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Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya
مزار بہاؤالدین زکریا (Punjabi); بہاؤ الدین زکریا درگاہ (Urdu)
	The shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya is one of the most important sites in Punjab
	30°12′02″N 71°28′35″E / 30.20056°N 71.47639°E
Location	Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
Type	Sufi shrine
Completion date	1262 C.E.

The Shrine of Bahauddin Zakariya (Punjabi: مزار بہاؤالدین زکریا; Urdu: بہاؤ الدین زکریا درگاہ) is a 13th-century shrine located in Multan, Punjab, Pakistan. The tomb is dedicated to the Punjabi Muslim mystic Bahauddin Zakariya, founder of the Suhrawardiyya order of Sufism. It considered to be one of the most important shrines in the wider Punjab region, and is the prototype for Multan's classical architectural style.^[1]

Background

By the 13th century, the belief that the spiritual powers of great Sufi saints were attached to their burial sites was widespread in the Muslim world,^[2] and so a shrine was built to commemorate the burial site of Bahauddin Zakariya.

In keeping with Sufi tradition in Punjab, the shrine's influence is augmented by smaller shrines spread throughout the region around Multan.^[3] These secondary shrines form a wilayat, or a "spiritual territory" of the primary shrine.^[3] As home to the primary shrine, Multan serves as the capital of Bahauddin Zakariya's wilayat.^[3] The shrine's wilayat is noted to border the spiritual territory of the Shrine of Baba Farid,^[3] based in Pakpattan.

The ancient pre-Islamic Hindu temple Prahladpuri Temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu is located adjacent to the walls of the shrine. A popular legend holds that the avatar manifested itself here and it is here that the popular Hindu festival of Holi commenced.

History

The shrine was built in 1262 before the death of Zakariya in 1268.^[4] Unusual for a dervish, the structure was paid for at the expense of Bahauddin Zakariya - highlighting his unique financial independence.^[1]

Dara Shikoh unsuccessfully attempted to win the loyalty of Multan's citizens by donating 25,000 Rupees to the shrine following his defeat by his brother at the Battle of Samugarh in 1658.^[5]

The shrine's sajjada nashin, or hereditary caretaker, Makhdoom Mahmud assisted British forces against Sikh forces during the Siege of Multan in 1848.^[6] The shrine's cupola and part of its upper tier were damaged during the siege by British cannonballs,^[1] but were repaired soon afterwards.^[7]

Architecture

The mausoleum was built as a two-tiered structure that is the prototype for early shrines throughout southern Punjab.^[1] The mausoleum's base is the shape of a square, built over an area of 51 ft 9 in (15.77 m).^[4] Above the square base is an octagonal tier, about half the height of the square,^[4] which is topped by a white hemispherical dome. A vast courtyard surrounds the shrine that covers several hundreds square metres.^[4] The walls surrounding the courtyard were built by the Durrani governor of Multan, Nawab Ali Mohammad Khan Khakwani in the 18th century.^[8]

The mausoleum is built of brick, and is the earlier building to be decorated with glazed blue tiles,^[1] which later became a typical style of Multan and south Punjab. The use of blue tiles reflects the influence of immigrant architects from Central Asia,^[9] who were active in the region in the 13th century. A spacious brick verandah with a painted wooden ceiling was added to the shrine in 1952.^[1] Large wooden doors provide entry into the inner sanctum of the shrine from the veranda.

The shrine is surrounded by hundreds of secondary graves belonging to descendants and devotees of Bahauddin Zakariya.^[1]

Traditions

Qawwali songs and trance-like dancing are performed nightly after evening prayers at the shrine.^[10] The shrine is important to members of the Barelvi sect of Islam, while Deobandis shun the shrine and practices performed there.^[11] Devotees at the shrine perform the ritual of mannat, or tying threads throughout the shrine as symbols of prayer.^[11] The shrine is popularly believed to protect boatsmen on the Indus River and Chenab River.^[12]

A class of devotees known as Qureishi, associate themselves with Zakariya and claim descent from the Quraysh tribe of the Prophet Muhammed.^[11] The Qureishi are held in high-esteem throughout south Punjab in Pakistan.^[11] One of the Qureishi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, rose to the position of Pakistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Administration

Hereditary caretakers of the shrine, known as sajjada nashin claim descent from Zakariya. Some caretakers have been held in high-esteem, and have maintained influence in politics. Shah Mehmood Qureshi, member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf political party, is Sajjada Nashin of the shrine.

Gallery

Supplicants occasionally gather at the entrance to the mausoleum
Underside of the mausoleum's dome
Devotees and pilgrims tie strings to the shrine as a supplication and request for intercession known as mannat

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Suvarova, Anna (2004). Muslim Saints of South Asia: The Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries. Routledge. ISBN 9781134370061. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ Richard M. Eaton (1984). Metcalf, Barbara Daly (ed.). Moral Conduct and Authority: The Place of Adab in South Asian Islam. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520046603. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Singh, Rishi (2015). State Formation and the Establishment of Non-Muslim Hegemony: Post-Mughal 19th-century Punjab. SAGE India. ISBN 9789351505044. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Bahauddin Zakariya's shrine continues to inspire people". Express Tribune. 17 January 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ Faruqui, Munis (2012). The Princes of the Mughal Empire, 1504–1719. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139536752.
^ Khan, Hussain Ahmad (2014). Artisans, Sufis, Shrines: Colonial Architecture in Nineteenth-Century Punjab. IB Taurus. ISBN 9781784530143. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ University of Calcutta (1891). Calcutta review. University of Calcutta. p. 251. Retrieved 10 January 2011. This section uses content copied verbatim from this source, which is public domain.
^ Durrani, Ashiq Muhammad Khān (1981). Multān Under the Afg̲h̲āns, 1752-1818. Bazme Saqafat.
^ Khan, Ahmad Nabi (2003). Islamic Architecture in South Asia: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195790658.
^ Abbas, Shemeem Burney. The Female Voice in Sufi Ritual: Devotional Practices of Pakistan and India.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Khan, Hussain Ahmed (2004). Re-Thinking Punjab: The Construction of Siraiki Identity. Research and Publication Centre, National College of Arts. ISBN 9789698623098. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
^ Rizvi, S.H.M. (1998). Muslims. B.R. Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9788176460064.