Sufi Fazalulla Shah alias Shah Qalander Datta Pir were the grandson(daughter’s son) of Sufi Izzat –ulla Shah (Sujjada Nashin I) and middle son of Sufi Zahid Shah(Sujjada nashin II). They had two brothers one older Mian Ibrahim Shah( Sujjada Nashin III) and second younger Mian Noor ulla Shah. Shah Qalander Datta Pir had taken fellowship of sainthood from their father. At young age they engaged so much themselves in remembrance of Lord, that they were disgusted by worldly affairs.
When they were fourteen years old they left Miranpur and for nine months spent in isolation in old Miranpur. From there they went to Tando GulamAli and spend six months in isolation there, then from there spend forty days in Dilwari and then one month in Samara and then spend three months in Kangari . From there they came to Meta Khan’s Tando and near that on the edge of well named Kanbir sat in meditation for one year. When faqeers didn’t find Sahib karim in Miranpur they went in search and after searching found them in old Miranpur in meditation and followed him thereafter. When Sahib Karim were in meditaion on Kanbir Well, twelve years passed by without food or water or dates nor they moved from that spot, other faqeers stayed under the tree of the well. When they needed food they would earn wages from near and far and provide for themselves but stayed at the well only. After twelve and half years Shah Qalander Datta Pir stepped down from well and stayed with the faqeers near the well. Many people from far and near came to visit Datta Pir, who ever came didn’t leave empty handed. Muslim, Hindu, Manghwar, Bhile, and Rajput, all cast and creed came. Thousand people just were given faaz(zikr) and started to live at the well with them. Such fame came to their spirituality that the mulla( masjid priest) started to be jealous as people bow to murshid. Since in religion of mula besides almighty Lord, it is unacceptable to bow to any human. Considering this Yusouf Shah who was a learned person from Lar, prepared to talk to Sufis and prevent the bowing. When Yusouf Shah arrived Sahib Karim were in meditation, after a while they lifted their head and said “ dear Yusouf Shah you have come in anger”. As they uttered these words Yusouf Shah fell down and became unconscious. After some time when he became conscious he told faqeers that he want to take zikr from Sahib Karim, Sahib Karim responded ‘when Yusouf Shah comes out of his shell then he will be guided”. Yusouf Shah stayed there with faqeers for twelve months, grinding wheat and kneading dough for the fukra, then they ordered “ Yusouf Shah has overcome his majestic behavior ,so bring him now”.
When their elder brother Mian Ibrahim Shah (Sujjada Nashin III) left this mortal world, their nephew Sufi Izzat ullah Shah alias Sakhi Pir the son of younger brother Mian Noor ullah Shah were named heir to the throne as Datta Pir opted not to take the ‘Gadi’. Sufi Izzat ullah Shah were only seven years old at the time. That’s why all mureeds and faqeers of Miranpur counseled that Sahib Karim must return back from Kanbir well and stay here until Sufi Izzat ullah Shah become adult . Some selected mureeds went to Sahib Karim and expressed their concerns. After lot of persistence they agreed to come back to Miranpur and started their journey on foot. Among the mureeds were some who were not used to traveling on foot but they also walked as Sahib Karim themselves were on foot. Further in journey they saw some who had good horses , faqeers suggested to take the horses. After some convincing they agreed to ride on horse but they selected faqeer Bakhtu’s horse who was of sudha cast, his horse was feeble without saddle, only a thin quilt on back. Other rich mureeds rode on horses worth thousands. At that time Sufi Faqeer Mohammed Sadiq were also with Shah Qalander Datta Pir. Sufi Sadiq Shah recited some verses and Sanyral manghar played the ‘sarangi’.
Finally they resided in Miranpur in a hijr. There Mir Shorab Khan of Tando Jam, returning from Lar came for ziyarat in Miranpur to Shah Qalander Datta Pir. Sat down and after asked “ Qibla are you contend” Sahib Karim replied “ I am there where Mir Shadat Khan have left”, their indication was towards destination at which Sufi Sahib themselves were at that time.
