Hazrat Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA) was a great Sufi saint and renowned mystic of the Suhrawardiyya order, born in the 7th century Hijri (12th century CE) in Tabriz, Iran. He belonged to a family of scholars and spiritualists, receiving his early education from his father.
A Blend of Knowledge and Practice
Hazrat Jalaluddin Tabrizi's personality was a beautiful blend of knowledge and practice. He mastered both exoteric and esoteric sciences, emphasizing asceticism, meditation, and the remembrance of Allah in his spiritual journey. His life's purpose was to attain Allah's pleasure and the welfare of humanity.
Initiation with a Murshid (Spiritual Guide)
Hazrat Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA) was a disciple of Hazrat Badruddin Abu Saeed Tabrizi (RA). His esteemed father was also a disciple of Hazrat Abu Saeed, and he took allegiance under Hazrat Abu Saeed's guidance. Later, after the passing of his Murshid, he also received spiritual blessings from Hazrat Sheikh Shahabuddin Omar Suhrawardi (RA) and became an important elder of the Suhrawardiyya order.
Service to Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi
After the demise of his Murshid, Hazrat Sheikh Abu Saeed Tabrizi, Hazrat Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA) served Hazrat Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi in an unparalleled manner. Sheikh Shahabuddin would travel from Baghdad for Hajj every year, and as he grew older, he could not eat cold food. Therefore, Hazrat Jalaluddin would always carry a brazier and a pot on his head, and whenever Sheikh Sahib asked for food, he would heat it and present it.
Travels and Journeys
He had a deep connection with Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya during their travels. Whenever Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya arrived in a city, he would engage in worship, while Hazrat Jalaluddin would explore the city, meeting dervishes there. Upon reaching Nishapur, he met Hazrat Fariduddin Attar. When he returned, Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya asked him which dervish he found best today. He replied, "Fariduddin Attar."
Miracles of Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi
He continued his travels. When he arrived in Multan, he asked the people if any فقیر (ascetic) lived there. They told him about Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganj Shakar, which made him eager to meet him.
As he was going to meet him, he met a person on the way who gave him a pomegranate. He took the pomegranate in his hand and, upon reaching Hazrat Baba Farid, began to eat it there.
Hazrat Masood Ganj Shakar was fasting, but when Hazrat Jalaluddin was eating the pomegranate, a seed fell to the ground. Hazrat Masood picked up that seed, placed it in his turban, and ate it at the time of Iftar. At that moment, he felt a light in his heart and thought that if he had eaten more, he would have benefited even more.
Later, when Hazrat Masood Ganj Shakar went to Delhi to meet his Pir Murshid, Hazrat Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, the latter immediately said, "Masood! The pomegranate seed that was in your destiny, you received it; keep it safe."
Arrival in Delhi
When he arrived in Delhi, Sultan Shamsuddin gave him a dignified welcome. This reception displeased Najmuddin Sughra, who was then Sheikh-ul-Islam. Out of envy, he gave 500 Ashrafis (gold coins) to a courtesan and persuaded her to accuse Hazrat Jalaluddin of adultery. Consequently, she accused him.
This matter reached Sultan Iltutmish, who summoned all the prominent figures and Sufi elders of Delhi, numbering more than 200. Sultan Iltutmish allowed Najmuddin Sughra to choose anyone as an arbitrator. Najmuddin Sughra appointed Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya as the arbitrator.
When Hazrat Jalaluddin Sahib entered the mosque gate, everyone stood up respectfully. Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya himself bowed at his feet and picked up his shoes in his hands. Sultan Iltutmish was astonished to see this scene and declared that the matter was settled.
Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya said, "It is obligatory upon me to make the dust of Sheikh Jalaluddin my eye-liner, because he served my Pir Murshid for seven years." Thus, he was saved from this conspiracy and accusation, and Najmuddin Sughra was disgraced.
Departure from Delhi
After staying for some time, he left Delhi, saying these words upon his departure: "When I came to this city, I was like pure gold; now I leave as silver."
Stay in Badaun
He stayed in Badaun for some time. One day, it happened that he was sitting on the threshold of his house when a person from Mawasi, carrying a basket on his head, passed by. Upon seeing him, he spontaneously fell and embraced Islam. He named him Ali.
This person had a hundred thousand Cheetals and much wealth, but he gave it all to Hazrat Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA). Hazrat Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA) distributed this wealth among the poor.
Arrival in Bengal
Leaving Badaun, he set off towards Bengal. His disciple Ali also wanted to accompany him, but he forbade him.
Upon reaching Bengal, he settled permanently and spent his last days there. He remained engaged in teaching, training, advising, and guiding people. He also built a mosque and a khanqah (Sufi lodge) there.
Teachings and Sayings of Jalaluddin Tabrizi
He used to say that the prayer of scholars is different, and the prayer of فقیر (ascetics) is different. The prayer of scholars is such that their gaze remains on the Kaaba, and they pray facing that direction. If the Kaaba is not visible, they pray facing its direction, and if they are in a place where the direction is unknown, they pray conjecturally, as seems appropriate.
He used to say that a فقیر (ascetic) does not pray until he sees the Divine Throne.
He used to say: "Whoever indulged in lust never prospered."
"And whoever devoted himself to an art became a slave to the world."
Demise of Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi
Hazrat Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi (RA) passed away in 642 Hijri. His shrine, known as "Faiz-e-Asar," is located in Deo Mahal Bandar (Sylhet), in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh. This place is a special and common pilgrimage for Sufis, where visitors benefit from his spiritual teachings and miracles.
Confussion with Shah Jalal of Sylhet
There is often considerable confusion between Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi رحمتہ اللہ علیہ and Hazrat Shah Jalal Mujarrad Yamani رحمتہ اللہ علیہ of Sylhet, as both saints share the name “Jalal.” However, they lived in different centuries, belonged to different Sufi orders, and carried distinct missions. Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi, an early 13th-century saint from Tabriz (Iran), was among the first to bring the message of Islam and Sufism to Bengal, where he founded khanqahs and taught under the Suhrawardi order. Nearly a century later, Hazrat Shah Jalal Yamani arrived from Hadramaut, Yemen, in the early 14th century and settled in Sylhet, spreading Islam through the Chishti tradition and spiritual example. Because both saints are deeply revered in the region and their names sound similar, many people mistakenly believe they were the same person. In truth, Shah Jalal of Sylhet carried forward the spiritual legacy that Sheikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi had initiated in Bengal a generation earlier, and both remain pillars of Sufi heritage in the subcontinent.