Lala Aragami

Lala Sahib Aragami (Ra), also known as Lala Aragami was a popular kashmiri Sufi saint, mystic poet and spiritual teacher. He was born in village Chattibanday Aragam in Bandipora district on 11 March 1923 in a poor family to Dawood Malik and Doulat, also called as Doulat Deddi.

Lala Sahib received the modern knowledge till 8th standard only and also had a well versed knowledge of Quran Shareef, Hadith and Islamic Maslaha. Lala Sahib got married to “Gasha Deddi” from the same village and had one daughter and three sons with her. Lala Sahib was a hard working person and worked as a labourer, milkman and Imam to feed his family. For some time Lala Sahib was also singing sufiyaana kalams in different Sufi Majlises/Mehfils.

Lala Sahib was very much affectionate towards Sufism from the very young age and at age of 17, met his First Peer/Murshid (Spiritual Saint Mentor) Jinab Shaban Sahib Solur (Ra) to learn about Sufism. Although Lala Sahib was in his early stages of Sufism learning’s, when Jinab Shaban Sahib Solur (Ra) passed away [Inna lillahi WA inna llayhi Raaji’oon, May Allah bless him and grant him a place in heaven]. As Lala Sahib was still lacked something for which he was in need of another Peer/Murshid (Spiritual Mentor) when one night he dreamt that he was handed over by Jinab Shaban Sahib (Ra) to Jinab Ama Sahib Kawa (Ra). Jinab Ama Sahib Kawa (Ra) was the great Sufi Saint from Chrari-Shareef and has no disciples other than Jinab Lala Sahib Aragami (Ra).

Lala Sahib had a very well versed and great knowledge of Shariah, Tareeqat, Haqeeqat and Maarifat which he shared with the believers and followers. Lala Sahib had thousands of disciples from all around the Kashmir Valley among whom some are Poets and had own disciples also. Some of disciples of Lala Sahib are; Kamal Sahib Konen Bandipora, Ma had Sahib Pushwari, Khazir Sahib Kandi Kupwara, Ghulam Mohammad Zarger Josh, Ghulam Hassan Mir Rednag Lolab, Ghulam Hassan War Ganderbal, Jalla Sahib Bagroo Batamaloo and more.

Lala Sahib died on 27 August 1988, at an approximate age of 63. A shrine has been built at his ancestral home (Chattibanday Aragam) which is being thronged and visited by his disciples, followers and pilgrims to this day especially on the eve of Lala Sahib’s Urs Mubarak which is being celebrated every year on 6 and 7 May where a Mehfil (gathering held for Sufi devotional music) in which famous kashmiri Sufi singers participates and performs is organized by Intizamiya Committee JInab Lala Sahib Aragami (Ra) {consists of members namely Abdul Majeed Malik (Son), Abdul Rashid Malik (Son), Bashir Ahmad Khan (SIL of Abdul Majeed), Mohd Maqbool Bhat Suderkote and more} along with other disciples of Lala Sahib and also made adequate arrangements for the pilgrims, expected to visit the holy shrine from different parts of the valley.

Lala Sahib Aragami had wrote thousands of poetry in his life most of which is in Kashmiri Language. Two editions of Lala Sahib’s poetry has been published so far and the second edition named “Kuliyati Lala Aragami” presented/published by Intizamiya Committee in year 2008 is the latest one.