This beautiful village is famous for the holy shrine of Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owaisi RA. This iconic mystic was born around 1900 AD at Surgan (Drawa), near Sharda in Kishan Ganga valley. According to popular belief, Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owaisi was a steadfast Sufi and was associated with the Owasi Silsila of Sufism. The Owaisi Silsila was raised to its pinnacle of popularity in Kashmir by this towering mystic.This mystic lost his father in his childhood.
As a teenager, Mohammad Amin Owasi distinguished himself as a scholar, a debater, a sufi saint, and spiritual teacher. He had a great desire to study. But his mother, and his brothers did not have any means to support him. He travelled to Punjab and admitted himself in one of the several orphanages, and also attended the open classes conducted by the men of learning in and around where he stayed. He studied the Quran, learnt Arabic and Persian, and got himself familiar with the literature of Hadith. Then he went to other Dar-Ul-Ulooms of the time and mastered the Islamic sciences at a very young age. Soon he went to Amroha, as if following his destiny, where he met a great sufi scholar Hazrat Syed Noor-u-Zaman Shah.
Soon a close bond developed between the two. Where ever his teacher went he accompanied him. He obeyed his newly found master and guide, and soon became one of his best students.
Once his teacher, Hazrat Noor u Zaman Shah brought him in the tutelage of a renowned sufi scholar in Delhi. Hardly a week had passed, Amin Sahab could no longer bear separation from his mentor, left Delhi to return Amroha and join his beloved teacher. On his way to Amroha he stayed in a mosque, and there he felt as though a flood of love burst through his heart. He was frightened. He took away his turban and tore it into pieces, and tied them to hold together his head, his chest and his arms, and in that state started walking towards the home of his beloved teacher that was miles away. He boarded the train, and reached Amroha, and came to Shah Sahab’s house. Shah Sahab heard him quietly for some time, and then raising his voice said to him:“Go away into the forest nearby and seek solitude”
Obeying the command of his teacher, Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owasi started walking towards the forest and thus began his mystical journey. As his state of separation had been affected, with that his strength to bear hunger and physical exertion too was reduced. He also suffered with a certain degree of disquiet that his teacher Shah Sahab did not even allow him to take rest after his ordeal and nor did he give him some food which he so badly needed. With such haziness of thought he entered into the forest. He found there a lonely grave, and a place fit for prayers and meditations. He somehow settled down, and started to meditate. His body was tired, with no energy left. He now felt as if his days were numbered. He remembered vaguely the saying, “Die before you die!” Suddenly he fell unconscious. A new world rose before him, or he rose in a new world. It was a world full of lights. Everything therein was bright. In this divine light he saw Hazrat Owais Qarni and he saw the Apostle of God who said to him:
“Now you have reached the end of your journey, now your “wilayah” is perfect, go to your teacher and remain with him! As he got up from unconscious state and re-entered the physical world, it was late morning of the following day. He made haste to reach Hazrat Shah Sahab who welcomed him and made him to rest and eat light food first to accustom his body to function properly.
Amin Sahab never left the side of Shah Sahab until he fell ill in 1342 H. Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owasi looked after him, nursed him, and sat beside him. One night Shah Sahab called Amin and said to him.
“Oh Kashmiri ! Take out your shirt:”
Amin Sahib took out his shirt.Then Shah Sahab took out his shirt and made Amin Sahab to wear it. Then he said to him: “From this moment your outer and inner knowledge is completed, go and spread the light that has been given to you”. His spiritual mentor left for heavenly abode on 28 Shawwal, Monday, 1342.
