Our brother Green Sufi has posted a picture of Hz Qudratullah Shahab here. Shahab was well known as a civil servant and writer during his life. His autobiography Shahab Nama has become something of a modern classic. However what was not known during his life was that Shahab sahib was also an Uwaysi/Malami sufi who had kept his spiritual life hidden. The great disclosure came in the final chapter of his autobiography which was published after he had passed away. Since then there has been much debate about its truth amongst Pakistani “intellectuals”. Even his close friend Mumtaz Mufti who had been the first to draw attention to this aspect of Shahab’s personality had not been aware of the full details.
Muftiji has written a great deal about Shahab especially in the second part of his autobiography called Alakh Nagri. He observed that Shahab was a man of great intelligence with a photographic memory. Two of the dominant features of his personality were humilty and silence. He was religious but did not wear his religion on his cuff. He accepted all types of people and did not try to paint people in his own colors. He was a man of refined character who was happy to serve his fellow beings in whatever capacity he could without talking about it or making a show about it. Most importantly he never let any of his spiritual attainments surface either in words or behavior. For many Shahab sahib has been an inspiration. He has shown that even in these times a man can lead a full life “in the world” whilst remaining fully focused on the Real Purpose for which he was created.
Insha’Allah I hope to translate some passages from the last chapter of Shahab Nama which has the merit of focusing on the essential aspects of the path to God in a clear and concise manner.
insha Allah, that would be a welcome contribution to Sufi literature in English.
Shahab sahib RA was also a great reformer of Sufism, he stripped away a lot of the medieval, superstitious attitudes and false emphases from the essentials of Sufism in the Shahabnama.
Have just finished re-reading it, and I find that the book is actually shot all the way thru’ with passages of Sufi insight.
jazakAllah.
Thank you for that comment. My view too. The last chapter is deceptively simple but in fact a re-statement of essential sufism.
Thank you for an excellent and enlightening post, dear Brother
Indeed, humility and silence are two of the traits of a Sufi.
Ya Haqq!
What to say…..
He is the one who told me what I am here for. He taught me how I can find my way towards Allah…
Thank you for your comment Sadaf. Its nice to hear from people who have been inspired by the same people as oneself.
I want to know the sufi muqam of Mr. QUS
I also want to know exact location of grave of Mr. QUS
Khalid, QUS is buried in the main cemetery in Islamabad near Zero-point. As you enter from the gate you should see a small mosque ahead of you and a handful of graves in a small plot on your left. QUS’s grave is probably 2nd or 3rd grave there counting from the right.
As for his maqam: God knows best. How can we know for certain what someone’s maqam is with God? Personally though, I have no doubt that he was a very special man.
Thanks Chaiwala.
As to the Sufi Muqam of Mr. QUS I have no doubt that He was a great man as Human and Sufi, guided by Hazrat Bakhtiar ud Din Kaki (RA) and Ninety. May Allah rest His soul in Peace & Heavens AND make us to follow these great men.
May Allah Guide Us & our Leaders to the Right path to serve the Nation. Pakistan is passing through a critical phase of its life. At one hand our so called uniformed & exiled leaders are making relations with America & on other hand the people of Pakistan are Uncertain with their future. The true muslims are being killed by the American orders and the Pakistan Army is helping it out to happen.
Dear Shahzad…
To know QU’s maqam… one must go through the second half of “ALakh Nagri” by Mumtaz Mufti ji.
He is much more than a Sufi.
A Qalandar and a Scholar at the same time..for whom, Shaoor and Laashaoor are one and the same thing…
A Majzoob in 3 piece…
A true Murshad…
My Father’s Murshad e Paak says:
“Murshad jab hayaat hota hai to aisay hota hai jaisay Meyaan main Talwaar hoti hai. Or jab Murshad ka wasaal ho jaey to wo aisay ho jaata hai jesay NANGI TALWAR”
and whenever I see the statement in terms of QU’s presence and effectiveness.. I find it the best to explain his muqaam.
Allah taala un k darajaat buland farmaaey or un ka saayay say kabi mehroom na keray. Amin
Asalam o Alikum,
meray walid sahub ko baba ji ne qudrat sahub k baray mae bataya tha, baba ji aik turkish bazurg thay.unki age 160 years thy.meray walid sahub ki mulakat bohut hy ajeeb o ghareeb turhan sae un sae hui thy.meray nana jan ko khuwab mae akur baba ji ne kaha k apnay damad ko kaho k mujhay idhur udhue na dhonday, mae to uski pichli guly mae rehta hu.n wen my dad went there he was very much astonished.
my email id is
w-ahsan@hotmail.com
i wana know more about peer qudrat ullah shahab. n i wanna help my self to become a gud muslim and ashiq e Rasool……amin
Mumtaz Mufti writes in his Book “Alakh Nagri” ka dosra part:
“Wali Field Officer hota hai, Shahab ka Tauluk Secretariat say tha”. Which most comprehensively defines Mr. QUS.
Thank you SK. Of course all definitions are relative. Besides I think too much curiosity/concern about peoples maqamat is not healthy. Am reminded of something Allama said:
Woh sufi ke tha khidmat-e-Haq mein mard
akuwat mein yakta, mohabbat mein fard
ajam ke khayalat mein koh gaya!
ye salik maqamat mein koh gaya!
Thanks chaiwala for the comments.
wah! timely quote of the Allama, bhai! God bless.
The situation is getting worse to worst in Pakistan & we make prayers to have peace in this country. Untill & Unless You give Rights to the People of FATA & WANA they will not get out of struggle against You considering You as an ally to the USA.
life is passing away & we are not thinking it in the way of Allah to be led and our destinations are clearly obvious but we pay no attention. so sorrow so sorrow
May Allah guide us to His path.
Ameen……..
Salam,
How some one can get the path of sufi izum and also keep it. Tell the way to me.
Thanx
sufi path is a life style and infact it is islam.you may go through:
cyclewalabanda.blogspot.com or http://www.aulia-e-pakistan.com
Infact it is very difficult to go through with out guide.
To find a guide you may follow:
read Kashful majoob of Hazrat Data sahib(Hz Mouin ud uin Chisti said about that:only reading it will take you to your guide)
say a lot of darood pak and request Sarkar do alam
say 2 rakat ,salat ul hajat(3 times ayat ul kursi in 1st rakat and last 3 Qulls in second rakat)do it often and pray to Allah.
I belive you will get you your guide!
qudrat ullah sahab aik azeem shaksiyat thay agar koi un k bety saqib shahb ka add ya phone numbr janta hay to mujh se is numbr pe contact karay main nay hamesha shukar guzar rehna hay.shehla siddiqi
Shehla,
Thank you for your comments. I have deleted the one with your phone number as this is an open forum. As for Saqib Shahab, my understanding is that he is a private person and we should respect his privacy.
Best wishes.
I am a big fan of Qudrat Ullah Shahab Sahib. In fact he is on of my most ideal personalities. I have read Shahab Nama as well as Alakh Nagri. Alakh Nagri is the book that throws light in a much broader way on the character and hidden religious aspects of this real great person. Yes, he was a gift from Allah for Pakistan. Allah bless his soul in jannat ul firdous. Amin!
it is a thing of great patience for any saint to hide his self from common man,but hazrat Shahab did this very beautifully by covering himself by the veil of simplicity.
some thought provoking things are seen in his autobiography(Shahab Nama).
his leterary work is self examplary.
He was inspired with the englisg writer P.G Woodhouse.
May Allah bless him soule.