Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom

Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom, entitled Mehboob-Ul-Alam (Beloved of the world), and Sultan-Ul-Arifeen, was born in 900/1494 at Tijr in the modern district of Baramulla. His father Baba Usman, of the Chandra-Vanshi Rajput family was a hereditary landlord, a scholar and a mystic saint of high order. Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom in this manner inherited the mysticism. From the very childhood he was inclined to the company of holy men, and to the truth. Having read the Holy Qur’an in the village, he went to the seminary of Sheikh Ismail Kabroi for higher studies.
An important Suhrawardi saint, who belonged to the Sufi chain of Makhdoom Jahanian, was Saiyid Jamaluddin-din Bukhari, a disciple of Sheikh Haji Abdul Wahab Deblavi. Saiyid Jamaluddin-din Bukhari arrived in Kashmir somewhere in first half of sixteenth century & took up his residence in the Khanqah of Malik Ahmad. Saiyid Jamaluddin-din Bukhari urged his disciples to keep themselves aloof of Ulama-i-Zahiri (externalist scholars) who according to him, learnt books mechanically, and did not understand the mysteries of the spiritual path. Like many other Sufis he laid great stress on the recital of zikr and on leading a life of ascetic solitude. A large number of people were attracted to him; among them the celebrated saint Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom. Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom became his disciple & received initiation into the Suhrawardi order. Saiyid Jamaluddin-din Bukhari before his departure from Kashmir gave Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom the silsila-nama & ijazatnama, documents authorizing him to enroll disciples into the Suhrawardi order.

Saiyid Jamaluddin-din Bukhari did not stay for long in Kashmir, and left for Delhi after six months. Through his disciple Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom, however he left an indelible mark on the Sufism of Kashmir & endowed the Suhrawardi order with stability & firmness.

Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom carved out a path in Sufism, different from that of Saiyid Ali Hamadani, like the mystics of Bayazid Bitam (874) & Mansur Hallajv(913), he was transported in a state of mystical ecstasy called Shukr. Like Bayazid he cried out, “Subhani Maa’zama Sha’ni” (Glory to me! How great is my majesty!”) When asked to explain his utterance the Sheikh replied “one who makes such a statement gets identified with the Essence.” Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom considered the zikr to be medicine for the ailments of the heart. For long periods of time he recited zikr incessantly and he urged his disciples to do the same. Solitude, he explained did not mean that one should confine oneself to a cell but also that one’s heart and mind should be controlled in order to concentrate upon God. It is said that once Baba Dawood Khaki, one of his disciples who had retired to seclusion was in need of clarification of some point. He wrote his problem upon a piece of paper & left it at the window for the servant to take it to the Sheikh. On receiving Khaki’s note Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom was highly displeased with him & remarked that his doubts emerged from the lack of concentration & distraction of heart & mind.

The great sage followed the Sunni (Tradition) strictly not only in prayers but also in table manners, dress, manners, and etc. He scrupulously followed the Prophet and his love for him knew no bounds. These things helped him to reach the highest rank. Later, he had to forsake his love for isolation in order to serve the people. Baba Dawood opines that Hazrat Makhdoom did not rest during night for years but remained engaged in prayers.
His greatest contribution was that he instructed the people to forsake superstitions and Un-Islamic activities through his speech and actions. Sultan-Ul-Arifin's whole life was full of strange revelations and miracles.

Sheikh Hamza was instrumental in setting up a large number of Mosques in the Valley. He had also acquired control over his breath which he could hold pretty long. This particularly enabled him to enjoy cold baths during snows, which relieved his headaches due to long hours of devotional meditation. Sheikh Hamza died at the age of 84, in 984 A.H (1576A.C), during the reign of ‘Ali Shah Chak. Khwaja Tahir Rafiq led the Jinaza prayer.

The Sheikh was buried in his favorite resort for meditation on the slope of the Koh-i-Maran also known as Hari Parbat. Thousands of people visit the shrine to pay their respects and receive his blessings.
At the blossoming of almond trees, below the Koh-i-Maran, every year people celebrate the Urs of the saint and offer Fatiha to Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom in memory of his great work in spreading Islam by travelling to the remotest corners of the Valley.