Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya

Rabia'zmaa Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya (Pashto, Persian, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi:رابعہ زماں حضرت مائی صفورہ قادریہ رحہ) or Mai Sapooran (1742-1795) was a holy lady of southern Punjab and the mother of Saleh muhammad safoori. She was born in Jarala. Her modesty and piousness is described by many contemporary historians and past Nawabs. She was of Arab descent and grand daughter of Abu'ul'Fateh who was merchant by profession, Sufi by character and Qadiri by Silsila denomination. Her sufi position was accepted by Poet Ali Haider who previously had the notion that 'a woman can't become sufi'.

Ancestry

Her ancestry is somewhat controversial but her descendents believe that holy lady was the descendant of Hazrat Umar, a rightly guided caliph and companion of Muhammad. Her father's name was Rustam ali. Her grand father's name was Khawja abu-alfateh Daood Qadiri.

Birth, Early life and later life

She was born in Jarala (a place in present Punjab, Pakistan). At the time of her birth this place was under control of Mughal Empire. But after the death of Nader Shah's Turkmen Afsharid, Ahmad Shah Abdali in 1747 became the Padshah durr-i durrān (King, "pearl of the age" or "pearl of pearls"), the area went in control of Ahmad Shah Abdali when in 1749, the Mughal ruler was induced to cede Sindh, the Punjab region and the important trans Indus River to Ahmad Shah Abdali in order to save his capital from Afghan attack. This new established sultanate was Durrani Empire which started from 1747 and remained util 1826. After that Punjab went control under Sikh Empire (1799–1849) then Punjab was occupied by British Army. In contemporary period, Ravi belt is present in the Punjab province of modern state of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

In her childhood she got Religious education of Islam. She learned three languages (Punjabi, Farsi and Arabic).

Descendants

She had two offspring Saleh muhammad safoori (son), Saleha (daughter). The descendents of Saleh muhammad safoori are still living in same area where she was born, lived and died. Haji muhammad safoori was also a greater grandson of Mai Safoora. Her descendants are Sunni Muslims belonging to Hanafi School of Thought(Madhab). In case of Sufism, the either belong to Qadiri sufi order which was also the sufi order of Mai Safoora or Naqshbandia Owaisia sufi order. Those who belong to Naqshbandia Owaisia sufi order are the disciples of Ameer Muhammad Akram Awan, the current sheikh of silsila-e-Naqshbandia Owaisia. They are mostly land owners and Agriculture is their Mother Profession. Some are also in the services field.

Notable descendants

Saleh muhammad safoori

Saleh Muhammad Safoori was the son of Mai Safoora. He had written a poetic collection: Kulliyat-e-Saleh Muhammad Safoori. This book was published by Yousaf Tahir Miana. Saleh Muhammad Safoori]] was a learned man and his first writing made public by Yousaf Tahir was a piece in Persian poetry about Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah who had visited Sufi Abdul Hakeem, a senior contemporary of Ali Haider and Mai Safoora. Bulleh Shah`s visit to Hakeem was also mentioned by Khwaja Farid in Maqabeesul Majalis. That Persian Tazkara written by Saleh muhammad safoori is still in manuscript form and it requires more investment than perhaps Yousuf Tahir, the great grandson of Saleh could afford.

Kulliyat-e-Saleh Muhammad Safoori

• The book gives the complete Introduction of Mai Safoora, Saleh muhammad safoori and Ali Haider(poet)
• The book contains the poetic collection written by Saleh muhammad safoori based the Mythologies of Sassi Punnun and Sohni Mahiwal
• Some of the other chapters of the book present a clear picture of the history of the area and the style of the life of the people and the close relationship between the different religious communities settled in Sidhnai belt of River Ravi.
• Yousuf in this volume includes, the Punjabi works of his ancestor which consist of story of Sassi Punnun, story of Sohni Mahiwal, two si-harfis, two poetic tribute to Sufi Sultan Abdul Hakeem and Jati Abdal, one in memory of his mother Mai Safoora.

Haji Muhammad Safoori

• Haji Muhammad Safoori was the great-grandson of Mai Safoora.
• He had also written a poetry collection on Punjabi mythology: Sassi Punnun.
• His Poetry collection was discovered by his cousine's son Sahibzada Yousaf Tahir.
• Sahibzada Yousaf Tahir published his poetry collection.
• According to Sahibzada Yousaf Tahir, Haji muhammad safoori had fallen in love with a Nonari woman (Note:Nonari is a Punjabi ethnic tribe found in punjab province's central zones.

(See also: Nonari. The word Nonari means 'people who manufacture salt')

Mausoleum(Tomb)

Her tomb was constructed in 1795 by the order of Multan`s Afghan ruler Nawab Muzafar Khan Sadozai.

Poet Ali Haider

Not to be confused with 'Ali Haider' , a companion and cousin of Prophet Muhammad , and fourth rightly guided caliph of Sunni Islam

Main Article Poet Ali Haider

• Ali Haider (1690–1785) was a great Punjabi poet in the Golden Era of Punjabi Poetry. He at the same time was a religious Scholar and Sufi of Chishti order.
• According to many Punjabi historians like Yousaf Tahir, Poet Ali Haider had accepted the Sufi position of Mai Safoora(She was the follower of Qadiri Sufi order).

Poet Ali Haider accepted the Sufi position of Rabia-zama Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya after watching the famous incident of miracle in which she prayed Salah in Ravi river.

Basti Mai Safoora

Basti Mai Safoora (بستی مائی صفورہ) or Ma'oza Mai Safoora (موضع مائی صفورہ ) is a small village in preset day Province of Punjab, Pakistan.

Basti Mai Safoora is named after Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya.

Views and legacy

Local people

Local people consider her as a Saint and Wali-ullah and believe in her miracles, virtuousness, piousness and holiness.

Descendants

• Many Descendants believe in her miracles, virtuousness, piousness and holiness.
• Many myths have been fabricated about Her say some Descendants who only believe in her virtuousness and piousness but not miracles.

See also

• Faruqi dynasty
• Levant
• Saleh muhammad safoori
• Bilad al-Sham
• Haji muhammad safoori
• Mausoleum of Hazrat Mai Safoora Qadiriyya

References

simple:Mai Safoora