The mission of great saint of poor people

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By: Aziz Kingrani

Hazarat Syyed Usman Marwandi Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is well-known and celebrated Sufi saint of Sindh,
a southern province of Pakistan. He is the greatest saint of poor people. Hazarat Qalandar Lal is famous
as itinerant, but mostly, he lived among the gatherings of common people. His mysticism attracted
people from all religions (1). Where he halted, the deprived populace encircled around him. Since a bold
and brave, he uncared the customs of society, social orders and even he refused the provided facilities
of government of the time. Thus he became eminent as Qalandar among the people. The prominent
historians and scholars have conversed in details concerning the meaning and background of the term
Qalandar and Qalandariyya Movement as well as his mission which have been discussed below.
Term Qalandar
According to some accounts, while Qalanar was making his way in to literature word was known as a
designation of group of mystics in the eastern lands of Islam who distinguished themselves from other
Muslims by their unconventional way of life (2). The scholars write that the word Qalandar has been
variously defined. The author of “Risala-e-Ghousia” that in Syriac (Syrian), Qalander is one of the names
of Allah. While some people regard the words Sufi and Qalandar as synonymous. On other hand some
holds that when a Sufi attains perfection, he is regarded as Qalandar. Other thinks that word Qalandar is
derived from Persian term “Kalantar”, the chief man. A few are of opinion that this word is derived from
Turkish term “Qal” which means clean and pure. Syed Ashraf Jahangir Samnani says “Qalandar is he who
has served all ties from the world and has attained complete outward and inward detachment. A
Qalandar seeks God only and renounces all interests in this world as well as, in the world hereafter. He
neither desires for any reward in this world, nor does he wish for any recompense or requital in the next
world. He is seeker of only God and of nothing other thing else” (3). Some scholars have opined that a
Qalandar is kind of itinerant preacher who abundance every thing and—wanders in the world; and one
of his features of his character is discipline not ascetic faqir (4).
Some explanations inform that the term Qalandar covers in its historical usage a wide range of dervish
type. It was loosely applied in the Persian sphere to any wandering faqir or mendicant, but it was also
adopted by certain groups and even distinctive orders were formed, hence the problem of defining
term. Shuhabuddin Suharwardi describes Qalandariyya as those who are so possessed by the
intoxication of ‘tranquility of heart’ that they respect no custom and reject the convention of society and
social relationship. Maqrizi records that Qalandariyya made their first appearance in Damascus around
610 H/1213-14 AD, having been introduced by Persian refugee, Muhammad Yunus Al-Sawaji
(d.630/1232-33) and a Qalandari hotel or Zawiya by hyadari group there in 655/1257-58. A
Qalandari/Hydari hotel in Tabriz is mentioned by the author of Rawdat al-jinan and our frequent
references to the presence these shabbily-dressed, morally responsible wandering dervishes in Safavid
society (5). According to another account Qalanariyya was founded by Yusuf-al Andlusi of Spain (6).

The historians hold account that the term Qalandar was historically applied various categories of
mystics. Up to the fourteenth century it was synonymous with the concept of dervish and denoted a
wandering mystic-ascetic, who did not have personal property or definite place of residence. In early
mystic poetry Qalandar is a wanderer who has renounced every thing temporal and is absorbed only in
love for God. The Persian Sufis of eleventh century, Abu Sa’id Maihani , Abdullah Ansari and Baba Tahir
Uryan called themselves Qalandar in precisely this sense. The last mentioned says:
I am mystic gypsy called Qalandar;
I have neither fire, nor home, nor monastery.
By day I wander about the world, and at night,
I sleep with a brick under my head (7).
Further it has been mentioned that finally, the word Qalandar denoted a member of mystic-ascetic
movement in Khurasan, which in the course of time took shape as Qalandariyya fraternity and by the
thirteenth century reached the borders of India (8). However, the literal meaning of Qalandar is a person
who is free of all cares of this and the next world (9). It becomes clear that a Qalandar seeks an
opportunity to destroy the established traditions. He is likewise not burdened conventions of everyday
life. A Qalandar is not tied to a certain mentor by inner spiritual link; he is not necessarily follower of
definite school of thought or a branch of Sufism and he is above the religious law (10), but he follows the
spiritualism. In Sindhi, the literarily meaning of Qalandar can be suggested as brave, bold, courageous
and fearless. Hazarat Qalandar Shahbaz possessed all qualities of Godly love, saintly purity and
piousness. And undoubtedly, he was saint of high moral, qualitative spiritual leader of suppressed
people and qualified the entire characteristics of bravery and term Qalanar.

