Awliya e kashmir
Hazrat Syed Sakhi Muhammad Janbaz Wali ( alaie'hir rehma )
Islam spread to the corners of the world not by sword but the preaching’s of Muslims Missionaries who are remembered and called in various places as saints”, says Arnold. Syed Janbazi-i-Wali (Rehmatullahi-Alalih) a prominent missionary and saint of Kashmir hailed from Isfahan, the then capital of Iran. He took his birth in the year 735 A.H (1329A.D) and was named as Syed Muhammad Rufaee. He was great grandson of Syed Ahmad Rufaee of Isfahan, who was the nephew of famous Saint Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir jeelani Alhi Rehma popularly known as DASTAGIR SAHIB by Muslims as well as Hindus Janbaz Wali likemany other great saint’s also belonged to the direct lineage of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallahu Alhi Wasalum) For a divine mission, Allah selects and blessed only those who are capable of bearing the brunt of sucha holy and difficult task. We see this selection in the case of Khawja Mouin-ud-Din Chesti Alhi Rehma and his noble spiritual successors. All of them descend from noble blood of the “Fonder Of Islam”. Likewise Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali (Alhi Rehma)was also a divine selection from a distinguished parentage who had their lineal source from the illustrious family of Holy Prophet Sallhu Alhi Wasalum. In the child-hood Syed Janbaz Wali was put under the loving care of a learned tutor, Syed MuhammadArabi (Alhi Rehma),a famous Muslim scholar from Arabia who started him with the teaching of theology . But it was the famous Saint Mir Syed JalalUd Din Bukhari Mukhdoomi –i- Jahan, to who Syed Janbaz Wali offered himself as a “MUREED” (Disciple)the great saint ,who had already intuitivelyperceived the divine spart in the young aspirant, accepted him immediately and became his “Murshid”. In 827A.H (1420A.D) when Sultan Zain-Ul-Abidin was the ruler of Kashmir, Syed Janbaz Wali visited the valley and reached Srinagar Via Shopian. According to “Tarikh-I-Shayaq” a group of 120 saints and scholars accompanied him. It is reported that when Syed Janbaz Wali arrived in Srinagar,sultan zian-ul-abidin went out of the city to welcome the syed janbaz wali alhi rehma because he had a great regard to saints and darveshes ,he arranged the stay of Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali in the city. The sultan how ever used to wait upon him twice a week in order to receive his spiritual blessings and guidance. The Sultan later on become a regular and most dutiful disciple of Hazrat Syed . After two years stay in Srinagar Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali wanted to move to Baramulla Budshah made all the arrangements of travel and accompanied himin his boat as they moved to Baramulla via River Jehlum. As the boat was crossings Wullar Lake, Budshah related a story to the Syed about the destruction caused by Wind storm resulting in the death of thousands of people, who used to be in the center of the lake, away from lake shores. He expressed his desire of construction an artificial island in the centers of the lake for the safety of people and requested Hazrat Syed to pray for his success in this tough task. It was the result of the prayers that Budshah was able to construct the island in Wular Lake which is known as ZAINA LANK. After crossing Wular Lake the boat reached Baramulla, where Hazrat Syed selected a meadow for his residential purpose. The place was named as Janbazpora after the title of the saint. The entire land of Janbazpora and its adjoining villages were offered as gift by Budshah to the syed. After some time Hazrat Syed changed this place andmoved towards the western side of Baramulla Town. On the bank of river Jehlum he settled a newvillage which got the name of KHAWANPORA (Khanpora) meaning a place of food, in Persian language. As the kitchen of Hazrat Syed always remained hot and thousands of people used to eat in his kitchen daily, it is for the reason Hindus call him popularly as “ANAPURNA” meaning in Sanskrit one who offers food to people. In the Langar Khana of Syed Janbaz people were being served without any distinction. His charity had become Proverbial .It had no limit In Khanpora Syed Janbaz preached Quran and Hadith and thousands of people became his followers. According to Tarikh ul Awlia, Daily thousands of people would come to see the Syed and the crowds used to be so huge that it was difficult for a passerby to get the way. According to “Shahnama Kashmir” Syed Janbaz was third in number after Shah-i-Hamdan who came here only for preaching Islam and met with great success in his mission .As a result of propagation of his great saints thousands of people embraced Islam. But amongst his followers are both Hindus as well as Musalman’s. Like the titles granted for distinguished work by the temporal kingdoms of the world .titles are also bestowed in “Spiritual Kingdoms” of Almighty to lend distinction for the names of Prophets, saints and holy personages. The devotion to Almight, service to suffering humanity and unparalleled sacrifices of the Syed earned him the title of JANBAZmeaning one who performed great deeds at the cost of his life. According to “Waqat-I-Kashmir” it was the 24th of Rabi-ul-Awal 840 A.H (1433 A.D) when the “Divine Sun” which rose from the horizon of Mecca and Madina and appeared over Kashmir valley to shed its luster all over the valley, at last disappeared behind the curtain of divinity. Its miraculous sunshine guided humanity on the virtuous path of truth love and righteousness in this valley. But their setting was not the end of its magnificent luster which continued and sustains its glorious light even today. He was Darvesh , a divine hero ,who came to Kashmir with a few companions who had no warriors or weapons’ to defend or offender except the pious name of Allah .He hated oppression and exploitation of innocent humanity , and had selflessly devotes his life to the commandments of Allah and Prophet Sallhu Alhi Wasalum .He was “HARBINGER OF PEACE” who won the hearts of thousands of oppressed people by sheer love, sympathy and service and thus changed the very course of Kashmir history