Abdullah Shah Ghazi

Abdullah Shah Ghazi (Arabic: عبد الله شاه غازى ) is considered to be patron saint of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. The real name of Abdullah Shah Ghazi was Abdulla bin Nahban and he was Muslim Umayyad general who died at Debal while trying to conquer Sindh in 711 CE.

The Sindhi pirates were raiding Arab shipping trade under the patronage of the ruler Raja Dahir. One case which came to the notice of then Governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj bin Yousef, involved the kidnapping of noble women and gifts to the Caliph Walid from the ruler of Ceylon. This event triggered a letter to the Raja Dahir and he replied that he does not have control over pirates in his kingdom. This reply resulted in the launch of a military expedition. This army was led by Abdulla bin Nahban and Badil bin Tuhfa, respectively and were both defeated at Debal. According to Dr. Daud Pota the tomb of Abdullah Shah at Clifton in Karachi is of this General, Abdulla bin Nabhan.

History

Abdullah Shah Ghazi was the great grandson of the Prophet Muhammad from the linage of Hasan Ibne Ali Ibne Abu Talib, making him a member of the Ahl al-Bayt.

The growing popularity of Abdullah Shah caused concern amongst the Ummayyad dynasty who dispatched an army to Sindh. The Ummayyads, and their successors the Abbasids, were known for their hatred of the Banu Hashim (the tribe of Prophet Muhammad and Hadrat Ali ibn Abu Talib) and mercilessly tracked and killed thousands of members of this tribe.

Abdullah Shah was on a hunt in what is now present day Karachi, when the Ummayyad army intercepted his party. Out numbered, Abdullah Shah still chose to fight rather than submit to the Umayyad army. It is because of his display of valor in the face of the Ummayyad army that Abdullah Shah was given the honorable title of "Ghazi" meaning "victorious".

His shrine in Karachi is dated back to 1400 years ago, his brother, Misry Shah, who is also buried along the coastline in Karachi, is also remembered as a saint.

Many people claim to have been granted their wishes at the shrine and it is the center for people who throng the shrine all year round. Every year marks the Urs (festival) at the shrine for 3 days (dates: 20-22 Zilhaj - 12th month of the Islamic calendar), marking the anniversery of Abdullah Shah Ghazi.

Abdullah Shah Ghazi is revered by both Sunni and Shia alike, however his blood line gives him a special status in the Shia community.