The province of Madhya Pradesh, in India, Ratlam District is an important revenue collecting area, comprised of five Tehsils (Sub-Divisions). Jaora boasts of being the largest Sub-Division of Ratlam District. Prior to the Independence of India, Jaora was a Princely State. During 1808, the Maratha Chieftain, namely, Jaswant Rao Holkar, the then Maharaja of Indore, vouchsafed to his Military General Sardar Abdul Ghafur Khan-a Pathan warrior-with his Pindari followers; the estate of Jaora, which was Jaswant Roa Holker’s domain and granted to him the title of Diler Jung, along with one thousand horsemen. The British Govt; granted the status of Nawab to Abdul Ghafur Khan. The state flourished and acquired its own individual prominence in the vicinity. With the Independence of India from the British Rule, Jaora, like other Princely States, merged with the Indian Union during 1947. The suzernity of the Nawabs of Jaora lasted for 139 years with Late Nawab Usman Ali Khan being the last Nawab singing the Instrument of Accession during 1948.
Nawab Abdul Ghafur Khan was born in Bheneesia Village of Qasba Bilaspur of the former Rampur State. His forefathers had accompanied Sher Shah Suri during his repeated conquests of India, from Afghanistan as the Pathan Warriors comprising Sher Shah Suri’s army. Abdul Ghafur Khan was educated in Rampur. Before he joined the Holkar State army with his garrison of Pathans, who later on became Pindaris for their subsistence. Abdul Ghafur Khan stayed with Late Nawab Amir Khan, who was also a Pindari Chief & the then ruler of Tonk State in Rajasthan. They were both brother in-laws.
The history of Jaora acquired its distinction after Nawab Abdul Ghafur Khan had migrated and settled down in Jaora with his family and his followers. A brief mention of Jaora is traced in the treatise written by Lord Malcum; 40 years prior to the establishment of the Nawabi State.
Eventually, numerous families from Rampur came and domiciled themselves in Jaora. Accordingly, practically all the famous dignitaries, related with medical science, poetry and prose, martial arts, education and more especially with Islamic Spiritualism settled down in Jaora. Actually, most of these stalwarts had accompanied Nawab Ghafur Khan, but later on also, before the Independence of India they came to Jaora. However, it is deeply regretted that with the partition of India all the distinguished Pathan Families who had justifiably, given the name of the GULSHAN ABAD (A Garden City) to Jaora by their social and cultural activities, have become mere names, leaving behind, hardly any trace of their existence ! The deluge of Independence swept away everything and very one from Jaora merely memories remain !
However, as one of the distinguished remnants of the illustrious background of Spiritualism, the name and memory of one Pathan Family, that had migrated from Rampur to Jaora, still flourish in Jaora. Being the staunch followers of the edicts of holy Quran and of the interpretations provided by the holy Hadis, with absolute dedication towards humility, abject temporal renunciation, understanding of Islam, devout prayers and self abnegation, had enriched Joara ! The doyen of this family was Janab Faulad Khan, who was himself a distinctly advanced spiritually person. He acquired the religious patronage of Hazrat Piriji Mohd. Yusuf Sahab and eventually became his acolyte and successor in religious affairs.
Faulad Khan engaged himself in commerce, in addition to his spiritual pursuits and by the grace of God, his business thrived. Nevertheless, he never parted with his simple and unostentatious nature and demeanour. He was fond of Qawwali (spiritual poetry set to Indian Classical Music). He met his end during one of such Qawwali functions, where out of sheer religious ecstasy, his soul departed & he left for its eternal journey!
Faulad Khan was married to ENAYAT BEGUM, the daughter of Qudratulla Khan Swati and during 1894, she gave birth to the most illustrious, most deeply idolized and most immaculate SAINT, namely HAZRAT HAFIZ GHULAM HAIDER SHAH SAHAB, also known as MACHCHAN MIYAN SAHAB, and MIYAN HUZOOR, to one and all. After gaining the knowledge of Urdu, Persian and Arabic, he went to Indore to learn English. He joined the CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, which was the portal of English knowledge of the then ‘BLUE BLOODS’. On his return to Jaora he shared his time with the aristocracy of Jaora. He was married in a wealthy family of Jaora, but his wife died and he married for the second time with the daughter of Mirza Mohammedi Baig, who was the Kamdar of Pratapgarh, in Rajasthan. There was no want in his life! Prosperity enabled him to indulge in his penchant for music, prose and poetry. (His non-de-plume was MAAIL). He was also fond of hunting (Shikar), touring and travel. However, with the passage of time he relinquished all his said temporal indulgences, on his own. Maybe it was, due to silent DIVINE GUIDANCE that this transformation took place in him!
