Thameemul Ansari

Hazrat Thameemul Ansari (Rah) is a saint whose dargah (a type of shrine) is located in Kovalam (Tamil Nadu, India) which is 59 km off the city of Chennai. Hazrat Thameemul Ansari (Rah) was born in the Prophet's holy city of Medina and is said to be a Sahaba, disciple of Muhammad.

Ansari, before his death, instructed his disciples to cast his janazah (remains) into the sea when he dies. Upon his death approximately 900 years ago, his disciples fulfilled his wish. A long time after his death, his janazah reached the distant shores of Kovalam beach.

According some accounts, the Nawab of Wallajah, Nawab Muhammed Saadatullah Khan, had a dream in which Hazrat Thameemul Ansari (Rah) requested him to proceed to Kovalam where he would find a janazah floating up towards the Kovalam beach and asked him to bury it at that place. When the Nawab reached the beach, he found the janazah which he duly buried and built a dargah.

Many devotees visit the shrine of this saint for Ziarah out of the awe and deep respect they have upon the saint for he had been with and seen the Prophet Muhammad in his lifetime. Many others come requesting for intercession of the saint to God for favors as he is regarded by them to be "very powerful"1.

References

*Narayanan, Vasudha. Diglossic Hinduism: Liberation and Lentils.Journal of the American Academy of Religion. Pg 761-779 volume 68 issue 4. 2000.

External links

* [http://home.arcor.de/d-v-o/David/gallery/India/17.72.html Photo of the Daragh shrine]