Baba Shah Jamal
Encyclopedia
Baba Shah Jamal was born in 1588 CE. His father, Maulana Abdul Wahid, was also a renowned religious scholar and belonged to the family of Qazi Jamalud Din Badshahi, a famous Kashmiri
family. Shah Jamal belonged to the school of Qadiriyyah and Suhrawardiyya
and came to Lahore
in 1617 CE. He lived in Ichra at the time of Mughal
emperor Akbar the Great
. The emperor, along with the council of his advisers, introduced the Din-i-Ilahi
("Divine Faith") a syncretic religion intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire (primarily Hinduism
and Islām
; elements were also taken from Christianity
, Jainism
and Zoroastrianism
) and thereby reconcile the sectarian differences that divided his subjects. Shah Jamal fought against Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi
and brought the people back towards the actual spirit of Islam. The saint died in 1671 CE and was buried near Ichra. The area has been named Shah Jamal in his honour.
Kashmiri people
The Kashmiri people are a Dardic linguistic group living in Kashmir Valley in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the Pakistani territory of Azad Kashmir who speak the Kashmiri language...
family. Shah Jamal belonged to the school of Qadiriyyah and Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardiyya
Suhrawardy redirects here. For the East Bengali politician and Prime Minister of Pakistan, see Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy. The well-known Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi "the Executed" , the Shia founder of Illuminationism, is unconnected....
and came to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
in 1617 CE. He lived in Ichra at the time of Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
emperor Akbar the Great
Akbar the Great
Akbar , also known as Shahanshah Akbar-e-Azam or Akbar the Great , was the third Mughal Emperor. He was of Timurid descent; the son of Emperor Humayun, and the grandson of the Mughal Emperor Zaheeruddin Muhammad Babur, the ruler who founded the Mughal dynasty in India...
. The emperor, along with the council of his advisers, introduced the Din-i-Ilahi
Din-i-Ilahi
The Dīn-i Ilāhī was a syncretic religious doctrine propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalālu d-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar , who ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1556 to 1605, intending to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire, and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects...
("Divine Faith") a syncretic religion intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire (primarily Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Islām
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
; elements were also taken from Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
and Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
) and thereby reconcile the sectarian differences that divided his subjects. Shah Jamal fought against Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi
Din-i-Ilahi
The Dīn-i Ilāhī was a syncretic religious doctrine propounded by the Mughal emperor Jalālu d-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar , who ruled the Indian subcontinent from 1556 to 1605, intending to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire, and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects...
and brought the people back towards the actual spirit of Islam. The saint died in 1671 CE and was buried near Ichra. The area has been named Shah Jamal in his honour.
External links
- Shah Jamal’s urs
- Pappu Saeen beats the drum for Shah Jamal, Daily Times (May 3, 2006)
- Devotees whirl to dhol at Baba Jamal’s Urs, Khaleej Times (May 5, 2006)
- Gonga Saeen & Mithu Saeen beats the drum for Baba Shah Jamal, Photo by Yasuo Osakabe, Photographer, Yasuo Oaskabe