Thursday, May 10, 2007

Shah Jewna — Spiritual Generations

By Chaudhry Ghulam Raza - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Every year on 10th of May, people from all over the country throng a place in Jhang known as Shah Jewna to witness “Rasm-e-Chiragh” a pure spiritual ceremony in which the descendants of Shah Jewna family hoist a burning oil-lamp in the presence of a huge crowd.

The annual celebrations at shrine of Pir Shah Jewna are held to commemorate the services rendered by great Sufi to the mankind. Pir Shah Jewna was a source of spiritual strength for humanity. He had firm belief in the injunctions of Holy Quran and was emotionally attached to Holy Prophet (PBUH).

His love for Holy Prophet (PBUH) can easily be gauged from the fact that he made Surah Muzammil the centre of his life.

Researchers have failed to find another saint who attached himself so strongly to one Surah. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi says that Surah Muzammil describes the activities of a Sufi. It seems Pir Shah Jewna had imbibed the ways of living from this Surah.

He always used to wear green cloak and used to offer late-night prayers. But there is one thing to be noticed in the teachings of Pir Shah Jewna – he always rejected monasticism and never preached renunciation of this world. He urged people to work hard during daytime and earn their livelihood.

Pir Shah Jewna used to recite Holy Quran ubiquitously. Daily, on his way to River Chenab from his abode, he continuously recited verses from the Holy Quran. The rustics were impressed by his recitation abilities. Not only did the villagers listen to his beautiful recitation from Holy Quran but birds and animals used to encircle him during recitation.

Habib, son of Shah Jewna, was also a saint and fasted whole of his life. Habib is also known as Sakhi (Generous) Habib because he arranged meals at his house twice a day for the poor. He used to eat one chapatti (bread) a day.

It is a much told story that once a local chieftain, out of sheer jealously asked the rich of his area not to contribute in Langar (daily meal) of Sakhi Habib. Habib learnt of this and said that the quantity of Langar be increased and recited some verses from Holy Quran. A few days later chieftain inquired about the Langar and to his disappointment he was told that it is now prepared in a quantity twice to the original one. He felt ashamed and said it is divine Langar (meal) and it cannot be stopped.

People come to the shrine of Shah Jewna for the fulfillment of their dreams, to get cure of their diseases and some for spiritual insight only. The spiritual-heir to shrine is said to be blessed with power to cure. Current spiritual-heir, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat when prays for people also urges them to offer their prayers regularly.

(From Chaudhry Ghulam Raza’s book Al Sadeqain).

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Thursday, May 10, 2007

Shah Jewna — Spiritual Generations
By Chaudhry Ghulam Raza - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Every year on 10th of May, people from all over the country throng a place in Jhang known as Shah Jewna to witness “Rasm-e-Chiragh” a pure spiritual ceremony in which the descendants of Shah Jewna family hoist a burning oil-lamp in the presence of a huge crowd.

The annual celebrations at shrine of Pir Shah Jewna are held to commemorate the services rendered by great Sufi to the mankind. Pir Shah Jewna was a source of spiritual strength for humanity. He had firm belief in the injunctions of Holy Quran and was emotionally attached to Holy Prophet (PBUH).

His love for Holy Prophet (PBUH) can easily be gauged from the fact that he made Surah Muzammil the centre of his life.

Researchers have failed to find another saint who attached himself so strongly to one Surah. Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi says that Surah Muzammil describes the activities of a Sufi. It seems Pir Shah Jewna had imbibed the ways of living from this Surah.

He always used to wear green cloak and used to offer late-night prayers. But there is one thing to be noticed in the teachings of Pir Shah Jewna – he always rejected monasticism and never preached renunciation of this world. He urged people to work hard during daytime and earn their livelihood.

Pir Shah Jewna used to recite Holy Quran ubiquitously. Daily, on his way to River Chenab from his abode, he continuously recited verses from the Holy Quran. The rustics were impressed by his recitation abilities. Not only did the villagers listen to his beautiful recitation from Holy Quran but birds and animals used to encircle him during recitation.

Habib, son of Shah Jewna, was also a saint and fasted whole of his life. Habib is also known as Sakhi (Generous) Habib because he arranged meals at his house twice a day for the poor. He used to eat one chapatti (bread) a day.

It is a much told story that once a local chieftain, out of sheer jealously asked the rich of his area not to contribute in Langar (daily meal) of Sakhi Habib. Habib learnt of this and said that the quantity of Langar be increased and recited some verses from Holy Quran. A few days later chieftain inquired about the Langar and to his disappointment he was told that it is now prepared in a quantity twice to the original one. He felt ashamed and said it is divine Langar (meal) and it cannot be stopped.

People come to the shrine of Shah Jewna for the fulfillment of their dreams, to get cure of their diseases and some for spiritual insight only. The spiritual-heir to shrine is said to be blessed with power to cure. Current spiritual-heir, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat when prays for people also urges them to offer their prayers regularly.

(From Chaudhry Ghulam Raza’s book Al Sadeqain).

No comments: