Hazrat Syed Waris Ali Shah was a renowned Sufi saint and a beloved figure of Allah in the Indian subcontinent. He hailed from Dewa Sharif, Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh, India. He was known for his asceticism, simple nature, and dedication to serving humanity. He spent his life in the worship of Allah, spreading messages of love and brotherhood, and uniting people's hearts. His shrine in Dewa Sharif remains a center of spiritual blessings for devotees today.
Early Life of Syed Waris Ali Shah
The ancestor of Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah, Maulvi Aala, migrated from Nishapur and settled in India. His esteemed father, Syed Qurban Ali Shah, was a highly respected elder and a wealthy chieftain. Sadly, Syed Waris Ali Shah was deprived of his father's affection while still in his mother's womb. He was born in the year 1234 Hijri after his father's passing. However, fate had other plans, and his mother also passed away soon after. Thus, his childhood was spent in an orphaned and deprived state.
His Early Education
His education began at the tender age of five. Although he had no specific guardian due to the absence of his parents, nature had illuminated his heart with the light of faith. By the blessing of this light, he astonishingly completed his worldly education at a young age, and simultaneously, the love for inner knowledge took root in his heart. He would often go to desolate places in the peaceful silence of the night and engage in the worship and devotion of Allah in solitude.
Allegiance to Syed Khadim Ali Shah
The early youth of Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah (RA) was spent in traversing the stages of spirituality and mysticism. His inner virtues were first recognized by Hazrat Syed Khadim Ali Shah (RA), who took him under his guidance and into his spiritual allegiance. Naturally, he already possessed a spiritual inclination and longing, so the company of Hazrat Khadim Ali Shah further polished his potential. As a result, he not only excelled in worldly sciences but also rapidly completed the stages of mysticism and attained the status of a perfect man. When Hazrat Syed Khadim Ali Shah passed away in 1252 Hijri, Syed Waris Ali Shah was twenty years old, but he had completed all the stages of mysticism. For this reason, he was enthroned as a spiritual successor, and his spiritual blessings continued. Only a few months after his succession, he decided to travel on the command of his spiritual guide. He distributed all his household belongings among the poor and needy and set out empty-handed in the path of Allah to spread spiritual blessings to the servants of God.
Travels and Journeys
After renouncing the world, Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah (RA) first visited the esteemed shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri (RA). He was so immersed in reverence and respect that he removed his shoes at the blessed threshold and never wore shoes again throughout his life. After that, he traveled to Jeddah by ship via Mumbai. From there, he went to Makkah Mukarramah, performed the rituals of Hajj, and stayed in Madinah Munawwarah for a considerable period. Then he visited Baitul Maqdis, Syria, Damascus, Beirut, Najaf, and Karbala, and reached Iran, where he also benefited from the spiritual atmosphere. After Iran, he went to Russia and Turkey and was present in Makkah Muazzamah again during Hajj.
His travels were not limited to pilgrimages but also extended to several African countries. During his journeys, he met great rulers; even Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan, the great ruler of the Ottoman Empire, became one of his disciples. A special feature of his travels was that he mostly traveled barefoot, only resorting to a ship for sea voyages out of necessity. This continuous travel was essentially a means of conveying the spiritual message to Allah's creation and spreading the light of divine love.
Disdain for Worldly Possessions
Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah (RA) never had an inclination towards worldly things. Although he was born into a wealthy family and inherited a large amount of wealth and property, he renounced it all. When he left home for travels, he distributed all his belongings among the poor and needy and even threw the property documents into the river. His nature had no concern for worldly disputes and the struggle for wealth. When disciples and devotees presented him with valuable gifts, he immediately distributed them among the needy. His diet was very simple; from the age of fourteen to forty, he often ate only once a day and always abstained from meat, eggs, and fish.
After a long journey, when he returned home, he found that his house was in ruins, and his land and property had been taken over by relatives. The relatives feared that he might now claim these properties, but he had already destroyed their documents, so he did not even look at them. After staying for a few days, he again embarked on a journey and became engrossed in the remembrance and worship of Allah in forests and unknown valleys.
Miracles of Syed Waris Ali Shah
When Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah (RA) first set out for Hajj Baitullah, he faced starvation on the ship. After several days of hunger, when the ship reached the middle of the sea, it suddenly stopped and could not move forward. The ship's captain, who was a Muslim, was honored with a vision of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in a dream. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "People are hungry, and you eat your fill; this is the consequence of that." The captain, panicked, invited the passengers to eat; everyone ate, but Hazrat Syed Waris Ali Shah sat in a corner, engrossed in the remembrance of Allah. The second night, the captain had the same dream again and distributed food, but the third night, the same dream came. Upon investigation, the captain found out that Hazrat Syed Waris Ali Shah was the one who was not eating on the ship. The captain immediately went to him, respectfully offered him food, and apologized. He accepted the food in the name of Allah, and at that very moment, the ship departed.
The Demise of Syed Waris Ali Shah
His health had already been deteriorating, but in his final days, he suffered from a severe cold and fever. After being ill for approximately ten days, one day he told his devotees: "We will depart tomorrow morning at four o'clock." Everyone understood from his statement that this journey was indeed the news of his departure to the afterlife. Thus, as per his instruction, the next day, Monday, 30th Muharram al-Haram 1323 Hijri, 1904 AD, at four fifteen in the morning, he departed from this mortal world forever.
When is the Urs of Syed Waris Ali Shah Celebrated?
The annual Urs of Hazrat Maulana Syed Waris Ali Shah (RA) is celebrated every year with great devotion and respect in Dewa Sharif, Barabanki district (Uttar Pradesh, India), where his blessed shrine is also a center of attraction for people. The Urs ceremony is usually held on the 30th of Muharram al-Haram, which is the date of his passing. On this occasion, thousands of devotees, scholars, and Sufis from within and outside the country attend. Gatherings for remembrance, Quran recitation, Naat recitation, and prayers are organized, and visitors express their devotion to Hazrat in their own ways. This annual gathering is a means of renewing and reminding of his teachings of divine love, service to humanity, and Sufi ethics.