Bhali Yaar Aayein Tuhnjoon Lakh Bhalayoon By Ustad Allah Bachayo | 24th URS Mubarak Sain Aijaz Shah

Hazrat pir syed Muhiuddin Shah Aijaz Shah Rashdi (1929-1998) Syed Muhiuddin Shah alias Ijaz Shah Rashdhi Bin Syed Ihsanullah Shah Rashidi, was born in 1929 in village Fazulalah Shah, old Pir Jhando near New Saeedabad, Sindh. He was born of the second wife of Syed Ihsanullah Shah; and hence was the half brother of Badi Uddin Shah Rashidi. Like his brother and other family members he acquired his earlier education in Madrasah Dar-ul-Irshad in his village under the guidance of his family members and his brother Pir Muhbullah Rashidi. He started with nazirah of Quran, which he completed in eight years. After the death of his father when he was eleven years old his education was interrupted. From then onward he never learned through formal schooling. His ascetism, which was apparent even in childhood, made his father call him Bahl˚l, after the celebrated dervish. He continued to learn Arabic and Persian on his own and read books on various themes including religious books and Quran. He acquired Zikar and talqÓn from his father and became a Q‚dirÓ Sufi. At the age of 16, he started to visit different places and during this time some of his friends inspired him towards Sufi music. He began to take an interest in poetry and composed poems at a young age. He also took interest in understanding the Hinduism. He read Hindi poetry and Adi Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the Shia ideology. He observed m‚tam during the Islamic month of Muharram, which is remembered among the Muslims as month of martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandsons. He grew in a totally way from mainstream Ahle Hadhis ideas. His religious ideas initially created problems in his family and among the Ahle Hadhis community of Saeedabad and others areas of Sindh. His inclination towards the Sufi music was highly debated. His interest in Shia ideology was another problem, while the growing influence of his ideas among the wider public was also noticed by Ahle Hadhis. Later, his brother Badi Uddin Shah Rashidi insisted on tolerance towards his religious ideas. Thus he was never threatened nor was his faith questioned by the Ahle Hadhis community. Badi Uddin Shah Rashidi declared that his brother's religious ideas were not against Islamic teaching. Interestingly, Badi Uddin Shah Rashidi conducted in Saeedabad city a three-day conference on Islam and Ijaz Shah Rashdhi conducted a three-day Sufi music programme in the same city at the same time. His poetic compendium Sukhan-e-Ajaz (2003) was published after his death. Ijaz Shah's poetry got immense popular recognition. He wrote his poems in Sindhi, Urdu, Seraiki, and Hindi. He used simple diction to express his ideas. His eight hundred pages poetic compendium is a collection of some of his poems that were preserved by his disciples during his life time. In his poetry he presents the Sufi philosophy of Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi's (1165-1240) concept "Wahdat-ul-Wujood", literally means the unity of creation. He was highly influenced by Ibn Arabi's concept of unity of creation. He used Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Shia terms to explain his ideas in his poetry similar other Sufi poets of Sindh i.e. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai (1689-1752), and also by Sachal Sarmat (1739-1829) etc. In his poetry he sued names of Hindu god, goddess, and name of founder of Sikh religion and describes that they are assimilated within him and they all are part of his self.I am Guru Gurnath,Nanak is my name (My name is Nanak, every path and way is mine)Guru Nanak (1469-1539) founded Sikh religion through a syncretic unification of Hinduism, Islam and local ideas. Guru means teacher or mentor. Gurnath means teacher or mentor of high caliber. Rashidi connects himself with Nanak, as Nanak had deviated from Hinduism and created his own way, he explains that like Nanak he can also decide for himself. In doing this he is criticizing here Ahle Hadhis that there is no one way for salvation. Therefore, he says that I can choose my own way and I can be my own guide. He also praised Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and a central figure within Shia ideology. He says in one poem: "Those who don't love Maula Ali, their faith of affirmation of God cannot be trusted". According to Ijaz Shah, the recitation of the Kalma is not enough to be Muslim but one needs to believe in Ali's ideology. He endorsed this belief which is part of the Shia ideology.merely by reciting Kalma I had not become Muslim and in second line it is usually urged that one need to do right actions after having faith in God". Ijaz Shah started a new Sufi tradition in contemporary times. He began to influence a large number of people in Sindh. This tradition created new space in Saeedabad and subsequently in Sindh in terms of shifting Ahle Hadhis identity into Sufism. The periodical gathering of Sufi musicians as astana-e-Ijaz has provided space to wider population for listing Sufi songs. His poetry has also been recited at the urs, annual celebration of Sufi saints shrines.