On April 8th and 9th 2006, a gathering and 'Urs fatiha was organised to celebrate the life of Dr Zahurul
Hassan Sharib - the gathering in Southampton was attended by disciples and friends from Italy, Holland,
France, Pakistan, India, and Vietnam and from London as well as Southampton. The occasion was the tenth
anniversary of his passing into God's Mercy according to the solar calender. The following article (with minor
corrections) was one of two speeches made. The celebrations continued the next day in London. It was
given additional importance in as much as it not only coincided with the birthday of the Holy Prophet but it
also it marked the inauguration of the Institute of Sufi Culture.
I want to talk today in a little different way about the life and work of Zahur Mian, but before doing so,
I cannot refrain from offering our deep appreciation of the one who, as the perfect exemplar of the
pious and the Sufis alike, was reverenced and respected and loved, by Zahur Mian, as no other can
be. Today, according to certain scholars and Sufis, is his birthday – and from this you will know I
refer to none other than the holy Prophet Mohammed, may the eternal blessings of Almighty God be
ever upon him and his family and companions. I am grateful to Hazrat Inaam Hasan Saheb, Zahur
Mian’s son and successor, for this information and I will read a message he sent to me just two
days ago…
Dear Jamil Bhai
As salam Alekum
Received your mail.I am delighted to learn that you are celebrating the Urs Fateha of Zahur Mian according
to the English Calendar i.e. 8th April 2006.in this way the people who are residing there,will be benefited
from shower of blessings of Chishti saints specially Zahur Mian.
This year on 8th.April has a more importance also because 9th.Rabi Ul Awaal is also falling this date as the
9th.Rabi Ul awaal is the actual birthday of the prophet according to Nawab Gudri Shah Baba , Hazrat Amir
Khurd Kirmani the author of Sair Ul Aulia and Shibli Nomani the author of Sirat Un Nabi and very many other
sufis and scholars.
On 9th Rabi Ul Awaal (8th.April 2006) since last more than hundred years the Gudri Shahi Order is
arranging Milad un Nabi and in the morning at 5 a.m before Fajr Prayer Salam to the prophet. Fortunately
Ikram Mian [Inam's son] also born on this precious day. Please convey my best wishes and blessings to
everyone who will participate on this day specially our Siraj Bhai ,Qamar Bhai, Faiz, Bhai , Hasan Sahib,
Haseena and Gulnar of course you and your wife.
Inam Gudri Shah
It is a common and correct thing to speak in praise and with gratitude about the life of a saint such
as Zahur Mian, but there is another and more practical way to honour not only his memory but his
presence. I say his presence, for saints are martyrs in the sense that they sacrifice their life in the
way God. And as you know, about martyrs the holy Qur’an says, do not consider them as dead –
for they are living.
The sacrifice of Zahur Mian was also charity. He gave charity in the Chishti way – that is to say not
two and a half percent of worldly wealth which is prescribed by holy law, nor even giving ninety
seven and a half percent, which is the way of the developing Sufi, but one hundred percent. To give
one hundred percent means to devote your self entirely to the service of Allah, to submit to His will
with heart, mind, body, and soul. The manifestation of the service of God is the service of our fellow
man, irrespective of status, ethnic or cultural background, caste, colour, or country, creed or gender,
or race.
Those of us here who were fortunate to be disciples of Zahur Mian know without me saying, that he
devoted himself wholeheartedly to our development – he saw a potential which even we could not
see in ourselves and against all odds he demonstrated and showed how the love of God and
service to mankind could enable that potential to unfold.
Today some of us enjoyed a walk in the beautiful woods of the New Forest enjoying the sunlight and
the rich greenery of the foliage and I was reminded of a favourite quotation of Zahur Mian –
‘These woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep’.
This conveys his tireless endeavour to sacrifice his own comfort for our spiritual benefit and moral
development.
The question arises as to what were those promises – I think those were promises to his own guide
Hazrat Nawob Saheb and by implication to the great saint of the Chishti order, Hazrat Khawaja
Gharib Nawaz; and that was to spread, not so much by preaching but by practice, the basic
premise that the love of God has the power and potential to transform life from a dreary trudge
towards the grave into a virtual metaphorical dance, in which our hearts turn on the axis of God’s
Eternal Love – a Love which, by its eternal nature, remains with us beyond the temporary stopover
of our earthly life, and which turns our daily life into a pilgrimage of the heart.
Ten years ago today on the solar calendar, in a hospital in Jaipur, India, Zahur Mian finally put down
the burden of his pain racked body and passed into the Mercy of Allah. But that is not the end of the
story – and in some ways for us it is the beginning. For he bequeathed to us not only a host of
beautiful personal memories, but a mission: not a mission to proselytise, but to so live our lives that
his influence and baraka would permeate through to a world that in many respects has lost its way
in extreme and rigid views, in deteriorated human relationships, and in the loss of the real inner
quality of life which ultimately can only be derived from the Mercy (Rehman) of our Creator and
Sustainer.
Today some of us have agreed together, after years of necessary groping, to bring into actuality
what Zahur Mian had spoken of on various occasions in his life. That is to say we have agreed to
form an Institute of Sufi Culture to bring together the many separate efforts which we have made in
Italy, England, Holland and elsewhere, and hopefully will continue to make, to ensure the Chishti, the
Gudri Shahi, and dare I say it, the Zahuri way of life, becomes a potent force in the life of people,
not only in India but here in Europe, and what is often called ‘the West’. Its actual form remains the
subject of discussion and development – today we planted the seed – we ask for the blessings of
Dr Zahurul Hasan Sharib Gudri Shah Baba from beyond the veil of this life’s illusions, that the seed
may become a full and fruit bearing tree, and that it will open to many the chance to taste what Zahur
Mian called – time and time again – ‘better living’.
And finally we pray to Almighty God, Allah the Merciful, Generous, and Just, to continue to shower
his blessings on the soul of Zahur Mian and on those gathered here today and on those who were
unable to be with us physically.
Jamiluddin Morris Zahuri