During the mentioned period, a distinguished Spiritualist (Peer) namely Hazrat Hafiz Maulana Fazluddin Ahmed Naqshbandi Mujaddadi, belonging to Rawalpindi, Punjab, visited Jaora and within no time acquired infectious fame from his spiritual exaltation. Numerous people became Maulana Fazluddin Sahab’s mureeds (acolytes/ devotees). Maulana Sahab, like a true saint preferred to keep himself away from the worldly traits of ostentation, hypocracy, arrogance and falsehood. Hence, for observing meditation, he established himself in the nearby Qasba namely, Jhalawar in Rajasthan. He domiciled himself in an old grave yard and engaged himself in his prayers and penance. Miya Huzoor, accompanied Maulana Fazluddin Sahab & even being physically ebilitated, due to sickness, he served Maulana become voluntarily and ultimately as one of his Mureed. The benignity of Maulana Sahab was attracted and Miyan Huzoor recovered soon.
It seems that the association with Maulana Sahab completely transformed Miyan Huzoor ! During the age of 40 years he learnt the Holy Quran by heart and like a new born, devoted himself wholly to prayers (in addition to praying five times a day, regularly) Miyan Huzoor also undertook the performance of Tahajjud, Ishraq, Chaasht prayers, keeping awake at night in his occupation of Wazifas, Wirds and Ziker ! His normal dress become an ordinary shirt, a payjama, a sherwani and a saafa (turban) or a topee (head gear made of ordinary cloth). There was no ostentation about him. His diet consisted of ‘POP-CORN’, made out of Juwaar or a roti (bread/Chapati) cooked out of Juwaar. Inspite of the fact that he was suffused with all worldly advantages, he totally shunned them for his simplicity, self abnegation & piety. Just in case, if someone brought some delicacy for Miyan Huzoor, out of his devotion for him, than only to please him, after his sustained persistence, Miyan Huzoor would receive the same dish & lay it before those that had gathered at that time to eat. Invariably he may also ask his benefactor to fill sweet milk in his tea or else if it was some dish made out condiments etc. that too was poured in his tea. Then the said mixture of tea was heated and Miya Huzoor drank the same.
He was not a talkative person & always kept himself away from vulgarity. He always preferred silence and sedateness of temper. It was not Miyan Huzoor’s practice to give talisman, taweez, sacred threads (gandas) and fulfill other religious expectations, usually associated with Saints/ Peers etc. If the person suffering persevered pleadingly, than he would give a ‘KANKARI’ (small stone) to him; which always proved in being the remedy of all ills ! He was so distinguishingly courteous towards others that he would never falter or hesitate in even saluting his juniors. His religious exaltation was so marked that his face always glowed with a definite aura of brightness. The fact is that one has to be spiritually advanced himself to perceive the real depth of sanctity attached with Miya Huzoor ! He was so religiously devoted that he never missed the performance of his prayers and other additional spiritual pursuits. He adhered to SUNNAT-E-RASOOL (the mandates that have been advocated by the Holy Prophet to his followers.) He always believed the performance of prayers & to one and all, he told his Mureeds that they should never expect him to help them by praying in absolve to them from their sins,
if they failed to perform their regular prayers !
Some times, Miya Huzoor would accompany his Mureeds to the BARAODA VILLAGE, situated about 10 kilo meters from Jaora, where the CHILLA SHARIEF (an abode of prayers) of Hazrat BABA FAREED GANJ-E-SHAKAR (R.A.) is housed). Namaaz used to be performed here in the form of a JAMAAT and then the recitation of DUROOD SHARIEF was to be undertaken. He enjoyed listening to the poetry of the illustrious Poets, namely, Hazrat Jaami, Hafiz Shiraani etc. and the NAATS of other famous peots. All non-musical sounds displeased him. The entire day would be spent in listening to Shajra, Salaam, Fateha, Prayers etc. These were always the refulgent moments making the entire gathering and the occasion a memorable one ! Food used to be prepared and on learning about the arrival of Miya Huzoor, the locals, who were professing their faith in Miya Huzoor, also congregated and obviously it appeared that the quantity of food cooked would not suffice ! But miraculously, no one was left hungry and all those gathered were fully assuaged, and even extra food remained for being served. Volumes could easily be compiled in enumerating the incredible stories related with the magnanimity and beneficence of Miyan Huzoor (R.A.) towards the multitude, irrespective of any differentiation of caste, colour or creed ! If one word be chosen to describe Miya Huzoor, it could be ‘EXTRA ORDINARY’ ! He was unique, He was uninimitable, He was unusual !