Hazrat Muhammad Amin Owasi RA decided to leave towards his native place, Sharda. On his way, he passed through a village. There he met a man namely Arsalan Khan who requested him to stay in his house. When he entered his house, he came across a strange sight. A dying “darvesh” was looking at the entrance of the house. As soon as he saw Amin Sahib, his face brightened. Amin Sahib sat down beside him. The “darvesh” said that he was waiting for him that he would perform his funeral prayer. Then he whispered something into Amin Sahib’s ear, and passed away. Arsalan Khan having seen this, fell on his knees and begged Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owasi to accept him as his servant and disciple. Owasi Sahib said to Arsalan Khan, “What made you think that I am one of those friends of Allah, who make disciples as they go along the way? I am just a child. But Arsalan Khan insisted and said that the “darvesh” who died had told him that unless another “darvesh” turned up in the village he would not die. Owasi Sahib took his hand into his. He gave him the oath of allegiance. Thus, he became the first disciple of Mohammad Amin Owasi.
He used to offer 300 rakats of nafil salaah in 24 hours, used to fast every day, and spend the entire night in prayers.
During one of his journeys to Kashmir, he was passing through Bahrampora, Sopore, where a man namely Abdul Karim Zargar met him, and took him to his house. He was a goldsmith. There were many people in his house. The hall was richly decorated, and there was an elevated and well-decorated bed. The host insisted that Amin Sahib should sit on that elevated seat and he would sit at his feet. After lunch Abdul Karim Zargar presented Amin Sahib an offering of some sweets and a woollen shawl, and requested to make him his servant and disciple. Amin Sahib accepted him, taught him several levels of gnosis leading ultimately to the apprehension of the “Divine Essence.” After leaving Abdul Karim, Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owasi Amin travelled to several places in the region, reunited with his family, and settled down in Kasheera, Kupwara Kashmir. He had land and was now prosperous. Free from the worries of the world he could devote himself to the cause for which he was selected by Allah.
He had many other disciples who had reached great levels of self-realization through his tutelage. Mention will be made of Akram Haigami, a well known sufi saint and poet and Dr. Mohammad Ramzan of Magarmal Bagh Srinagar, ex central director Animal Husbandry.
Moulana Mohammad Amin Owaisi was married to a virtuous lady namely Zewer Jan and had four daughters and six sons from her. The eldest son Amin-Ud-Din sahab is acting Sajadah Nasheen of the holy shrine. Billions of thanks to his youngest son, Basihir-Ud-Din Owaisi Sahib, a retired principal, for providing me valuable information. We are very fortunate to live in an era where such great personalities exist. They are very humble and nice people.
Basihir-ud-Din Owaisi narrated an interesting incident to this author. “A rich and highly educated woman namely Miss Hogon from Houston, USA had a strange dream. In her dream, she reached a village that was in the middle of the jungles and there she met a pious man. The woman went searching to India to visit the forest villages. The woman first visited Shimla. Then she arrived in Kashmir and rented a houseboat in Dal Lake owned by Abrahim Wangno. One day, seeing Miss Hogon upset, Abrahim Wangnoo asked her the reason. Miss Hogon narrated the whole dream to him. Abrahim Wangno had a friend namely Raja Sakhi Wilayat Khan – a prominent disciple of Hazrat Mohammad Amin owaisi. Mr. Wangnoo sought the help of Sakhi Wilayat Khan. Sakhi Wilayat Khan took them to Kasheera, Kupwara. As soon as Miss Hagen saw Hazrat Mohammad Amin Owaisi, she fainted. She identified, what she had in dream? Then Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Amin Owaisi instructed her to go for “chila” of 41 days at Kasheera, Kupwara. She was very impressed by the mystical powers of Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Amin Owaisi Sahib. She pleaded Hazrat Amin sahib to come to North America with her. But Amin Sahib told her that he had been instructed by his spiritual mentors to stay at Kasheera, Kupwara”.
A number of miracles are attributed to this iconic mystic which cannot be put in words. This great sufi saint left for heavenly abode on 17 March 1969 in 17 Zilhaj 1388H. ‘We are of Allah and unto Allah we return”.
He was like a star guiding so many. He may be considered as a Perfect Wali who created a large following, not just a crowd but highly disciplined and enlightened group to bring the people on the right path. Even today many true seekers are guided by his followers.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts, analysis, assumptions and perspective appearing in the article do not reflect the views of GK.