Amir-e-Kabir, Ali Sa'ani, Shāh Hamdān, Mir Syed Ali Hamdani-RA
He was born in a noble family in Hamadan, Iran. He traced his patrimony through his father, Syed Shahab Uddin, to Imam Zain-ul-Abedein and finally to Hazrat Ali. His mother, Syeda Fatimah, with seventeen links, reached the Prophet. Mir Syed Ali bin Shahab-ud-Din Hamdani (1314-1384) was a Sūfī of the Kubrāwī order, a poet and a prominent Shafi'i Muslim scholar. He was born on Monday, 12th Rajab 714 AH (1314 A.C) in Hamadan and died in 786 AH/1384 in Kunar and was buried in Khatlan(Kolab, Tajikistan). He was very influential in spreading Islam in Kashmir and has had a major hand in shaping the culture of the Kashmir valley. He was also known as "Shāh Hamdān" ("King of Hamadhān", Iran) and as Amīr-i Kabīr ("the Great Commander"). He wrote several short works on spirituality and Sufism. He was immortalised by poets like Allama Iqbal. His name was Ali, and titles were Amir-e-Kabir, Ali Sa'ani, Shah-e-Hamadan and Mir. Besides them, the Chroniclers had mentioned several other titles: Qutub-e-Zaman, Sheikh-e-Salikan-e-Jehan, Qutub-Ul-Aktab, Moih-Ul-Ambiya-o-Ul-Mursaleen, Afzal-Ul-Muhaq-e-qeen-o-Akmal-Ul-Mudaq-e-qeen, Al-Sheiyookh-Ul-Kamil, Akmal-Ul-Muhaqqiq-Al-Hamadni etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Sayyid_Ali_Hamadani
Shah Hamadan, besides being a mystic saint and an effective preacher, was a man of letters and wrote about a hundred pamphlets in Arabic and Persian: Zakhirat-ul-Maluk, a famous book, has been translated in many languages. Some other famous works are:
1- Risalah Nooriyah, is a tract on contemplation
2- Risalah Maktubaat, contains Amir-i-Kabir’s letters
3- Dur Mu’rifati Surat wa Sirat-i-Insaan, discusses the bodily and moral features of man
4- Dur Haqaa’iki Tawbah, deals with the real nature of penitence
5- Hallil Nususi allal Fusus, is a commentary on Ibn-ul-‘Arabi’s Fusus-ul-Hikam
6- Sharhi Qasidah Khamriyah Fariziyah, is a commentary on the wine-qasidah of ‘Umar ibn ul-Fariz who died in 786 A.H. =1385 A.C.
7- Risalatul Istalahaat, is a treatise on Sufic terms and expressions
8- ‘ilmul Qiyafah or Risalah-i qiyafah is an essay on physiognomy. A copy of this exists in the United States National Library of Medicine.
9- Dah Qa’idah gives ten rules of contemplative life
10- Kitabul Mawdah Fil Qurba, puts together traditions on affection among relatives
11- Kitabus Sab’ina Fi Fadha’il Amiril Mu’minin, gives the seventy virtues of Hazrat ‘Ali.
12- Arba’ina Amiriyah, is forty traditions on man’s future life
13- Rawdhtul Firdaws, is an extract of a larger work entitled
14- Manazilus Saaliqin, is on Sufi-ism
15- Awraad-ul-Fatehah, gives a conception of the unity of God and His attributes
16- Chehl Asraar (Forty Secrets), is a collection of forty poems in praise of Allah and The Prophet
17- Zakhirat-ul-Muluk, a treatise on political ethics and the rules of good government http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir_Sayyid_Ali_Hamadani (Dr. Syed Abdur-Rehman Hamdani in his book “Salar-e-Ajjam” has listed 68 Books and 23 Pamphlets by Shah-e-Hamdan)
Above lower-right is Gunbad at Hamdani cemetary at Bilawal, distrcit Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The Maqbra of Shah-e-Hamdan –ra is at Kolab, Tajikistan (top-right). Lower-left and Below is the currency bill of Tajikistan of Ten Somoni. It has on the front artist’s drawn picture of Shah-e-Hamdan –ra and on the back is the picture of his Maqbra or tomb with brief introduction. He was on his way to Kolab after his third visit to Kashmir. He died at Kinar (Pakhali, district Hazara, Pakistan) on 6th Zil-hajjah 786 Hijri. His follower, according to his will took his body to Kolab, Tajikistan.
Shah-e-Hamdan-RA is Najeeb-ur-Tarrafain Syed (Noble on both sides of the family. (18 generations from Syedna Imam Hussain -ra through his father Syed Meer Shab-bud-Deen Al-Hamdani and 17 generations from Imam Hassan -ra through his mother Syeda Fatima. –Ref. to Salar-e-Ajam by Dr. Syed Abdur-Rehman Hamdani.)
Shah-e-Hamdan Syed Ali Hamdani -ra, was born in 714 AH (1314 A.C) at Hamadan and died in 786 AH/1384 in Hazara (Pakhli ) and his body was laid to rest at Kolab, Tajikistan.
Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah Mohudis-e-Dihlwi-ra acknowledged his contribution to Islam by writing “Tufa-tul-Ameer” about Ameer-e-Kabir Syed Ali Hamdani –RA.
The Muslim poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal acknowledged his contribution in spreading Islam especially in Kashmir.
His family had ruled Hamadan (presently City/Province of Iran) for two centuries until the Mongol conqueror Tamoor Gorgani (Tamerlan 1336-1405 AD) forced Shah-e-Hamdan Ameer-e-Kabir Syed Ali Hamdani –ra to leave Hamadan. He came to Kashmir three times, during these travels people of Kashmir, Ludakh, Bultistan, Askerdu, Shager and Tabit Kochak accepted Islam through him.
Some of the centers of Islamic learning established by Hazrat Ameer-e-Kabir -ra himself and his son – Syed Mohammad Hamdani are still serving their purpose. Governments in both parts of Kashmir have named educational institutions after Shah-e-Hamdan.
Syed Ahmed Kabir Hamdani (Shah Sultan Bilavil), descendent of Shah-e-Hamdan Ameer-e-Kabir Syed Ali Hamdani –RA traveled through northern parts of India in the early Mughal period and settled at Danda Shah Bilavil, Tehsil Talagang District Chakwal. Hamdani Sadaat or descendents of Shah-e-Hamdan –ra are living in many parts of Pakistan. Hamdani Sadaat have established educational institution in various parts of Pakistan. Annual conferences are held in Pakistan, Kashmir and Tajikistan to spread the message of Hazrat Ameer-e-Kabir -ra.
