Hadrat Ala’uddin Ali Ahmed Sabir was born on the 19th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 592 A.H. at Hirat in Afghanistan. He was the great grandson of Hadrat Ghaus-al-Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani and the maternal nephew of Hadrat Baba Farididdun.
Ever since his birth, Hadrat Sabir Paak was a picture of “patience personified.” For 6 months and 40 days he did not touch his mother’s milk. In the third year, he gave up his mother’s milk. In his fourth year, when he began to speak, his first words were “La Moujuda Ill-Allah” meaning “There is nothing present but Allah.” At the age of 7, he adopted regular fasting and Tahajjud Salaah. When his mother insisted upon him not to perform such Mujahedas (spiritual striving) he simply said, “My dear mother, I can’t help it. I wish to burn myself in the devotion of Allah. I really enjoy this life.”
While Hadrat Sabir Paak was still in his mother’s womb, Sayyiduna Rasullulah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) appeared in her dream and commanded her to name the child “Ahmed.” Likewise, after some time, the fourth Caliph of Islam, Hadrat Ali, appeared in his mother’s dream and command her to name her child “Ali.” Due to both these commands, he was named Ali Ahmed.
Hadrat Sabir Paak’s mother took him to her brother, Hadrat Baba Farid, for his spiritual training. Hadrat Sabir Paak was then initiated as a mureed by Hadrat Baba Farid in the Chistiya Silsila. Hadrat Baba Farid ( put Hadrat Sabir Paak in complete charge of the Langar Khana and the distribution of the Langar. His sister told him to look after Hadrat Sabir Paak as he was very fond of fasting and that she will return after 12 years. When Hadrat Sabir Paak’s mother returned after 7 years, she was shocked to find her son a living “skeleton” and complained to her brother. When Hadrat Baba Farid asked Hadrat Sabir Paak as to the reason for him not eating from the Langar, Hadrat Sabir Paak replied: “I was instructed to distribute Langar and not to eat from it.” Hadrat Baba Farid embraced Hadrat Sabir Paak with love and bestowed upon him the title of “Sabir.” Hadrat Baba Farid once said: “The knowledge of my chest was given to Sheikh Nizaamuddin while the knowledge of my heart enriched Sheikh Ali Ahmed Sabir.”
On the 17th of Muharram, Hadrat Sabir Paak was bestowed with the Khilafat in the Chistiya Silsila by Hadrat Baba Farid. It is said that Hadrat Baba Farid went into the hujra of Hadrat Sabir Paak and found him in a very deep slumber of Muraqaba. He opened his eyes only after the Saint had loudly recited Kalima Tayyaba seven times into his right ear. Then Hadrat Baba Farid brought him out and and made him sit in a pre-arranged gathering in order to confer upon him publicly the Khilafat in the Chistiya Silsila. He put his own cap and Khirqa (cloak) upon Hadrat Sabir Paak as a mark of confirmation of this honour.
In 650 A.H. Hadrat Sabir Paak was appointed the spiritual leader of Kalyar by Hadrat Baba Farid, but the people told him that their Peer is the Quran and that their Imam was Kazi Tabrak Kufi, a descendent of Yazid. Kazi Tabrak had tore the Fatawas (religious verdicts) of Hadrat Baba Farid which was given to Hadrat Sabir Paak. When he saw his Peer-o-Murshid’s torn Fatawas he said: “I have torn Kazi Tabrak’s name from the Lowhe Mahfooz and from this day the people of Kalyar are sacked till Qiyamat.”
On Friday, the 10th of Muharram 651 A.H., when Hadrat Sabir Paakwent to the Jamia Masjid, he was not given a place and was pushed outside the mosque. When the congregation bowed down for into the Ruku position, Hadrat Sabir Paak ordered the mosque to go into Ruku and to all those within to the bottom of “Tahtus Sara” or Abyss so that they may go on sinking till Qiyamat. The mosque obeyed Hadrat Sabir Paak’s command and went into Ruku shaking the entire city and destroying all the infidels.
After the above incident, Hadrat Sabir Paak stood under a Goolar tree and holding the tree with his left hand and pointing his right hand towards the sky, he cast a furious glance over the earth which immediately flared up a mighty inferno that engulfed the entire city of Kalyar and its surrounding areas within a radius of 24 miles and also destroying everything within that radius. From 651 A.H. to 907 A.H., for more than 200 years, Kalyar remained a scene of devastation. There was a Jallali Saif-Allah (Sword of Allah’s Wrath) flying over the 24 miles radius and destroyed anything that crossed it. Not even a bird could cross that area.
This was the Jalaal (Wrath) of Hadrat Sabir Paak and the punishment to the people for refusing to obey a Divine Command. No other Wali of Allah has shown such a Jalaal as Hadrat Sabir Paak had shown in order to uphold the glory of Divine Truth and it’s noble principles.
Hadrat Sabir Paak only had one mureed, Hadrat Khwaja Shamsuddin Turk, upon whom he bestowed with Khilafat in the Chistiya Sabiri Silsila. Hadrat Sabir Paak passed away on the 13th of Rabi-ul-Awwal. The Ghusal and other the other religious rites were performed automatically without the body being touched.
When Hadrat Shamsuddin spread his musalla (prayer mat) for the Janazah Salaah, a man stopped him with a veil over his face that took the place of the Imam and performed the Janazah Salaah. When Hadrat Shamsuddin turned his face to make the “Salaams” he was wonder-struck to see the multitude of Awliya Allah, Rijaals, Abdaals, etc. who had attended the historic Janazah Namaaz of his Peer. When Hadrat Shamsuddin enquired about the Imam’s name and identity, the man pulled off the veil and said, “The Janazah of the faqeer is read by the faqeer himself.” Hadrat Shamsuddin collapsed when he saw that it was none other than Hadrat Sabir Paak himself! Khwaja Shamsuddin (alaihir rahmah) regained consciousness on the 15th of Rabi-ul-Awwal and found himself in Turkistan.
Hadrat Sabir Paak’s Mazaar Shareef was built after 200 years by Hadrat Qutbe Alam Abdul Qudoos, and ever since, people have been visiting his Mazaar Shareef in Kalyar and have been receiving his unfailing blessings to solve their problems.
BY MOHAMMED ANSIR AHMED
