammad Wafai (1991) believes that he was a follower of Maulana Noor Muhammad Shahdadkoti, another leading khalifo of Maulana Abdul Haleem Kandvi. The students of Maulana Noor Muhammad Shahdadkoti (d. 1296 AH / 1879 AD) from Sindh and Balochistan became leading scholars in their respective areas. The most eminent student of Maulana Noor Muhammad Shadadkoti was Makhdoom Hassanullah Patai (d.1339 AH /1920 AD), who had also a large number of students who spread his teachings in every nook and corner of Sindh. Three sons of Maulana Noor Muhammad Shahdadkoti i.e. Maulana Gul Muhammad (d.1306/1888), Maulana Ghulam Siddique (d.1322 AH / 1904 AD) and Ghulam Umer (d.1303/1886) were also celebrated scholars.

Humayun Sharif became a centre of Islamic learning during the times of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub and his son Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Humayuni. Maulana Muhammad Yaqub built an impressive Jamia mosque in 1253AH / 1837 AD, which was later demolished in the late 1990s and a new mosque was built in its stead. Maulana Muhammad Yaqub died in 1273 AH / 1856 AD, leaving behind his son Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Humayuni to continue his legacy. According to Diwan Maftun: Maulana Abdul Ghafoor “Maftun” Humayuni Jo Kalam compiled by Niaz Hassan Qaimuddin Humayuni (2020), Maulana Abdul Ghafoor was born in 1261 AH / 1844 AD in Humayun village. He was a religious scholar, author, and poet. Some of the prominent books of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor include two volumes of Fatwa Humayuni in Persian, two volumes of Fatwa Humayuni in Sindhi, Diwan Maftun, Farhang Humayuni, and many others. He was known for his Fatawa in Sindh and Balochistan. Many of his eminent students established madrassahs and mosques in Sindh and Balochistan.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Humayuni died in 1333 AH / 1918 AD and was succeeded by his grandson Maulana Abdul Baqi I. Maulana Abdul Baqi was also a celebrated scholar and saint who died in 1963 and was succeeded by his son Mian Abdul Bari. According to the present Gadi Nashin of Dargah Maulana Muhammad Yaqub, Mian Abdul Baqi II, the old tomb of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub was demolished and a new tomb was built in 2010. The tomb of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub is noted for its superbly carved door, and the painting and glasswork that decorate the façade and interior of the tomb. The wooden canopy under which are located the graves of Maulana Muhammad Yaqub and his son Maulana Abdul Ghafoor is also intricately carved. A few poems of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Humayuni are written on the interior of the tomb. There are five graves in the tomb. Two graves which are inside a wooden canopy belong to Maulana Muhammad Yaqub and his son Maulana Abdul Ghafoor. Three other graves near the wooden canopy are said to be of Bibi Ayesha (daughter of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor), Maulana Abdul Baqi I and Mian Abdul Bari respectively.