Shahbaz Qalander

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Shahbaz Qalandar (1177-1274) CE was a Sufi in the regions of South Asia that now lie in Sindh province of India now in Pakistan since 1947. Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was born as Seyyed Usman Marandi in Marand (near the city of Tabriz) in Azerbaijan in the twelfth century and he is also known as Shaikh Usman Marandi. His annual Urs [birthday] celebrations are held on the 18 Sha'aban - the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Usman Shah migrated to Sindh and settled in Sehwan and was buried there.

He was born about one and a one half century after Jhoole Lal. Becasue Jhoole Lal preached peace between Hindus and Muslims which was also done by Shahbaz Qalander, he was seen by people as Jhoole Lal's second incarnation. "Lal Shahbaz" of Sehwan as he is also popularly known as, became the first Sufi saint of Sindh. His shrine stands today where India's King Vikramaditya is believed to have worshiped Shiva in 50 B.C. Lal Shabaz is also believed to have preached love and tolerance in Sindh. Many Sindhi Sufi Saints were born in Sindh.

It is believed that Lal Shabaz Qalandar was so named after Jhoole Lal becasue Hindus beleived that he is just an incarnation of Jhoole Lal. Some muslims who dont want to associate him with Jhoola Lal also believe that he is named lal because of the red robe (lal also means red in Sindhi language) he wore all his life, and that he turned into a falcon to pick up his friend Shaikh Farid Shakar Ganj from the gallows.

The famous Qawwali, Muslim religious songs, 'Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo ...' is in honour of Shahbaz Qalander.

This famous mystic often quoted the teachings of Maulana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. A book detailing his life is called "Solomon's Ring" by Gul Hasan.

Shahbaz Qalander's shrine is located in Sehwan, Sindh, where thousands of pilgrims travel every year to honor the great Sufi philosopher, poet and Qalander. He knew many languages including Persian, Turkish, Arabic Sindhi and Sanskrit.

Shahbaz Qalander's famous Persian verses showing his love and honour for Hadrat Ali are engraved on his shrine:

Haidrium Qalandram Mastam

Banda e Murtaza Ali Hastam

Peshwae tamam Rindanam

Ke Sag e Koo e Sher e Yazdanam!

Translation:

I am Haidery (Relating to Haider, a second name for Ali ibne Abu Talib), Qalandar and Mast (Intoxicated with inspiration)

I am slave of Ali Murtaza

I am leader of all saints

Because I am a dog of lane of "Allah's Lion" (referring to Ali ibne Abu Talib)

Findout more at jhoolelal.com under biography section