Syed Muhammad Ibrahim Daud Bandagi Kirmani (2018)

Date of Visit 06-03-2018

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Syed Muhammad Ibrahim alias Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani was a famous 16th-century saint of the Qadiri order. His grandfather and great grandfather migrated from Kirman to Sitpur, Muzzafargarh in circa 1410. Muhammad Ibrahim was born in Sitpur in 1513 AD (919 AH). After receiving formal religious instruction in Dipalpur and Lahore at the hands of eminent scholars of the time, Shaikh Daud decided to relinquish all worldly and material pursuits and chose for himself the path of esotericism. Shaikh Daud, in the quest of spiritual enlightenment, spent years in extreme worship, complete solitude, and absolute self-denial. Although he obtained sainthood through the "Owaisi tariqat", that is, without recourse to any outward teacher or murshid, Shaikh Daud later joined the Qadiri Order at the hands of Shaikh Hamid Gillani Uchi at Satghara. After formally becoming a member of the influential Qadiri Silsilah, Daud Bandagi Kirmani established his khankah in the remote village of Shergarh (in present-day District Okara) which subsequently became the center of the Qadiri order and started to attract multitudes of people from all walks of life. Daud Bandagi Kirmani through his sanctity, egalitarianism, and compassion converted a large number of Jat and Rajput Hindu tribes of Punjab to Islam. Some of the tribes converted either fully or partially by the saint are, the Chatta's, Cheema's, Virk's, Bajwa's, Tarrar's, Sahi's, Wattoo's, Majhiana's, etc.

Some of the famous disciples of the saint were, Shah Abul Muali Kirmani Qadiri (his nephew and son-in-law), Mullah Abdul Qadir Badaoni (the famous historian during the time of Akbar), Shaikh Jalaluddin alias Behlol Dehlavi (the maternal ancestor of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad), Shaikh Abu Ishaq Muzangi, etc.

Shaikh Daud Bandagi Kirmani passed away in 1575 AD (982 AH). His mausoleum in Shergarh is a splendid example of early Mughal architecture. The interior of the mausoleum is decorated with intricate Naqashi – fresco. On each of the eight interior panels is a Persian couplet by Shah Abul Muali extolling the virtues of the saint. The annual Urs celebration of the Shaikh is held in Shergarh from the 13th to the 17th of March. Tens of thousands of devotees from all parts of the country throng in Shergarh to pay homage to the saint who brought their forefathers into the fold of Islam more than four centuries ago.