Allah Bakhsh

Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Abbasi Ghaffari

Full name	Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Abbasi Ghaffari
Born	March 10, 1910 Khanwahan, Sindh, Pakistan
Died	December 12, 1983 (6 Rabi al-Awwal 1404 AH) Allahabad, near Kandiaro, Sindh, Pakistan
Region	Islamic scholar/Sufi
School	Sunni Islam, Hanafi, Sufi, Naqshbandi
Influenced by Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari, Ahmad Sirhindi, Abu Hanifa, Pir Fazal Ali Qureshi, Pir Mitha
Influenced Sajjan Saeen

Khwaja Allah Bakhsh Ghaffari Naqshbandi (Urdu: حضرت خواجہ اللہ بخش غفاری نقشبندی) also known as Sohna Saeen (Urdu: سوہنا سائیں, Sindhi: سهڻا سائين) (A person with loving, caring and beautiful personality) is noble Naqshbandi saint in Pakistan. It has been a tradition in Islamic societies where people had been giving special titles to their benefactors, one of the example is Uthman ibn Affan Uthman ibn Affan known as Ghani.

He was born on March 10, 1910 in the small town of Khanwahan, Tehsil Kandyaro, Sindh, Pakistan. His father name was Muhammad Mithal who died when he was just 5 months old. He is the successor to the Sufi Shaikh Khwaja Pir Mitha of Rahmatpur, Larkana, Pakistan.

Religious Education

His education started from Nazra Quran and completion of primary education. Later he cleared his final in Sindhi. Since he was more interested in religious education therefore he left his home for one of the well known religious educational center Madarsah Islamia, Gairelo currently within district Larkana, Pakistan. Name of his teacher was Allama Alhajj Raza Muhammad Sahib who was very popular for his command in religious subjects. Allama Sahib later moved to Bhirya, Tehsil Kandyaro and started teaching at madersah which was under supervision of Noor Muhammad Shah. Sohna Saeen also moved to the same madersah to continue his education.

Step in Tariqat

In 1933 he met with Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz Hadhrat Fazal Ali Shah Qureshi and took oath of allegiance. This was his first step in Tariqat. During same year Khwaja Ghareeb Nazaw died and than he took oath on the hand of Khwaja Abdul Ghaffar also known as Pir Mitha. He devoted his life for 30 years, till the death of Pir Mitha in 1963, under the teachings of his sheikh. During that particular period of time he got divine bounties and gift which his sheikh received from his sheikh thus he reached a peak which none reached among the follower of Pir Mitha.

It is said that Pir Mitha asked his caliphs to select leader to follow after him (Pir Mitha). At that time most of followers did take oath of allegiance on the hand of Sohna Saeen except few. Some started their own lineage but some came back and did take the oath.

Spiritual Chain of Succession

Main article: Naqshbandi Tahiri Golden Chain

Shaikh Allah Bakhsh belongs to the Mujaddidi order of Sufism, which is the main branch of Naqshbandi Sufi tariqah. His spiritual lineage goes to the Islamic prophet Muhammad, through Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, the Mujaddid of eleventh Hijri century.

A Glimpse of His Contribution

Keeping in view the advantages towards the cause of Islam he organized everyone from scholar to illiterate. He established quite a few organizations for different segments of the community.

• Tabligh-e-Roohania wa Jamaat Islahul Muslimeen (Preaching of Spirituality and Organization for Corrections of Muslims) for all followers and caliphs.
• Jamiat-e-Ulema e Ghaffaria for religious scholars to perform religious activities.
• Jamait Tulaba Roohania Ghaffaria for students of Islamic educational institutions.
• Jamiat Asatza Rroohania for the teachers of schools, colleges and universities.
• Roohani Talaba Jamaat for the students of General & Scientific educational institutions.
• Nonihal Roohani Talaba Jamaat for kids.
• Islah-e-Noojwanan for those youngsters who were not going to any educational institution.

