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Shah Amanat

Shāh Amānat Khān (Bengali: শাহ আমানত খাঁন, Persian: شاه أمانت خان; died 1773), was an 18th-century Sufi Muslim figure in South Asia. He is regarded as one of the most prominent saints of Chittagong, in eastern Bengal (now Bangladesh).[1]

Shah Amanat
Personal life
Born
Shah Amanat Khan

Bihar Sharif, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died1773 CE
Laldighi, Islamabad, Chittagong District, Bengal Presidency, British India
Resting placeQuddus Serrahul Aziz Darbar Sharif
SpouseUmm Anwar
ChildrenShahzada Muhammad Anwar Khan
Other namesAmanot Shah
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni
SchoolHanafi
TariqaNaqshbandi
Muslim leader
Based inChittagong
Period in office18th century
SuccessorShahzada Muhammad Anwar Khan
Disciple ofAbdur Rahim Rizvi
Disciples

Life

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Shah Amanat was born into a Muslim family of Iraqi Arab origin. His forefathers migrated from Baghdad to Bihar; they were descendants of Abdul Qadir Gilani.[2] His father's name was Niyamat. Shah Amanat later migrated to Bengal.[3][4] In Murshidabad, Shah Amanat became a disciple of and pledged bay'ah to a Kashmiri Sufi scholar by the name of Shah Abdur Rahim Rizvi,[5] for a number of years.[6] Shah Abdur Rahim was the grandson of Khwaja Masum, the son of Ahmad Sirhindi.[7] Shah Amanat travelled across the subcontinent to learn about Islam in places such as Delhi, Lucknow and Kashmir.[8]

After 12 years, Shah Abdur Rahim advised Shah Amanat to migrate to Chittagong. Shah Amanat built himself a small cottage in a forest area in Chittagong to live in. He managed to get a job as a punkah wallah at the Chittagong Judge Court, and preferred a simple lifestyle without attracting much attention. He would attend prayers at Nawab Yasin Khan's Qadam Mubarak mosque. It was from this career at the court that he was nicknamed Meah Saheb.[3] However, after people realised his true identity, Shah Amanat began dedicating more of his public life towards religious propagation.[9] Shah Amanat established Khanqah Amanatiya to preach Islam and Naqshbandiya, Mujaddedia, Qadirriyya, Chishtiya and Madariya Sufi order.[10] Khanqah Amanatiya later became a Sufi hub in Bangladesh. One of his first disciple was Shah Sufi Muhammad Dayem of Dayera Sharif, Azimpur who later left for Azimabad.[11] He had numerous disciples spread across the Indian Subcontinent.

Death and legacy

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In 1773, at the age of 125 years this great Sufi mystic passed away leaving the Khanqah Amanatiya and his estate in the hands of his only son Shahzada Muhammad Anwar Khan and was buried near his Khanqah in a mazar (mausoleum). It is currently in the city of Chittagong; east of the Laldighi, Kotwali.[10][12]

Successors' history

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Shah Amanat Khan left his Sufi dynasty to his only son Anwar Khan, also known as Shahzada Muhammad Anwar Khan.[13] The successor of the Sufi dynasty is known as Sajjada Nashin, who serves the people.

Shahzada Alef Khan, only son of Shahzada Muhammad Anwar Khan, died before his father, leaving behind his son Shahzada Aliyar Khan.[14] Shahzada Aliyar Khan became the Sajjada Nashin of the Dargah Sharif and Khanqah Amanatiya after his grand father Shahzada Anwar Khan died shortly after 1840 AD.[15] He continued the legacy and managed Khanqah Amanatiya. The amount of free meals also known as Langar was increased at his time as people visiting the Dargah Sharif increased considerably.[16] This system of providing Langar was established by Shah Sufi Amanat Khan in his Khanqah and continued till date by the Sajjada Nashins.[17]

Shahzada Fazr Ali Khan, only son of Shahzada Aliyar Khan succeeded his father as the Sajjada Nashin of Dargah Sharif and Khanqah Amanatiya. After living a glorious Sufi life he died in 1890 AD leaving the Khanqah and Dargah Sharif on his son Shahzada Sher Ali Khan's responsibility.[10]

Shahzada Sher Ali Khan had four sons: Shahzada Fouzul Kabir Khan (1914–1982), Shahzada Fouzul Azim Khan (1920–1978), Shahzada Fouzul Karim Khan (1923–1962), and Shahzada Fouzul Ali Khan (1935–2009).[14] In 1942, when Shahzada Sher Ali Khan died, his four sons became the Sajjada Nashin of Dargah Sharif and Khanqah Amanatiya, and continued to serve the people and the path of Sufism.[15] The sons of the four brothers became the Sajjada Nashin, the dynasty is currently under the supervision of them - the seventh generation of Shah Sufi Amanat Khan.