Miyan Huzoor was the father of a son and two daughters. The son was named Hazrat Mohammad Sultan Khan, Gulshan Abadi, with his poetic name of ‘ADAB’. During the initial stages of the partition of the country, he had migrated to Karachi, Pakistan. Following the cultural and religious backgrounds of his forebears and practicing piety, he attained the education of Shariat-e-Islam, in particular, In addition he learnt the knowledge of the worldly subjects. He was a true devotee of the Holy Prophet and a year before his demise; he had aspired for a strong wish for meeting his end and being buried in Madina. The circumstances so worked out themselves that during 1990, Adab Sahab went on a pilgrimage of Haj, where he attained SHAHADAT in a accidental death that took place in a Tunnel that had also resulted in a tragedy of numerous Hajis including Adab Sahab. His association of mureeds in Pakistan and also in India is quite big.
A saint (Wali) – par excellence – Hazrat Ghulam Haider Shah Sahab (R.A.) is also known by the name of MIYAN HUZOOR and during his infancy his parents and elders called him MACHCHAN MIYA. The use of Miya Huzoor is the evidence of the great reverence, dignity and spiritual exaltedness that the devotees (Mureeds) and even strangers harbour for this Ascetic who ruled the depths of the hearts of humanity that came in contact with him ! The fragrance of devout allegiance is something that most of the famous Kings, Leaders, Politicians etc: aspire for but comparatively do not possess ! Miya Huzoor was GREAT in all aspects of even after being a Human !
On 15th September 1967, Friday, Miya Huzoor left this mortal world for his eternal abode, leaving the citizens of Jaora in an intolerable state of grief and pain. He was laid to rest in the spot adjoining the mosque of Ghulam Yahya Khan Sahab. Annually, the function / ceremony of URS (spiritual
gathering) is performed at the Mazar Sharief where devotees collect to pay their respective homage to their Peer. Flag hoisting starts the programme followed by the washing (Ghusl) of the Mazaar. Recitations from Quran coupled with prayers are performed. The function also include a MUSHAIRA where numerous poets gather on occasion & recite their creative works. Milad Sharief is also undertaken coupled with lectures on the teaching and message of Miyan Huzoor to the one and sundry. The Urs conclude with a DUA for the humanity’s welfare and for the benefit of all.
Hence, migrating from Rampur and being domiciled in Jaora a saintly family has today one successor still living namely Hazrat Jameel Ahmed Miya, a civil engineer by profession, Naqshbandi, Mujaddadi, He is the Sajjada Nashin, the Khalifa, the grandson (maternal) of Miya Huzoor, who has still kept the lamp of spirituality burning in Jaora ! He is very ably administering the affairs of the Khanqah (the abode of the saint) and also maintaining a well run school by the name of SAINT HAIDER SCHOOL, where subjects on religious and other temporal pursuits are taught. Jameel Miya Sahab is also very ably following the pattern of life laid down by Miya Huzoor for his successors with his simplicity, humility and piety !
Miyan Huzoor’s spiritual influence still pervades over his devotees even today. The list of his dedicated followers is so humongous, that it would be akin to bottling an ocean in a tiny container ! Miyan Huzur had his significantly soft corner for the “Blue Bloods” of the former Jaora state. He had been exceptionally kind, considerate and caring towards the one living scion of the former Pindari Nawabs of Jaora. Nawab Sarwar Ali Khan is the Grandson of the Late Nawab Iftekhar Ali-Khan.
Nawab Sarwar Ali-Khan boasts of having an enviously close association with Miyan Huzoor. He is a lawyer by profession and has also performed the Hajj Pilgrimage. Presently, he has been nominated as the hereditary Mutawalli of the Hussain Tekri Sharief Waqf, Jaora.