Hadrat Sher-E-Rabbani Mian Sher Muhammad Sharaqpuri Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anho

[Eccedentesiast]

Mian Sher Muhammad Sharaqpuri was born in 1282 AH., or 1865 AD., in Sharaqpur (District Sheikhupura, Punjab). His father's name was Mian Azizuddin. He memorised Holy Quran in his early age. Later, he joined routine schooling. His uncle Mian Hamiduddin taught him Persian.

 

He acquired spiritual lessons from Baba Amiruddin and achieved completion under his tutelary. Baba Amiruddin had granted him permission of making his own disciples. About his stature, his spiritual guide used to say: "If on the Day of Jugdment, Exalted Allah asked me what you have brought from the world, I will put forward Mian Sher Muhammad Sharaqpuri."

 

Events before his Birth

 

According to some tradition attributed to Mian Ghulam Muhammad, hadrat Khawaja Amir-ud-Din had a vision that a saint will be born in Sharqpur Sharif who will be known as Sher-e-Rabbani. After this vision Hadrat Khawaja Sahib started visiting Sharaqpur every year in a bid to find the divine creature and take him under the shroud of Silsila-e-Naqshbandia. In an other prediction as by Mr. Karam Shah of Hafizabad in his letter, he visited Sharqpur Sharif and saw an old man in Daira (circle) outside Sharqpur Sharif and asked for how long that peculiar condition was prevalent upon Hadrat Mian Sahib? The old man replied even before birth. Mr. Karam Shah exclaimed! How it was possible? He (old man) replied that a Faqir frequently visited the residential area (Mohalla) taking long breaths, as if trying to smell coming to this Mohallah; who would be dear to God. Asked in whose home? The Faqir pointed towards the house of Mian Aziz-ud-Din (father of Mian Sahib).

 

According to compiler of this book the event quoted as prediction for the of a great personality has precedence among the earlier saints (auliya) e.g. Hadrat Khawaja Bayazid Bistami once came to the town of Khirqan prior to the birth of Hadrat Khawaja Abul Hassan Khirqani and while standing somewhere took long breaths and went into some kind of meditation (jazb). Seeing this, companions amazingly stated that this village happened to be inhabited by thieves and decoits. What are you looking for? Hadrat Khawaja replied that in this village of thieves, a boy will take birth whose light (noor) I can see between the earth and heavens. He will be born a hundred years after me.

 

The second example (quoted by the compiler) is that of a prediction related to the birth of Hadrat Abdul Qadir Jillani. According to this prediction, Hadrat Sheikh Musa Soharwardi stated in Mukashifat-e-Aulia that once on Friday Harzat Junaid Bughdadi had a vision about the birth of Hadrat Abdul Qadir Jillani (i.e. five hundred years earlier).

 

 

Birth of Hadrat Mian Sahib

 

He was born in 1282 A.H and named as Sher Muhammad seven days after his birth. According to Sufi Muhammad Ibrahim, once Hadrat Mian Sahib himself told that living his childhood his ancestor hadrat Molana Maulvi Ghulam Rasool Sahib had let him ###### his tongue. And during first or second visit of the compiler to Sharqpur, the news had gained currency among the elders and aged that Hadrat Mian Sahib was a born saint (wali). Names of all are hard to recall, only one or two can be quoted. One is Mian Imam-ud-Din Monga (late) and the second one is hakeem Imam-ud-Din Sahib.

 

Childhood and Early Education

 

Early childhood of Hadrat Mian Sahib was similar to that of Hadrat Junaid Bughdadi. When sent to school (Maktab) he disliked the company of kids and preferred to sit alone. In just three or four years, he completed of Holy Quran and other religions books and acquired a pretty writing skill. As stated by Hakeem Ali Muhammad of Baloke quoting his father Hakeem Pir Bakhsh, every chapter (Sipara) given to Hadrat Mian Sahib by on its pages, Upon reprimand by the grandfather, Mian Sahib had no reply but to keep silent and cry.

 

 

 

Modesty

 

Mian Imam-ud-Din Goldsmith of Sharqpur states that in childhood Mian Sahib used to cover his head and face while walking through the streets of the town and women usually used to say that a girl had been born among them veiling his face. Aqility Mian Sahib was very fond of horse-riding in his childhood. Every mare he rode was easily tamed. People of Sharqpur used to describe Mian Sahib as a mentor of the mares. Once a wedding party came to Sharqpur with a lot ofmares. The party came to know that a boy lived in Sharqpur who had the capability to tame the most wild and unruly mares. Skills of Mian Sahib were tried with such a mare. The mare behaved like a slave and went wherever he commanded to go. The whole wedding party was greatly amased.

 

Similarly, once Mian Sahib visited Chunian. A man brought a mare for his return journey. That mare was very rebellious. Mian Sahib touched the mare with hands and mounted on her. She completely obeyed the master. Passion for true love On returning from hajj, one Haji Jalal-ud-Din, Zaildar of the village Jora Ahl-e-Hadith narrated his accounts of the pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Hadrat Muhammad Sallalaho Alyhe Wasalam in a tone exclusive to spiritually perfect and devoted persons. Mian Sahib himself happened to be in kusur. He went to Jora along with the companions and met Haji Jalal-ud-Din. Hearing the conditions and state from Haji Jalal, which he had gone through, Mian Sahib went into such a state as he himself had experienced every thing. Haji Jala showed great respect and hospitality for Mian Sahib who stayed in his house for a night. Haji Jalal told her husband that quantity of butter was the same as usual, though milk was less, Afterwards Haji Jalal narrated that event on many occasions. Once he also went to Sharqpur Sharif where he got immense spiritual satisfaction. He stated that this place was not like other Khanqas.

 

What is important to be noted is that the true love frees a human being from the criticism of comrades and strangers. Haji Jalal, firstly ignorant and secondly an Ahl-e-Hadith, and above all the amount of love of Mian Sahib that he himself went to see him. For Majnu (a legendary lover) kissed the dog’s feet, the public said, “What have you done?” he replied, this dog had walked through the lane of Laila (translation from Persian verse).

 

Demis (Wisaal Sharif)

 

Mian Sher Muhammad was strict observer and preacher of Quran and the Sunnah. He led a very simple life and blessed numerous people. He passed away on Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1347 AH., or August 20, 1928 and was laid to rest in Sharaqpur. He had numerous deputies out of whom four were prominent Syed Muhammad Ismail Karamanwale, Syed Noor-ul-Hassan Bukhari, Sahibzada Muhammad Umer and Mian Rehmat Ali. His younger brother Mian Ghulamullah Sharaqpuri succeeded him on his seat.