Influence

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Shah Sufi Amanat Khan's Dargah has been a place where people from different religions interconnect. His influence among the Bangladeshi people can be seen through the village songs, Sufi qawalis, and shops, institutions after his name. His name can also be seen on the body of many vehicles in Chittagong. Most of the Sufi lineages of Bangladesh comes from him.[18]

The famous Shah Amanat Bridge was named after him.[19] In Halishahar, there is a school named after Shah Amanat called the Shah Amanat Shishu Niketan. There is also a power and energy company called Shah Amanat Prakritik Gas Co. Ltd. owned by S. Alam Group of Industries.[20] Shah Amanat International Airport was also named after him.[21]

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References

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  1. ^ Harder, Hans (4 March 2011). "Introduction". Sufism and Saint Veneration in Contemporary Bangladesh: The Maijbhandaris of Chittagong. Routledge. p. 13.
  2. ^ Ahmed, Rashid. বাংলাদেশের সুফী সাধক [Bangladesh's Sufi saints] (in Bengali). p. 25.
  3. ^ a b Muhammad Ghulam Mustafa Mullah (1990). Hazrat Khwaja Sharaf Uddin Chishti ebong Mayar Proshashon o Proshongika Kichhu Kotha (in Bengali). Mubeshah Prakashani. p. 27.
  4. ^ Abdul Haq Choudhury (1994). Bondor Shohor Chottogram: Ekti Oitihashik Porjalochona (in Bengali). Bangla Academy.
  5. ^ Ainun Zariah. B. pp. 18–21.
  6. ^ Muhammad Obaid al-Haq. বাংলাদেশের পীর আউলিয়াগণ [Bangladesh's pirs and awliya] (in Bengali). p. 94.
  7. ^ Chakrabarti, Kunal; Chakrabarti, Shubhra (22 August 2013). Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis. Scarecrow Press. p. 428.
  8. ^ Huda, Muhammad Shehabul (1985). The Saints And Shrines Of Chittagong (Thesis). Chittagong: University of Chittagong. pp. 107–131.
  9. ^ Abdul Karim (2012). "Shah Amanat (R)". In Sirajul Islam; Miah, Sajahan; Khanam, Mahfuza; Ahmed, Sabbir (eds.). Banglapedia: the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Online ed.). Dhaka, Bangladesh: Banglapedia Trust, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. ISBN 984-32-0576-6. OCLC 52727562. OL 30677644M. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b c Abdullah, Amanuddin (2011). Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R.) (in Bengali). [BolakaProkashon]. pp. 20–21.
  11. ^ Sayed Mahmudul Hasan (1987). Muslim Monuments of Bangladesh. Islamic Foundation Bangladesh. p. 43.
  12. ^ Abdullah, Amanuddin (2011). Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R.) (in Bengali). [BolakaProkashon]. pp. 24–25.
  13. ^ Abdullah, Amanuddin (2011). Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) (in Bengali). [BolakaProkashon]. p. 25.
  14. ^ a b Abdullah, Amanuddin (2022). Purano Shei Diner Kotha (in Bengali). [AbirProkashon]. pp. 14–15.
  15. ^ a b Abdullah, Amanuddin (2022). Purono Shei Diner Kotha (in Bengali). [AbirProkashon]. p. 14.
  16. ^ Abdullah, Amanuddin (2011). Purono Shei Diner Kotha (in Bengali). [AbirProkashon]. p. 14.
  17. ^ Abdullah, Amanuddin (2011). Hazrat Shah Sufi Amanat Khan (R) (in Bengali). [BolakaProkashon]. p. 22.
  18. ^ Jouhar, Mubarak Karim (1990). Bharoter Sufi (in Bengali) (2nd ed.). [KorunaProkashoni]. p. 192.
  19. ^ "Shah Amanat Bridge", Wikipedia, 19 October 2023, retrieved 9 December 2023
  20. ^ "Change of guards raises eyebrows". The Daily Star. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Chattagram, an orphaned city". The Daily Star. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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