He also established various centers, also called as Khanqah or Dargahs in local language, across Pakistan and also overseas where weekly and monthly religious gatherings are being organized. Beside these, celebration of Islamic events such as Eid Milad-un-Nabi and URS, a day to pay tribute to someone’s efforts, of religious personalities etc. are being also organized. Some of the well known centers are following:

• Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan (1963).
• Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando Allahyar, Pakistan (1969).
• Dargah Allahabad Shareef, Kandiaro, Naushahro Feroze District, Pakistan (1973).

He also established a network of religious educational institution, known as Madaris, where every year hundreds of kids and youngsters are getting quality education. In order to increase the knowledge of the teachers, he would send them to other religious institutions across country. Following is list of key institutions which were established during his life.

• Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Allahabad Shareef, Kandiaro, Naushahro Feroze District, Pakistan.
• Madirsah Jamiya Ghaffaria, Dargah Faqeer Pur Shareef near Radhan City, District Dadu, Pakistan.
• Madirsah Jamiya Arabiya Tahiria, Dargah Tahirabad Shareef, Chambar road, District Tando Allahyar, Pakistan.
• Madirsah Jamiya Muhammadia, Shah pur Jahaniya, District Moro, Pakistan.
• Madirsah Jamiya Bakhshia, Naudero, District Larkana, Pakistan.
• Madirsah Kanzal Uloom Bakhshia, Dadu City, District Dadu, Pakistan.
• Dar-ulFuooz, Muhajir Camp, Karachi, Pakistan.

Books and Publications

Following are some of the books which he wrote:

• Dawaiya Pharsi (30 pages)
• Decent Suiting and Beard (43 pages)
• Selected Verses of Quran and their Arabic Explanation (37)
• Good Manners and Habits (70 pages)
• Obedience of Sunnah and Tasawwuf (54 pages)
• Kalam-e-Wali (Sindhi and Seraiki poetry, 141 pages)

Books Written About Him

A number of books have been published on his personality, his message and his teachings. Following are a few of them:

• Seerat Wali Kamil Vol-1 & 2 (Urdu): Written by Maulana Habib-ur-Rahman Gabol.
• Sawaneh-Hayat Sohna Saeen Vol-1 & 2 (Sindhi): Written by Bedar Morai.
• Maktoobat-e-Bakhshia : compiled by Bedar Morai, containing his letters.

His Message

He taught way of heart, way of the pure love, which helps human being to understand Allah, the only God and His creatures. So one can understand the relationship between Allah and his creation. His teachings mainly rotate around, how to purify inner soul and he also made people realize that without its purification (heart and soul) prayers to Allah is incomplete and purification can only be achieved if there is only love in the human heart. As Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi has said in his Masnavi:

"A soul which is not clothed with the inner garment of Love should be ashamed of its existence. Be drunk with Love, for love is all that exists. Where is intimacy found if not in the give and take of love? If they ask what love is, say: the sacrifice of will. If you have not left your will behind, you have no will at all.”

Sohna Saeen came into view when most part of Sind was not aware of the true meaning of Islam and in particular about Sufism. There were many misconceptions around Islam and Sufism. He created an environment where people started learning Islam from Naqshbandi order which is one of the greatest ways of Tasawuf. His message was to love and be in service to people, deserting the ego and false selves and all misinterpretation to reach Allah.

Death

It is said that an hour before his death he wokeup for Tahajud prayers, which is a very early morning prayer, at that time he was not feeling well. Thus, a doctor was called for checkup. When doctor tried to give some medication he refused by saying that "now there is no time left". He went to his bed and after few moments he died at 2:40 AM on Monday, 12 December 1983, correspondingly 6th Rabi al-Awwal 1404 AH. The funeral prayer was performed during afternoon of the same day which was led by his son Khwaja Muhammad Tahir. He was buried the same evening near the mosque.

His Successor

After the death of Khwaja Allah Bakhsh all religious scholars, caliphs (spiritual representative) and key persons of the organization unanimously agreed to nominate his son Khwaja Muhammad Tahir also known as Sajjan Saeen as successor. On that day almost every follower took Oath of Allegiance on his hand except for a few who also took Oath of Allegiance later. Some of them had reported that Khwaja Allah Bakhsh came in their dream and advised them to take Oath.