Qalandariyya Movement
It is believed that Qalandar Lal Shahbaz belonged to Malamati order (Sufism) but I am of the opinion
that Qalandar Shahbaz was related to Qalanariyya movement. In early Iran, the practices of Malamatis
were different from Qalanddariyya. The Malamati was group of baggers in Persia who used to go door to
door. On other hand, Qalanadar Lal and his disciples did not do so. He spread his mission among
common people through the saintly activities of Qalandariyya movement. A point of view can be
accepted only at the limit of influence that the Qalandariyya movement came in to being on the bases of
the early teachings of Malamatiyya (11). The terms Hyadriyya and Qalandariyya is frequently used by
scholars for the disciples of Qalandariyya. Qalandar Shahbaz has also called himself as “Hyadriyam
Qalandaram Mastam” in his poetry. In the meantime, still his disciples and devotees call themselves
Hydaris and Qalandaris. Positively, the influence of Malamatiyya on Qalandariyya can not be unnoticed.
History reveals that Qalanariyya movement flourished in Syria, eastern Iran and Transoxiana. The
movement consisted of many groups and Hyaderis (12). Whereas, some accounts of history notify that
the Qalandariyya were an eastern Iranian order which had just been introduced in Damascus in
616/1219 by Shaykh Jamal al-Din, the first real systematizer of the group’s doctrine and rule to conduct.
Jamal al-Din left himself Damascus for Egypt in 620/1223, but he left behind him numerous disciples,
many of them Persian (13). The Sufi theoreticians of medieval Persia informs us that the difference
between Malamati and Qalandar mystics was that the former sought to conceal his acts of devotion and
piety, whereas, later endeavoured to overturn and destroy established customs. As an institution, the
Qalandariyya was closely connected with the early Malamati tradition in tenth/eleventh century
Nishapur in Khurasan, which later, under the leadership of Jamal al-Din (d. Circa 630 /1232), developed
in separate order with their own Khanqahs scattered all over Egypt, Libya, Turkey, Persia and India.
Undoubtedly, the Qalandariyya movement represented a sort of mass institutionalization of the high
principles of Malamati moral Philosophy (14) but later it became a different movement.
Although the Qalandariyya movement originated and spread primarily in eastern lands of Islam, they
asserted themselves as recognizable trend with Sufism in Damascus and Dameitta (Egypt) in the early
decades of seventh/thirteenth. The founder of the movement was the Persian Jamal al-Din (15).
Qalandariyya refers to people who are under influence spiritual tasting and intoxication of heart to the
degree that they try to corrupt (disobey) usual customs and free (themselves) from attending to correct
manners (social orders) when in gatherings and association with people (16). While, the Malamatis
refused to follow and give public recognition to the rationalist urbanizing Muslims that was taking
shape. And the social arenas of Sufi cloister (Khaniqah) and Chivalric brotherhoods (Futuvvat) that
sentiments like those of the Malamatis found many devotees (17). Possibly, Malamatis were doing so in
Persia, but as for association with people and public recognition of Qalandariyya in Sindh including its
increasing cluster of disciples can be reviewed from the role and public fame of Qalandar Shahbaz.
Kathryn Babayan also writes that a Qalandariyya movement crystallized under the leadership of Persian
named Jamal al-Din (d. 1232-1233), from Saveh in central Iran. The leadership of Qalandariyya who
established communities of believers through hospices in the Fertile Crescent (Damascus, Darmietta,
Jerusalem) and Egypt was ethically Persian (18). Thus, the Qalandariyya Movement had already public
recognition and the public believers. Probably, Adam Sabra has related the act of Malamtiyya with
Qalandariyya that the Qalandariyya wore simple woolen sacks and shave their hair, beard, mustache,
and even eyebrows (19). Most probably, herein Sindh, Qalandar Shahbaz had reformed the principles of
Qalandariyya Movement. It can be believed that he quieted the attitude of removing hair. Consequently,
his believers or Qalandaris had not shaved mustaches, beard and eyebrows. Sadia Dehlvi is of the
opinion that the Qalanadars and Malamati mystics do not belong to organized order and wander from
one to another place. Shaykh Shuhabuddin Suhrwardi wrote that there is difference between these two
types of dervishes. Qalandars are seized by intoxication arisen from love of God to such a degree that
they reject social pleasantries. They perform mandatory but not the extra vigils. On other hand the
Malamatis try concealing their spiritual achievements by behaving in an offensive manner, so that they
be left alone (20). When we consider over the Qalandar Lal’s mystic and sagely activities, his movement
and Sufi order were well organized and he had a large circle of organized disciples and devotees
comprising common people.
The writer of book, “Mystics, Monarchs and Messiahs” describes that a new type of ascetic movement
emerged with the institutionalization of mystical orders (Sufism) giving birth to dervish groups like
Qalandariyya and Hydariyya. Distinct from mysticism of brotherhood, these mystics rejected very social
and cultural forms that impinged on their notion of piety. Moving from place to place, they rejected
stability and material comfort and expressed this attitude through a language of social deviance and
strict interpretation of poverty (21). According to some academic sources the Qalanddars emerged as a
separated movement with a distinctive style of dress and behavour (22). While recognizing, Jonathan
Porter Berkey says that the example of Qalandariyya suggests that Islam was capable in the middle
period of manifesting it self in a brilliant complexity of forms even at centre-even that is, in major
centres of juristic cultures such a Cairo and Damascus-and that Sufism, broadly conceived one of the
principal source of that complexity (23). Some scholars have revealed that in those days the more
popular movement in Tramsoxiana was the Qalandariyya deriving from the Malamatiyya (24). Mostly,
the discussed quotations enlighten the itinerant life of Hazarat Qalandar Lal Shahbaz and his
Qalandariyya movement. He meandered at various countries as well as India and finally he settled in
Sindh. While traveling and living among the mystic groups of ordinary men and guiding them as religious
leader of the Qalandariyya movement, he remained most active Sufi saint among the followers whole
the life.
Multan to Sehwan
While visiting many countries of Asia and Middle East, Qalandar Shahbaz returned to Sindh and settled
at village near Multan. In Multan, Prince martyred Khan built Khanqah for Hazrat Qalandar. The
Qalandar of course politely declined the earnest offer of the prince (25). Ghulam Muhammad Girami
writes that according to some accounts Qalandar Lal was disciple of Sheikh Bahauddin Zakiriya and
Sheikh Shuhabuddin Suhurwardi, regarding this, the historians and research scholars have not proved
with literarily and historically sources. I support the opinion of Ghulam Muhammad Girami, since
Qalandar Shahbaz was leading his own dissimilar and distinctive Sufi order Qalandariyya. So, how could
be he the disciple of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakiriya or any other Sufi order? Meanwhile, history included him
in the fold of friendship of Sufis of Multan (26). It is believed that, Shahbaz Qalandar (Seyyed Usman)
was seen as a controversial figure by some, because he was a Qalandariyya and Malamatiyya Sufi saint.
He would put on red clothes and was often found in a state of spiritual ecstasy. This offended the
orthodox Ulema of the time in Multan. Qazi Qutb al-Din Kashfi, a prominent religious person, gave a
judgment [religious edict or Fatwa) against Seyyed Usman, who was staying in a village near Multan
(27). He was furious when he heard about this Judgment and traveled to Multan with his followers to
avenge the dishonour. Shaykh Baha al-Din Zakariya heard about Sayyad Usman and the cause of his
anger. So, Shaykh Baha al-Din managed to calm him down (28). Most probably, the cause of
controversies was not personal dishonour of Qalanddar Lal Shahbaz but activities of Qalandariyya Sufi
order and its increasing popularity among the people in the vicinity of Multan might have become the
reason of controversy for some religious personalities. Thus, the Sufi saint, a symbol of tolerance
reacted against judgment. However, after worried ambiance Qalandar Shahbaz left Multan and traveled
to Sehwan Sharif.
Syyed Dinal Shah Darbelvy writes that according to historical account Qalandar Lal came to Sehwan
direct from Multan in 649 h. He was at the ripe age of 111 years. His stay in Sehwan is only one year
where his mortal remains are buried (29). Some historical accounts as well inform that Qalanar is for his
Sufism. Marwandi lived as a celibate and after a wandering life around Middle East, he settled in Sehwan
in the Sindh (30). In Sehwan Sharif Qalandar Shahbaz continued his mission and activities of
Qalandariyya movement as in Multan till his last moments of life.

