Shah Inayat Shaheed
Shah Ïnayatullah (Sindhi: شاه عنایت اللہ ) (c. 1656 – 1718),[1] popularly known as Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed, Shah Shaheed or Shah Ïnayat of Jhok, sometimes referred as the First Social Reformer of Sindh was a 17th-century Sindhi Revolutionary from Jhok, Sindh.
Shah Inayatullah | |
|---|---|
| Title | Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed |
| Personal | |
| Born | c.1655 (AH 1665) |
| Died | 7 January 1718 (Safar 17,1130 AH) |
| Religion | Islam |
| Ethnicity | Sindhi |
| Era | Medieval |
| Region | Sindh, Mughal Empire |
| Creed | Sufism, Mystic |
| Main interest(s) | Sufi poetry, Dhikr, Social reformer |
| Notable idea(s) | Mysticism, Sindhi Sufi poetry |
| Muslim leader | |
Influenced
| |
He was executed on the order of Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar in the early eighteenth century. Sufi Inayat was accused of leading a small army of peasants (Harees) to challenge the domination of Farrukhsiyar, local feudal landlords, and Mullahs. His mantra, “Jo Kherray so Khaey” (Sindhi: جو کيڙي سو کائي ), means, "The one who plows has the foremost right on the yield." His popularity forced the feudal landlords to contact Farrukhsiyar, who ordered the ruler of northern Sindh Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro to uproot Inayat and his companions. A prolonged siege of Jhok resulted in an offer of negotiations from the Kalhora commander. Sufi Inayat accepted the offer to avoid further bloodshed, but was instead arrested and later executed in Thatto.
Early life
Shah Inayat was born in 1655/56 A.D in Miranpur. His father Makhdum Fazlullah provided his early education. He travelled the subcontinent to find a spiritual guide (murshid). He arrived in Burhanpur and became initiated into the Qadiriyya order. He travelled to Bijapur and from there to Delhi.[2] In Burhanpur, he was a disciple of Shah Abdul Malik ibn Shah Ubaidullah Jilani Qadiri. When his learning was complete, he took leave from his murshid. Before his departure, Shah Abdul Malik placed four things before his disciple: a tasbeeh, a prayer mat, a karaa, and a sword. Shah Inayat chose the sword, to which his murshid asked: 'O fakir what price will you pay for this gift?' He replied: "The price is my head."
Influence
Once back in Miranpur, Shah Inayat spent his days in meditation and prayer. His message was one of love, tolerance, and equality. Peasants left their respective lands to work for Shah Inayat as he had organized collective farming on his lands.
He established a monastery (khangah) at Miranpur and distributed his land among the landless tillers (harees). He expressed opposition to the landlords (zamindar) as well as orthodox theologians.[1] He attracted many followers among the peasantry, and organized them against the rulers, landlords and religious scholars, urging them not to pay agriculture tax to the rulers or give a share of their produce to the landlords.[3] The landlords and orthodox mullahs then aligned against him and complained to Azam Khan, governor of Thatta Sarkar that Shah Inayat was trying to overthrow the government.[1]
Battle of Jhok
Sufi Shah Inayat's rising influence among his followers in the area of lower Sindh (Thatta Sarkar) caused much discontent in Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro. The latter enjoyed political sway over Bakhar Sarkar (Northern Sindh) and Sehwan Sarkar (Central Sindh) and thus wanted to control over Thatta Sarkar which was still under the rule of Mughal Nawabs. Kalhoro, the first ruler of Kalhora dynasty, strove to consolidate his power across Sindh, but found the social movement of Sufi Shah Inayat a hurdle in realizing his ambition. Thus he, along with other influential landlords, and Pirs of Dargah succeeded in persuading the Delhi government to act against Shah Inayat and his followers for their rebellion against the Mughal Empire. A battle was launched on Farrukhsiyar's order with the combined forces of Kalhora Chief and the Mughal army of governor of Thatta.
The Battle of Jhok was a clash between the Mughal forces along with their local rulers and a band of Sufis who chose to revolt against the feudal and imperial order of the day. A siege was laid to the town of Jhok for about four months, but Shah Inayat's followers gave a stiff resistance. Shah Inayat was preparing to attack the invaders on 1 January 1718 AD when the Kalhora chief sent Shahdad Khan Talpur with the Quran to invite Shah Inayat for peace talks. However, when Shah Inayat met Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro for talks, he was arrested, brought to Thatta and presented to the Mughal governor.
Death
Shah Inayat was questioned and beheaded a few days later on 7 January 1718. During his trial, Shah Inayat appeared to long for death and therefore is known as Hallaj of Sindh and is venerated as crowned head of Sufis. His last words to his executioner were in the following verses:
"You have released me from the chains of existence, May Allah blesses you now and hereafter."
His head was taken to Delhi. On the betrayal of Mian Yaar Muhammad Kalhoro, Shah said following verse:
"ڏونگري ڏني ڏاڙھي، ڪوه ڪتي جو پڇ."
(The oppressor had promised (by touching his beard), it [the beard] was just like the tale of a dog.)
Two devotees of Shah Inayat Shaheed were present in Farrukhsiyar's court. When they saw what had happened, they blinded Farrukhsiyar with red hot irons. Chaos ensued and one of the disciples was killed while the other escaped with the head of his Shaheed Master and made it to Jhok.
A Sayyid from Thatta built a shrine, where Shah Shaheed was buried. Thousands of his followers were buried in seven mass graves each known as 'Ganj-e-Shaheed'. A total of 24,000 followers were killed during this battle, which is comparable only to the Battle of Karbala.
See also
References
- Mohan Lal (1991). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. p. 3941. ISBN 9788126012213.
- Clinton Bennett; Charles M. Ramsey, eds. (2012). South Asian Sufis: Devotion, Deviation, and Destiny. Continnuum-3PL. pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-1441151278.
- "Peasant Movement in Sindh: A Case Study of the Struggle of Shah Inayatullah". Grassroots. 49 (2). December 2015. ISSN 2521-456X.