Shrine Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi — Attraction in Karachi Division

NISBAT:

Abdullah Shah Ghazi (Arabic: عبد الله شاه غازي) (c. 720) was an eighth-century Muslim mystic and Sufi whose shrine is located in Clifton in Karachi, in Sindh province of Pakistan. His real name was Abdullah al-Ashtar. His father, Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya, was a descendant of Muhammad through his daughter Fatimah.

Abdullah Shah Ghazi (Arabic: عبد الله شاه غازي‎) (c. 720) was an eighth-century Muslim mystic and Sufi whose shrine is located in the Clifton neighbourhood of Karachi, Pakistan.

LIFE:

According to the city of Karachi's historian and architect, Suhail Lari, being the son of Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya, Abdullah Shah Ghazi was of the Ahl al-Bayt (member of the household of Muhammad). He was born in Medina in 720 and arrived in Sindh as an Arab merchant. Another noted historian, M. Daudpota, says that Ghazi came to the area from Iraq with Muhammad bin Qasim's army and took part in fighting Sindh's Hindu ruler Raja Dahir in the seventh century. Abdullah Shah Ghazi was said to have been killed by the army of Muhammad bin Qasim in a forest, with devotees returning his body to a site on the coast where he is said to have first stepped foot in Sindh. He was buried atop a hillock in Karachi along with his brother Misry Shah.

SHRINE:

The tomb is built on a high platform, though the body is kept in a subterranean crypt. The shrine is made of a high, square chamber and a green-and-white striped dome, decorated with Sindhi tilework, flags and buntings. The shrine attracts a steady stream of devotees who caress the silver railing around the burial place and drape it with garlands of flowers. The shrine is said to be particularly popular with Urdu-speakers and Punjabis. As a sign of cooperation among different faiths, some Christian and Hindu community members are occasionally seen also at the shrine.

Until the early 1950s, the shrine was a small hut on top of a sandy hill in Clifton. The shrine was built, expanded and beautified by the then custodian of the shrine, Murshid Nadir Ali Shah in the mid-1950s, as it had begun to attract devotional attention. The shrine expansion and pilgrims attracted the festivities, free meals for all and the devotional music such as Qawwali. In 1962, The Auqāf department took administrative control of the shrine. In 2011, the shrine was handed over to a private company, M/s Bahria.

Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine was attacked in 2010 by militants who detonated two suicide bombs at the shrine, killing 10 and injuring 50.

The shrine's management is still able to provide two daily meals free to...

There are two versions on who Abdullah Shah Ghazi was.

One states that Abdullah Shah Ghazi was Syed Abu Muhammad Abdullah Al Ishtar from the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad from the linage of Hasan Ibne Ali Ibne Abu Talib.[2] He was born in Medina in the year 720 and arrived in Sindh in the year 760 as a merchant and brought with him a large number of horses purchased from Kufa, Iraq. He was given a warm welcome as he belonged to a saadat family, the noblest in Islam.

A second version has been given by, Dr. Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota proposes that the real name of Abdullah Shah was General Abdulla bin Nabhan. Who along with another senior commander, Badil bin Tuhafa, had launched a military expedition against the local ruler, Raja Dahir. The assault was a response to the activities of Raja Dahir, who was seen as encouraging pirates to raid Arab shipping. The war is generally attributed to being triggered by a noble woman who wrote to the then Governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, that she had been kidnapped. Al Hajjaj then wrote a letter to the Raja Dahir who replied that he did not exercise any control over pirates in his kingdom thereby triggering a military expedition that ensued at Debal, near modern-day Karachi. Later, a second mission was entrusted to a young commander, Muhammad bin Qasim who successfully defeated the Raja and rescued the noble woman and the other Muslim prisoners.

While Muhammad bin Qasim pressed on to topple the Raja and conquer, Abdullah Shah continued to live and preach Islam in Sindh. Beside preaching, Abdullah Shah was very fond of hunting. In old times, Sindh had plenty of wildlife like ibex, urial, blue bull, gazelle and deer. In his passion for hunting, Abdullah used to go far from the base and while he had was far enough away he was intercepted by the enemy. Out-numbered, he preferred to fight rather than submitting and it is because of this display of valor he was given the title of "Ghazi" meaning...

The Shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi is a prominent religious site located in Karachi, Pakistan. It is dedicated to Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi, a revered Sufi saint who is believed to have arrived in the region during the 8th century.

Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi, also known as Abdullah Shah Ghazi, was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. According to historical accounts, he came to Sindh, the southern province of Pakistan, to spread the teachings of Islam and to engage in spiritual practices. He settled in the coastal city of Karachi, then a small fishing village.

Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi was known for his piety, wisdom, and miraculous powers. He played a significant role in the conversion of local people to Islam and was highly respected by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Legend has it that he used his supernatural abilities to protect the city from natural disasters, such as storms and floods.

The shrine dedicated to Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi was built on the hilltop where he is said to have meditated and eventually passed away. Over the centuries, the shrine has been expanded and renovated several times, becoming a significant pilgrimage site for devotees from all over the country.

Today, the shrine is visited by thousands of people, especially on Thursdays and Fridays, which are considered auspicious days for seeking blessings. The architecture of the shrine is a blend of traditional Islamic and Mughal styles, featuring a domed structure with intricate tile work and calligraphy.

The Shrine of Hazrat Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi stands as a symbol of spiritual heritage and religious harmony in Karachi, attracting both believers and curious visitors who are interested in experiencing the rich cultural and religious traditions...