Mission
The mission and played role by this great Sufi saint of underprivileged people can be portrayed as below.
(a) Tolerance: Tolerance was basic principle of Qalandariyya movement in Sindh, led by Hazrat Qalandar
Lal Shahbaz including Sufism. Qalanadar Shahbaz chose first Multan and later Sehwan, Sindh, as the
centre of his mission for the spiritual guidance of mankind. During his lifetime, he maintained close
association with the free-wandering order of the Sufis and the common people remembered him by the
title of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. His reputation has survived undiminished as the popular saint of Sindh
(31). Hazarat Qalandar Lal Shahbaz (1177-1274) preached a doctrine of tolerance between Muslims and
Hindus. His tolerance included assimilating local traditions into Islam, which has earned the movement
opposition of Mullas who ruled the faith (32). Shahbaz Qalanar turned liberator spent the rest of his life
teaching Sufism (33). Lal shahbaz preached religious tolerance among Muslims and Hindus (34). It was
though their simple philosophy, uncomplicated practices, and sprit of tolerance and accommodation
that Sufis won the hearts of mass, thronged the Khanqahs (35). The role of Hazrat Qalandar Shahbaz was
according to the concept of “Sabar” which seems to have been interpreted as tolerance and Sufism is
defined as a “tradition of tolerance”. Moreover, calling Sufism a tradition of tolerance carries the
implication that it is harmless to others (36). Sufi saints drew Muslims and non-Muslims alike to their
fold through their simplicity and sincerity, their broadmindedness, tolerance and compassion, and built
bridge of understanding, amity and conciliation between people of different religions and ethic
backgrounds (37). By speaking about the universal love in quest of Almighty, Sufi philosophy thus
heightened the atmosphere of tolerance (38). Still, there is tolerance among individuals like him
(Qalandar Shahbaz) for the rituals that devotee perform (39). In view of above references, Qalandar
Shahbaz and his Qalandariyya movement were magnificently sign of tolerance.

