Lal Shahbaz Qalandar


Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's real name was Muhammad Uthman, who was born in 1143 in Marand, near Tabraiz, Iran. He was the direct descendent of Imam Jafar as-Sadiq.

Lal Shahbaz after completing his education left for Baghdad where he met Baba Ibrahim Karbalai and became his disciple. Baba Ibrahim was the spiritual follower of Jamal Mujjarrad (the celibate).

Lal Shahbaz received khilafat (spiritual sainthood) and other sacred gifts including a stone, which was attributed to Imam Zainul Abideen, from his Shaykh Baba Ibrahim. It is said to be the same stone that hangs on his tomb in Sehwan. Following instructions from his Shaykh, Lal Shahbaz left Baghdad for Sindh via Balkh and Khurasan. In Balkh, the childless King had asked him to pray for him so that he could have an heir to his throne. Lal Shahbaz did pray for him for the birth of his Crown prince but later told him that his would be son would actually be working for him (Lal Shahbaz). That would be Crown prince is known in history as Abu Ben Adham (Abu Ibrahim Ben Adham) who after ruling the Balkh State for some years, abdicated his throne to become a dervish.

In Khurasan Lal Shabaz is said to have meditated continuously at the tomb of Imam Ali Rida (a.k.a. Ali Reza) for forty days and nights. During his journey, he also stayed at the Panjgur valley of Makran, Baluchistan. The place later became known as Dasht-e-Shahbaz, where many Baluch tribesmen became his followers. Mughal Emperor Babur has also mentioned the place in his autobiography Tuzuk-e-Baburi.

On his way from Baluchistan to Sindh, he also stayed in present day Karachi's Manghopir area for muraqba (meditation), and it is said that Manghopir's natural warm fountain is a miracle of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. That warm fountain started to flow from beneath the hill, on which Lal Shahbaz sat for muraqba (meditation). After passing hundreds of years, that warm fountain is still flowing continuously and is said to have miraculous healing power especially for asthma patients.

In Multan, Lal Shahbaz met Bahauddin Zachariah Multani of the Suhurwardiya order, Baba Farid Ganjshakar of Chishtiya order, and Makhdoom Jahanian Surkh Bukhari. The attachment was so cordial and spiritual that their friendship became legendary. They were known as Chahar Yar (Farsi= four friends). According to some historians, the four friends visited various parts of Sindh and Punjab, in present day Pakistan.

Almost all the saints of Sindh including Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Makhdoom Bilawal, Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bukhsh Bedal were devout followers of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

The saint died in 1252 in Sehwan. 

Some Miracles of Qalandar:

One day king of the fort ordered his soldiers to bring him the man (Boodla Bahaar) who says “Ali Haq”. Once Boodla Bahaar was arrested he was presented to the king, he asked Boodla Bahaar stop saying “Ali Haq” Boodla Bahaar answered “Ali Haq” and I will not stop. King got angry and asked his soldiers to kill Boodla Bahaar and make mince of his meat and then distribute it and throw it away (according to some sayings the soldiers ate the meat).

(there is a saying that when Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar used to call Boodla Bahaar he replied “Aya Sarkar” (I am coming my Lord!)). When Boodla Bahaar didn’t return for a long time Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar inquired and found out what happened he said “Boodla Bahaar” and where ever the meat of Boodla Bahaar was it replied “Aya Sarkar” (Coming My Lord!) and the meat gathered and turned back into Boodla Bahaar. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar sent him again to preach these people and the same thing happened again. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar again performed the same miracle and after third time Qalandar said that these people of fort and their king will not listen and keep destroying lives and freedom of innocents, Hence after the third time he gave his “Mutahir” (A strong baseball bat type stick) to Boodla Bahaar and told him to turn it upside down while looking at the Fort and as Boodla Bahaar turned it all the fort was turned upside down (this is clear from the fort remains). Later on someone asked Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar why didn’t he do it himself, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar replied I was holding on to the earth as if I haven’t stopped it the whole earth would have gone  upside down.
One day a man was wandering in the desert and he saw another man (Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar) praying in the desert and two sticks a short distance apart sticking into ground in front of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. That man was dreamt about becoming a king one day and he was in these thoughts while he passed in between the two sticks buried halfway into the ground in front of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

As soon as he passed he saw a big door from which he had entered into a city, where a big crowd was gathered. He was surprised and went on to see what was happening. Someone told him that their king died without leaving any successor and hence “Huma” (A bird, which was set to fly and on whose ever head it landed was made the King. That’s why sometimes a king was referred, in old times as, Zil-e-Huma which meant “Huma’s Shadow”) was being flown to choose a king. Huma made its flight and sat on this person’s head and he was made a King.

It is said he reigned for 7 years and one day he was visiting city when he came across the same door from which he entered all those years ago. He decided to check and left the door as soon as he was out of door he again walked back in between from those two sticks. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was still sitting there and praying. (This miracle shows, according to my knowledge, two things first, Qalandar had control over Dimensions, and secondly Qalandar granted him what that person wished for.)

As the Qalandar means “Free/Free of Boundaries” it is a common known fact that Qalandar could let himself free from the power of gravitational pull and hence used to fly and that’s another reason he was called Shahbaz “Falcon”.

    Haidariam Qalandaram Mastam
Banda-e-Murtaza Ali Hastam
Peshwa-e-Tamam Rindhanam
         Keh Sag-e-Koo-e-Sher-e-Yazdanam

Translation:
I am Haidery (Relating to Haider, a second name for Imam Ali (A.S.) ibn-e Abu Talib (A.S.)), Qalandar (Free, Free of Boundaries, One who has Control on Dimensions) and Mast (Intoxicated with inspiration)
I am slave of Imam Ali Murtaza (A.S.)
I am leader of all saints
Because I am the dog, of the street, of “Allah’s Lion” (referring to Imam Ali (A.S.) ibn-e Abu Talib (A.S.))