One of the most sacred shrines in Kashmir is the shrine of Makhdoom Sahib (R.A) which is located on the southern side of Hari Parbat Hill (Kohi Maran) in Srinagar city. The mosque, built in the name of the Sufi saint Makhdoom Sahib or Hazrat Sultan-Ul- Arifeen (R.A), is placed below the attractive Mughal Fort, the Hari Parbat Fort, is a structure with many pillars and thus a rare example of Mughal architectural style. Beauty of this shrine is truly enchanting and invites devotees on a large scale irrespective of their religion. This shrine is named after Hazrat Sultan, who belonged to Syed dynasty. He hailed from Tujar Shareef which lies in Kashmir. He inherited land lordship from the family but was a scholar and a mystic Sufi Muslim Saint. ‘Makhdoom’ denotes a person who dedicates his life to Islam and Quran.
Hazrat Sultan is said to have had divine powers. Personal experiences of people tell us that those who visit the shrine never return empty handed. Unbelievable recoveries have increased the faith of people and their number of visits to this place.
This double storied mosque is an invigorating structure and it’s designed with many pillars, high connecting false ceiling and conical roofs. The mosque has a high peak on top finished with descending roof sizes. This shrine also connects to the famous Dal Lake and a number of stone steps take you there. The exteriors of this mosque are a striking example of Mughal architectural design. Some parts of the shrine can be correlated to the Mughal fort on top. This shrine is open throughout the year, irrespective of the extreme weather conditions of this place.
Festival observed : Urs mubarak Sheikh Hamza (RA) in the month of safar; which is the second month in the Islamic Calender .
How To Reach The Shrine:
Hazrat Sultan Shrine is located close to Srinagar city. It lies 5 km away from Srinagar. The shrine is easily accessible to car/ taxi or even by Gondola services. Some adjoining attractions that one can visit include Hari Parbat Fort and Kathi Darwaza.
Died:
Sheikh Hamza Makhdum passed away in the Hijri year 984 during the reign of Sultan Ali Shah Kochak. His colleague Tahir Rafique said his funeral prayer. He was buried near Hari Parbat ( Koh-i- Maran). Thousands of people visit the shrine to pay their respects and receive his blessings.
Reference:
http://kashmirgateway.com/sufism-shrines/index.html
http://www.discoveredindia.com/jammu-and-kashmir/attractions/mosques/makhdoom-sahib.htm