(b) Peace: Being a liberal and secular Sufi saint, Qalandar Shahbaz passed his life peacefully and always
preached peace among the people of different religions. As a sacred Sufi guide, he favored the peace, all
the time of his life, because the Sufis always prefer peace to war and non-violence to violence. But Sufis
are also fighters against injustice (40). The protest against Qazi Qutub al-Din Kashfi can be counted as an
instance of fight of our Sufi saint against unfairness. The message of peace, harmony, universal
brotherhood and peaceful co-existence of Sufis along with the efforts of Bhakti counterparts helped a
society free of religious, sectarian and communal tensions (41). Certainly, the philosophy of Qalandari
school of thought is completely surrender at all that is universal peace which is the foundation of
universal religion of Islam (42). Moreover, the life of Qalandar Lal was also sign of peace and harmony.

(c) Love to God and mankind: Lal Shahbaz Qalandar played a very important role for boosting Sufism and
preaching the message of love and peace in this part of the world.
The Sufis of this order believe that the entire universe exists because God is love. Live is great law of
existence. Love, according to the Sufi doctrine God’s own nature, and because man exists within God’s
Universal Being, it follows that love is fundamental law at work in man. That is why man’s greatest
experiences are those which are expressed in love. The Sufi’s primary aim, therefore, is to obey
steadfast discipline, the greatest of divine commandments: “Love one another and every thing
everywhere” (43). Qalandar Shahbaz is free from both, the mortal and immortal world; he only cares
(Loves) Allah (44). The first requirement according to Sufi is that we should love God, above all His outer
manifestations. The second requirement of life is that we shall love every soul on earth. In God’s
presence, hatred, resentments, criticisms and judgments have no place. He is the sprit in every soul, and
it is His sprit in every one that we must love (45). Thus, Qalanadar Lal Shahbaz loved Allah and His
creature. Concerning such philosophy of Sufism, Mansoor Halaj of Persia practiced and was martyred.
Qalandar Shahbaz also communicates this message and relating himself to Mansoor Halaj, he expresses
in his poetry that “Manam Usman Marwandi k yar-e Khuwaja Mansooram” which means, I am Usman
Marwandi, a friend (follower) of Khuwaja Mansoor Halaj.

(d) Preaching of Qalandariyya movement and Islam: The Sufi saints have preached the principles of their
Sufi orders including Islam and Allah. It has been suggested that the majority of Indian’s (subcontinent)
Muslims accepted Islam through the quit preaching of the Sufis, spreading the simple tenets of Islam
through rustic poems in the languages of Indian peasants (46). Undoubtedly, Qalanadar Lal Shahaz
preached his Sufi order including Sufism and Islam practically and literarily.

