A wild forest sprang up at his feet as soon as the boat reached a stop on the side of the river, and Khanpora was founded there.
By – Rayees Ganie
The sayings of the saints encourage people to give up the world, think about the afterlife, accept God, and start preparing for their ultimate trip since Almighty Allah has blessed Sufi saints with an abundance of spiritual understanding and divinity. Similar to the incredible incendiary of Islam, Hazrat Syed Muhammad Janbaz Wali (RahmatullahiAllahi) is a spiritual treasure that Allah has bestowed upon Kashmir. He has been given a high role on earth following the Shah-I-Hamdan by Allah (SWT).
He lived their entire life taking the right course. He had sacrificed his homeland, family, ease, and important time for the sake of Islam. In order to spread the truth, justice, peace, and faith, he would periodically travel thousands of kilometres through mountains, deserts, and jungles. Because of how he carried out their material and bodily austerities and worship, as well as because of how efficient and devoted his sacrifices were in the alley of truth. Devotees used to call him Sakhi Janbaz wali because of the bravery and kindness he showed toward mankind. Janbaz was given this title in honour of his outstanding spiritual performance, and Sakhi was thought of as a kind-hearted sage.
Sakhi Janbaz Wali was born in Isfahan, Iran, in the year 735 A.H. (1329 A.D.). Your name has an Isfahan prefix, which several well-known historians have. The real name was mentioned by Hazrat Khwaja Dedamuri in his book “Muharram Razul Maroof Syed Janbaz Wali,” and Baba Dawood Khaki also used it when he published it under the name “Hazrat Syed Mohammad Rufai.” You are also well-known by the name Rufai as a result of your historical spiritual and genealogical connections to Hazrat Syed Ahmad Rufai, a person who is regarded as a spiritual master. He was the great-great-grandson of Syed Ahmad Rufai and the nephew of Dastgir Sahab, the revered saint Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani-AlhiRahma. The lineage of the Janbaz wali to Syed Ahmad Rufai and their association with the Qadriya Sufi order has been proved by Shahnama Kashmir, FatuhaatQadriyah, and Khazinat-ul-Sufiya. Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali, one of the most well-known Sufi mystics, is an Ahl al-Bayt (direct descendent) of Hazrat Imam Hassan and Hazrat Imam Hussein, who were followed by Hazrat Fatimah for 23 generations, direct descendant of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
Theology lessons were taught to Janbaz Wali by Hazrat Syed Mohammad Arabi during his formal education. Furthermore, he was a revered Islamic orator and spiritual leader. His caravan followed him into Kashmir. His burial is outside the shrine’s grounds, and locals in the nearby villages refer to him as Syed Arab Sahab. Although the protector of all Sufi orders and his absolute master was Murshid Hazrat Mir Syed Jalaluddin Mekhidoom, According to SiralArifeen, his ancestor Hazrat Syed JalaluddinSurkh descended from Mir Syed Jafar Murtaza bin Imam Naqi, and Janbaz Wali progressed through the stages of realising Allah and the truth before assuming control of the Wali (Pious). With his guidance, he became Khalifa along with his companions. His Holy Grave is located in Ouch Sharif, Multan, Pakistan.
When Janbaz wali arrived in Kashmir in 827 Hijri along the Shopian Mughal Road, Sultan Zainul Abdin, also referred to as Bad Shah, was the ruler of the region. One of Kashmir’s most revered kings was The Budd Shah, who ruled from 1420 to 1470. He revered holy saints and Fakirs, and he adhered to the teachings of both great and humble hermits. When everyone started to follow his teachings and become enlightened, he eventually left his home in Srinagar. He relocated to Baramulla in order to promote Islam further. The great Janbaz wali, who built his holy foundation here and fertilised this valley with his wonders, blessed Kashmir during his reign. The personification of humanity, Janbaz wali, advocated for both internal (Batin) and external (zahir) wisdom. He spent two years residing in Nowshehra Srinagar, which at the time served as the capital of Kashmir. The Budd Shah administration had set up housing for his disciples there.
