Pir Syed Muhammad Channan Shah Nuri

Pir Syed Muhammad Channan Shah Nuri, a scholar, saint and preacher of Islam in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent, was the founder of the Aminia branch of the Naqshbandi order. He preached Islam in the sub-continent and brought non-Muslims into the fold of Islam. He loved Muhammad and modelled his own life and teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. His adherents call themselves Naqshbandi mujadadi amini or Maharvi or just Naqshbandi, since Syed Channan Shah belonged to the Naqshbandi order.

His knowledge

He was a saint of Allah by birth. He was highly gifted with the qualities of intelligence and memory. The books of religious history of his times tell us that he knew knowledge of Quran and Hadith. He was a dedicated Muslim and a great scholar. In obedience of the instructions of his spiritual guide he left Allo Mahar to other places for serving the Islamic cause even more effectively. Knowledge was his passion and he kindled the same passion in the hearts of the others. This aspect of his thinking is clearly illustrated by his instructions to his son, when he set out to go to another town for acquiring knowledge. He told him that he should first give priority to his education and if he heard about his father’s death before completing his education he should not come back but pray for his salvation and continue to pursue his course of education.

His ancestors

It has been recorded that the first of the ancestors of Syed Muhammad Channan Shah, who came to the Allo Mahar Sharif, was Syed Jewan Shah, well known by the name of Shair Sawar Sarkar. Syed Muhammad Channan Shah was son of Syed Amir Shah Maharvi. Ultimately he could trace his forefathers back to the Prophet Muhammadand was thus a Sayyid through Imam al-Husayn. As a child, he showed a propensity towards spirituality.

His Descendents

His son Pir Syed Amin Shah was the leader of Maharvis after his father's death and was a saint of Allah, his son lead his life according to rules of Islam and later on naqshbandia order of Syed Channan shah was named Naqshbandia Mujadadia Aminia after his son Syed Amin Shah due to his devotion with this order. His grandson Syed Muhammad Hussain Shah was also a saint, leader and scholar of Islam, he was honorary magistrate in Sialkot in British India. His grand grandson Syed Faiz-ul Hassan Shah was a famous pakisatni scholar and orator of his time. Syed Khalid Hasan Shah son of Syed Faiz ul Hasan Shah was also famous Islamic scholar in Pakistan and had been leader of Allo Mahar Sharif family of piouses.
#1=Syed Murtaza Amin ShahS/O
#2=Pir Syed Khalid Hasan ShahS/O
#3=Hazrat Pir Syed Faiz-ul Hassan ShahS/O
#4=Hazrat Pir Syed Muhammad Hussain ShahS/O
#5=Hazrat Pir Syed Amin ShahS/O
#6=Hazrat Pir Syed Muhammad Channan Shah Nuri

Character and Habits

Pir Syed Channan Shan Nuri is well known for being exceedingly generous and gentle. Helping people, treating them hospitable and taking care of poor ones, orphans and widows, were some of his natural qualities. Providing food to travellers was also one of his distinctive habits. His blessed personality was in short an example of the best qualities. He usually took travellers and those in need who halted in the mosque under his personal care. Afterwards he provided them with shelter and their sustenance. Not only did he give advice, but he also took care of these persons in need. He treated the poor with extreme compassion and greeted them first with the greeting of peace.

Ijaza

He received Ijazah in Naqshbandi Islamic Disciplines from several Scholars and Pirs including Kawaja Pir Nur Muhammad Chorahi pir of CHURA shrief (Attak)) and Kawja Hadi Namdar Shah pir of Nathyal Sharif. He has been the instructor of numerous successful courses dealing with a wide range and variety of various subjects, including the Arabic language, tazkiyah, shariah. He was very obediente to his Pir and always tried his best to obey every order and every assignment that was assigned to him by his master, he used to visit his master regularly and with devotion.

Death

Pir Syed Channan Shah Nuri said farewell to this transitory world when he was offering his Asar prayer on Thursday and was in Sajda position (bowing before Allha). He died a natural death and became one hundred years old.

His Holy Grave

The Holy grave of Pir Syed Channan Shah is situated in Allo Mahar Sharif, Tehsil Daska, district Sialkot, Pakistan. His burial place is open for any one to be visited. The part of land on which his grave has been buried, belongs to the territory of Allo Mahar Sharif. Then his tomb was built. His death anniversary Urs is held at this place every year on March 23 and October 21. It starts from the morning of 23 and lasts for two days, the main gathering is at night when there are lectures of scholars of Isalm not only from Pakistan and India but also from the whole world.

References

* "The Preaching of Islam" by Sir Thomas W. Arnold and "Langue la literature Hindoustanies de 1850 à 1869" by M.J.H. Garcin de Tassy. The most well-known treatises and reports, written by the authors of the early period are:

*Kawajgan e Naqshband (book name) chapter Allo Mahar Sharif.
*Arbab e Waliyat (book name) Chapter Kwaja Nur muhammad chhrahi's caliph
*Auliya e pothohar (book name) chapter caliph's of chura sharif.
*Amir e Karwan Syed Faiz ul Hasan shah written by Shaik gulam nabi.
*Tahreek e Ihrar chapter Syed Faiz ul Hassan shah.
*Mashaikh e Maharvia (under publish) written by Dr. Rizwan Sarwar.
*Maharvia number written by Pir Saeed Ahmad Mujadadi.