Sahib Karim had thousands of disciples, among which there were two- three hundred who were at heights of spirituality and always meditated in vast grounds within Lar. All meals were of Juh roti one ounce (anno) of flour. They were called ‘Lorahi Faqeers’. Some names are given bellow:
1) Faqeer Mohd Sadiq
2) Qazi Abdullah
3) Paryo Faqeer Soomro
4) Moto Faqeer Hajam
5)Yousuf Shah
6) Bhojo Faqeer Hindu
7) Bhojo Faqeer Manghwal
8)Pai Khan Nazamani
9) Alim Khan Nazamani
10)Jafar Faqeer Nagor
11) Bhukto Faqeer Sunhyo
12) Bhai Chando Ram
13)Mohd Faqeer Jalani
14)Mahram Ali Jalani
15) Dilo Faqeer Lashari
16)Alar Faqeer Lashari Gundhawahi
17) Naurang Faqeer Jalani and many more
Mohd Sadiq Faqeer were their disciple, very devoted , intoxicated, absorbed totally in love of Lord. Its not my strength to portray Sufi Fazzalulla Shah’s super natural powers , but some are presented below:
1) During Mir Shahib’s rule , war of ‘Khurri’ was going on, which Golay Shah Masahani resolved it. This Golay Shah was high appointed service person of Mir Shahib, and he was very popular. A thought came to him, when sufi faqeers sit in meditation what do they see, they should show me that. With this thought he went around, and visited many Sufis but his problem did not resolve from any where. Finally he came to Hyderabad to Sayed Parwar Shah a disciple of Shah Qalander Datta Pir, who never stepped out of meditation. He said to Golay Shah, it could be shown right away but my murshid are in Miranpur, they only can show. Sahib Karim knew ahead, so they instructed faqeers that , “Utradi Golay Shah from royal court will come , bring him to me”. Finally Golay Shah came and was presented before Sahib Karim. They lifted their head up from meditaton and said “you cant even see faqeer , how will you be able to see Lord almighty”, Golay Shah fainted at that moment. When he recovered , he asked for forgiveness and never dared that thought again.
2) Brahma Story
3) One baroch from Korkhari with a comfortable life style, decided to be disciple, finally came and became a talib. He was ordered to get wood for the community kitchen. Two three years he obeyed the order , even his head was bruised. Once Hazrat Sahib Karim were going for ziyarat along with fukra and this korkharian was also with them. There korkharian faqeer had a thought, I left all luxuries and royalties to become talib, but haven’t gotten the path to Lord Almighty yet, and from carrying wood even head is bruised”. Suddenly he was grabbed by his arm as eagle’s grip. He was toured all heavens and brought back, and at every heaven this was said “ faqeer has all this power, but if all the bounties are given at once there will be no appreciation”.Baroch saw that he is at the same place still walking with Sahib Karim and no time had elapsed. Suddenly baroch was granted faz ( bounties).
Shah Fazal ullah Qalander’s Diet
Until they were at the Kambir well , they did not eat anything. When returned to Miranpur their all meals of one anna(16th part ) of juhu roti. In light shade under tree of amri they used to sit. To the last breath did not take any worldly pleasures. After completing their days of their life, they left this mortal world on 27th Jamad-ul-sani 1243H equivalent to 1826 A.D. This Sahib Karim are called ‘Kambir Wara’.
Shah Fazal ulla Qalander’s departure from this world was crucial for the mureeds. In Lar, Nondhari Baroch were mureeds of Pir Sahib Pir Mian Jazab ulla Shah of Khangari. In this village there were some Nondharis that were mureed of Hazrat Sufi Sahib. When a wedding host invited their close relatives who lived far away, they responded “ if Sufi Sahib’s mureed attend the wedding we will not come”. Its known that pir Sahib’s mureeds were fanatic , to them to consider following any one else was undermining. These mureeds of Pir Sahib were close relatives to the wedding hosts. They said to the nondhari sufi mureeds “ we are constrained, if you are here our closest relatives will stay apart, please forgive us and please leave”. Time of wedding was very close, Sufi Sahib’s mureeds left. The host send a messenger to the relatives. This messenger got off at ‘Aftab Dhag’, he just walked a little bit ahead he met a men who had ‘Taj’(dastar) on his head and orange long scarf around his neck and a small dagger in hand. He approached and said “if you go ay further I will kill you with this dagger”. This poor messenger went back to the wedding people and told them the incident. Since these Nondharis close relatives couldn’t come they brought the sufi faqeer mureeds and included them in the wedding. That faqeer was Sufi Shah Sahib Fazal-ulla- Shah Qalander.