According to Tarikh-I-Shayaq, he was accompanied by 120 Iranian saints and scholars, some of whom were authorities in Allah’s righteousness. Some of them were reprimanded imams, and others who were connected to divine love made up a different group. Nevertheless, he began fasting, praying, and preaching Islamic ideas from dawn till dark. Despite caste, creed, sex, or religion, people used to regularly gather in large numbers to study Islamic topics and theology.
Due to his popularity among the common populace, crowds would form to watch his darbar (court). When he felt that his adoration was being disturbed, he turned aside and proceeded to Baramulla. When he learned that he planned to leave this city and go to Baramulla, he organised a trip to the Jhelum River. After that, he set off on the journey with his followers and arrived at Wulur Lake. As they approached, King remarked, “This is a very dangerous area, and few people reach safer banks when the waters start furiously,” and they were able to finish the work with the help of God and his blessings.
Baramulla was a city at the time. The boat arrived in Baramulla via the waters of Sopore; the boat stopped in Janbazpora on the banks of the Jhelum. When there were no people here, this place was chosen for meditation; it seemed like an enormous meadow. After Janbaz wali, this place is referred to as Janbazpora. This location is about three kilometres from the district of Baramulla. When he first began using this place as a centre for spirituality and meditation, the King constructed a public kitchen called a langar. He employed it to feed his supporters and further the spread of his mission. The King gave his followers various villages and horse pastures in order to make money for them. He is claimed to have had the most success preaching Islam in his life in Janbazpora, where he spent twelve years proclaiming the truth. Formerly a place of worship, it has been converted into a shrine where people pray.
When people from Janbazpora learned about Islam, they travelled by Jhelum and arrived at a location that resembled a forest and was isolated. He tied his boat there and went into this jungle. Currently known as Khanpora, it is located on the Muzaffarabad National Highway, one kilometre from Baramulla town.At that time, Shaivism left a lasting impression. He presented Islam in a dignified and peaceful manner, and when non-Muslims witnessed his sincerity and awe of God, they became Muslims at his hands. As a result, Khanpora was established in the centre of a forest. He established a public kitchen with no distinctions where anyone from any sect could eat. Hindus refer to him as Anapurna since that word means “one who recommends food to people” in Sanskrit. Khwanpora got its name from the enormous deg (pot) he established for his kitchen, which is still in use today. Later, it was given the name Khanpora. He constructed one of the first mosques in Baramulla after realising the pressing need for one during his mission to Khanpora. Today, this mosque is still present at the backside of the shrine.
Because he intended to unite Muslims, he also organised the first Eid-Gah in Baramulla. His life’s work was to spread knowledge of Islam and the path to righteousness. As a result, thousands of non-Muslims converted to Islam and spent the rest of their lives working to spread the religion as a result of his spiritual insight. Through his efforts and blessings, mankind came to understand the truth and reality. He was a “Messenger of Peace” who, by winning the hearts of the downtrodden through his constant love, compassion, and service, helped to create the Sufi interpretation of Kashmiri history.
He has been carrying out his religious chores all by himself over the Khanpora. He is well-known in many places. The mountainous Janbaz Lake is one of the picturesquely beautiful locations. Another area is JanbazChinar, which is located at a mountain’s peak and is surrounded by chinars and thorny plants. The shrine of Syed’s uncle is in Drangbal, which is right across the Jhelum River. Some locals have said that he was connected to his uncle when he first arrived in Kashmir. Hazrat Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kirmani is the name of that shrine. It is also thought that Syed’s companions, who were buried in various locations throughout Baramulla, came from his lineage.
Some of them are interred within the shrine at Khanpora and outdoors. The shrine is located on the left bank of the river Jhelum along the major Baramulla-Uri highway, just outside of the town of Baramulla’s centre in the area known as Khanpora. In addition to a cemetery, the shrine is located in a sizeable open area. Several mature Chinar trees may be found within the complex itself, and the plain but heavily vegetated environment is an attractive combination.