Books and References

1, Munawar Arbab, Sufi Saints of Indus Valley, Lulu.com, 2014, p-160
2, Erik Gren, Orientalia Suecana, Volume 53, Almquist & Wiksell Periodical Company, 2004, p-64
3, Editors, Suresh K. Sharma, Usha Sharma, Cultural and Religious Heritage of India: Islam, Mittal
Publications, 2004, p-350
4, Dr. Nazir M. Gill, Development of Urdu language and Literature, Xlibris Corporation, 2013, p-95
5, Colin Turner, Islam without Allah, Routledge, 2013, p-125
6, Md. Sirajul Islam, Sufism and Bhakti, CRVP, 2004, p-61
7, Anna Suvorova, Muslim Saints of South Asia, Routledge, 2004, p-178
8, Anna Suvorova, Muslim Saints of South Asia, Routledge, 2004, p-179
9, Md. Sirajul Islam, Sufism and Bhakti, CRVP, 2004, p-61
10, Редакционная коллегия, Ишрак том 3: Ishraq, Islamic Culture Research Foundation, 2012, p-322
11, Anna Suvorova, Muslim Saints of South Asia, Routledge, 2004, p-179
12, M. K. Agarwal, From Bharata to India: Volume 2, iUniverse, 2012, p-106
13, R. Stephen Humphreys, From Saladin to the Mongols, SUNY Press, 1977, p-209
14, Editor, Leonard Lewisohn, Hafiz and the Religion of Love in Classical Persian Poetry, I.B.Tauris, 2015,
p-37
15, Alexander D. Knysh, Islamic Mysticism, Brill, 2000, 2 Jul 2009, p-272
16, Lloyd Ridgeon, Morals and Mysticism in Persian Sufism, Routledge, 2010, ref. 71
17, Kathryn Babayan, Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs, Harvard University, 2002, p-87
18, Kathryn Babayan, Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs, Harvard University, 2002, p-88
19, Adam Sabra, Poverty and Charity in Medieval Islam, Cambridge University Press, 2000, p-28
20, Sadia Dehlvi, Sufism: Heart of Islam, HarperCollins Publishers, 2012, p-34
21, Kathryn Babayan, Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs, Harvard University, 2002, p-88
22, Sadia Dehlvi, Sufism: Heart of Islam, HarperCollins Publishers, 2012, p-34
23, Jonathan Porter Berkey, The Formation of Islam, Cambridge University Press, 2003, p-245
24, Editors, Muzaffar Alam & others, The Making of Indo-Persian Culture Manohar Publishers &
Distributors, 2000, p-102
25, Dinal Shah Darbelvy, Hazarat Shahanshah Qalandar, Culture Department Sindh, 2012, p-194
26, Azad Kandhro, Sindhri Jo Shahbaz Qalandar, Culture Department Sindh, 2012, p-102
27, https://seekerofthesacredknowledge.wordpress.com
28, http://ahlesunnatkokan.boards.net/thread/330/silsila-al-naqshbandiya-1
29, Dinal Shah Darbelvy, Hazarat Shahanshah Qalandar, Culture Department Sindh, 2012, p-48
30, Norbert C. Brockman, Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, ABC-CLIO, 2011, p-439
31, Nabi Hadi, Dictionary of Indo-Persian Literature, Abhinav Publications, 1995, p-322
32, Norbert C. Brockman, Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, ABC-CLIO, 2011, p-439
33, Reza, Sebastian, Reza War and Peace, National Geographic Books, 2008, p-308
34, Munwar Arbab, Sufi Saints of Indus Valley, Lulu.com, 2014, p-159
35, Farooqui Salma Ahmed, A Comprehensive History of Medieval India, Pearson Education India, 2011,
p-215
36, Editors Judy Wakabayashi, Rita Kothari, Decentering Translation Studies, John Benjamins Publishing,
2009, p-141
37, Amitabh Pal, “Islam” Means Peace, ABC-CLIO, 2011, p-60
38, Farooqui Salma Ahmed, A Comprehensive History of Medieval India, Pearson Education India, 2011,
p-215
39, Shemeem Burney Abbas, The Female Voice in Sufi Ritual, University of Texas Press, 2010, p-xix
40, Amitabh Pal, “Islam” Means Peace, ABC-CLIO, 2011, p-60
41, Farooqui Salma Ahmed, A Comprehensive History of Medieval India, Pearson Education India, 2011,
p-215
42, Dinal Shah Darbelvy, Hazarat Shahanshah Qalandar, Culture Department Sindh, 2012, p-350
43, Suresh K. Sharma, Usha Sharma, Cultural and Religious Heritage of India: Islam, Mittal Publications,
2004, p-350-51
44, Hakim Fateh Muhammad Sehwani, Qalandar Nama, Culture Department Sindh 2012, p-39
45, Suresh K. Sharma, Usha Sharma, Cultural and Religious Heritage of India: Islam, Mittal Publications,
2004, p-351
46, Nile Green, Islam and the Army in Colonial India, Cambridge University Press, 2009, p-17

(Presented on 7th of June 2015, in International Qalandar Shahbaz literary conference at Shahbaz
Auditorium Sehwan Sharif)