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| Ziarat of Mechan Nika (مچن نيکه) , Wana, South Waziristan. |
Shaikh Michan Niazi was a medieval Pashtun saint . His real name was Muhsin and he is generally said to have been 6th in descent from Khako, son of Niazi. He was given the title of Michan (meaning handmill in Pashto) when one day, while on hunt in wilderness, he started rotating like a hand-mill in religious ecstasy. A brief account of him is given in Makhzan-i-Afghani (composed in 1612 AD) as follow ;
"Shaikh Mechan, is related, in the prime of youth, to have been addicted to hunting and sporting. One day, while hunting, the divine attraction entered him, and the breeze of the Almighty's grace breathed into him, so that he became affected with with ecstasy and contrition , and, by excessive love , was subjected to periodical rotation. In consequence of which , they called him Mechan , which in the Afghan language, signifies a 'mill' ; that is to say , he turned around like a mill. His descendants, among the Mati tribe, enjoy great authority ; and his threshold is a place of pilgrimage to high and low." [B.Dorn translation]
The descendants of Michan Baba are reputed to posses charms against Snake bites and hydrophobia. They are known to catch living snakes with no fear or danger. Michan Baba is buried at Wana in thr hills of Waziristan. Haji Murad, a descendant of Michan, is a saint of great repute, and his tomb is on the bank of Kurram near Lakki. ["A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West", Vol-3, p-101]
You have overlooked a Pushtun Saint of the Modern Era who was a Yusafzai Pathan.
ReplyDeleteHazrāt Mohammad Nabi Reżā Khan رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه was born on Monday the 25th of
Rabi ul Awwal 1284 AH at Bhainsori Sharif, PO Railway Station, District Rampur, India. When the Yusafzai Tribe migrated to Peshawar, they settled around Nawa Killay and Sheikh Janaan. Of them Nawab Mustafa Khan settled in Mustafa Abad, Rampur and many of his tribesmen migrated to Rampur. Hazrāt's Grandfather, was Hazrāt Haji Alif Khan Sahib رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه a fully accredited Sheikh and had the Robe of Permission from his Pir O Murshid, Hazrāt Shahnawaz Khan Sahib رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه, whose Shrine is located in Mauza Gogai, Tehsil Mir Ganj, District Barayli, India. Haji Alif Khan Sahib was the Grandson of Abdullah Khan Sahib.
Once Hazrāt Shah Mohammad Abdul Hayee Islamabadi Chaatgami رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه with an intention to travel across India came to Calcutta and stayed at the place of deputy Badi ul Alam Sahib. Deputy Sahib was Hazrāt’s Disciple ('Murid'). Hazrāt Nabi Reżā Khan Sahib رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه first met Hazrāt during Hazrāt’s stay at Deputy Sahib’s house, and at the first glance of Hazrāt, Hazrāt Nabi Reżā Khan Sahib’s رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه heart started burning with devotional Love of the True Lord (Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ ). Hazrāt Fakhr ul Arfeen رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه specially prayed to Allah Rabb ul Izzat سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ to give him Huzur 'Dada Mian رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه as his Disciple and the prayer was fulfilled because in the morning Huzur Qibla Mohamed Nabi Reżā Shah ('Dada Mian') رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه became the Disciple ('Murid') of Hazrāt.After some years of Ba'ait seeing the inner purity ('Pakeezgi e Nafs') devotion and practices of Hazrāt, Peer o Murshid رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه realized that his Disciple has attained complete control and purity, bestowed (gave) ‘Khilafat’ and ‘Ijazat’.
Alas, the time of this great and famous Darwaish of Hindustan, Hazrāt Khwaja
Mohammad Nabi Reżā Shah رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه to meet his Beloved came.
It had become Hazrāt’s routine that he regularly went to the place where his 'Mazar e Aqdas' is situated. He would sit in the shade of banana trees there and say that this place seems good to me. I can smell fragrance from this place, I feel like building my house here. At 'Namaz e Fajr' (first Morning Prayer), a pain arose in his body and Hazrāt was restless till 10 am in the morning, in that condition Hazrāt said that Khwaja Ajmer رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه is calling me but Hazrāt Shah Meena رحمة الله وَتَعَالَىٰ عليه didn’t allow me to go. Now I want to rest and raised his finger towards the sky, his lips were reciting 'Kalima e Taiyyaba' (Profession of Faith in Islam'). In this condition he left for his heavenly abode to meet the Eternal Love. It was Sunday, 24th Rabi ul Awwal,1329 AH, at 10:30 am, at the house of Nasir Khan Chunne Mian a rich man of Sadar, Lucknow, Hazrāt left for his heavenly abode. The bed and the room in which Hazrāt expired is safe even today as a holy memoir ('Tabarruk'). People flocked there on hearing the news of Hazrāt's demise and preparations for his burial were started. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered for 'Namaz e Janaza' (Funeral Prayers), hundred of ‘Buzurgs’ were also present, who had never been seen before. 'Nur' (Glorious Effulgence/ Light) was falling on the 'Janaza' (Bier'), the atmosphere was fragrant with musk, tears were flowing from the eyes and the hearts were restless, companions and attendants were grieving, everyone had become a symbol of grief.
From Safina tul Mujumma al Bahrain Jehangiri by Sardar Taimur Hyat