Kalyam Sharif is an important village in Rawalpindi’s Gujar Khan Tehsil of Pakistan’s Punjab province

Kalyam Sharif is an important village in Rawalpindi‘s Gujar Khan Tehsil, situated about 3 km off the Grand Trunk Road, near Mandra. The village is famous for the shrine complex of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, and became a thriving centre of Chishti Sabiri Sufi saints in the 19th and 20th centuries. Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami was born to Hafiz Fatahullah Hashmi in Kalyam Syedan village. It is believed that Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri’s ancestor, Shaikh Hafiz Zakauddin, migrated from Gujrat and settled in Kalyam Syedan.

The shrine of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami

The shrine complex of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabri Kalyami includes a mosque, the shrine of Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri, the shrine of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri, the shrine of Syed Ameer Ali Shah Chishti Sabiri, the shrine of Ghulam Hussain Chishti Sabiri, the shrine of Molvi Abdul Sattar Chishti Sabiri, graves of disciples and Sajjada Nasheens of Darbar Kalyam Sharif, the Mehmaan Khana building, Langar Khana building, wells and various Nashist Gaahs (sitting places) of the saints, and other structures.

According to Sahibzada Maqsood Ahmad Sabiri (2003), the author of Tazkira-e-Auliya-e-Pothohar, Fatahullah had three sons: Hafiz Noor Ahmad, Hafiz Ghulam Rasool, and Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami. Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami became a leading Khalifa of Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri. Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri came to Kalyam Sharif from Delhi on the instruction of his spiritual mentor, Khwaja Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Jalalabadi. Khwaja Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Jalalabad was a famous Chishti Sabiri saint of Jalalabad in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamili district. He died in 1244/1828-9 and was buried in Jalalabad. He was associated with the Chishtiyya-Sabiriyya branch of Khwaja Shaikh Muhammad Chishti Sabiri (d.1099/1687-8), son of Shaikh Muhammad Sadiq. His eldest brother Shaikh Daud Gangohi (d.1095/1684) was also celebrated Sabiri saint of Gangoh Sharif in Punjab’s Ambala district.

Arched entrance of Langar Khana building

Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri, an eminent deputy of Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Jalalabadi, settled in Kalyam Sharif and spread Chishtiyya- Sabiriyya Silsila. According to Syed Usman Wajahat of Rawalpindi, the author of many books, Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Jalalabadi was a deputy of Jamal Ali, who was himself khalifa of Miran Muzafar Ali Sabiri. Syed Mazhar Ali Shah Jalalabadi had three prominent deputies-Maulana Fateh Ali, Maulana Zamin Ali and Haji Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan.

Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri began preaching the Sabiriyya Silsila from Kalyam Sharif. Many people became his disciples. His most notable deputy (khalifa) was Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, who played a significant role in spreading the Chishtiyya-Sabiriyya Silsila in Pothohar and other areas of Punjab. Many of his disciples and deputies also spread the Sabiriyya Silsila in their respective towns and villages. Starting from Kalyam Sharif, he propagated the ideology of his mentor, Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri, and soon many people became his disciples, making Kalyam Sharif an important canter of Chishti Sabiri sufis in Gujar Khan Tehsil.

Facade of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami’s shrine

One can learn from his hagiography that he had numerous disciples and deputies. According to Khushoo-e-Darvesh by Faqir Babu Akram Kalyami (2007), the names of some of the eminent disciples of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami include Khwaja Pir Sultan Mehmood alias Kala Pir ( Ferozepur, Indian Punjab), Sain Muhammad Hussain Chishti Sabiri alias Sanghori Waley (Kalyam Sharif), Molvi Abdul Sattar Chishti Sabiri (Kalyam Sharif), Khwaja Mian Muhammad Hussain Chishti Sabiri (Maari Bangial), Qazi Mohsinuddin Chishti Sabiri (Bagga Shaikhan), Khwaja Syed Amir Ali Shah Chishti Sabiri Kalyami (Kalyam Sharif), Qazi Imamuddin (Phalina), Sain Mian Barkatullah (Chahari), Sain Badar Din (Murree Road, Rawalpindi), Sain Fazal Din (near Sihala), Sain Allah Ditta Chishti Sabiri and others.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, several deputies and disciples of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami played a key role in reviving the Chishti Sabiri order in Pothohar and other regions of Punjab. These deputies initiated many into the Sabiriyya Silsila, and their shrines can be found in various places in Punjab. The Kalyami sub-branch of Chishtiyya-Sabiriyya became highly popular and was well-received by local communities in their respective areas. It became deeply rooted in Pothohari culture, with followers often displaying the name of their Baba Fazal Shah Kalyami, also known as Bab Ji Kalyami to them, on their vehicles. His hagiographic accounts show that he had interactions with many prominent Sufis of his time.

Shrine of Sain Muhammad Hussain Chishti Sabiri

Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami built a tomb over the grave of his spiritual master, Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri. The tomb is known for its intricate glasswork on the interior and exterior. Paintings adorn the arches inside the tomb, and ceramics have been used during recent renovations. The tomb is especially remarkable for its glass decoration on the façade and entrance. The entrance of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami’s tomb is also decorated with glasswork and Quranic verses.

The tomb of Khwaja Fazaluddin is known for its exquisite glass decorations on both the interior and exterior walls. The glasswork on the tombs of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami and his spiritual master, Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan, is believed to be the earliest example in Gujar Khan Tehsil. According to the inscription above the doorway of his tomb, Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami passed away on Jumada al-Akhirah 7, 1308/ January 17, 1891. Adjacent to Khwaja Fazaluddin’s tomb, there are several graves of his disciples, including the Sajjada Nasheens. In addition to the tombs of Khwaja Hafiz Muhammad Sharif Khan Chishti Sabiri and Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, there are three other domed structures, which include those of Sain Muhammad Hussain, also known as Sangori Waley, Khwaja Syed Amir Ali Shah Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, and Molvi Abdul Sattar Chishti Sabiri.

The shrine of Sain Muhammad Hussain, also known as Sanghori Waley, is located next to the tomb of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, who was a deputy of Baba Ji Kalyami. An inscription on Sain Muhammad Hussain’s tomb indicates his death in 1930. Sain Muhammad Hussain’s tomb was constructed by Sain Moula Bakhsh, who was a Sajjada Nasheen of Darbar Kalyam Sharif. Another tomb in the shrine complex belongs to Khwaja Syed Ameer Ali Shah Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, who was the deputy of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami and passed away in 1917. This tomb was also built by Sain Moula Bakhsh. To the east of the tomb of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami is the tomb of his leading Khalifa, Molvi Abdul Satter Chishti Sabiri, who played a key role in spreading the Sabiriyya Silsila. Some of his deputies who preached Sabiriyya Silsila in their respective towns and villages were Nazir Ahmed Chishti Sabiri, Shah Hussain Chishti Sabiri, Rehmat Shah Chishti Sabiri, whose shrine is located in Gujar Khan’s Jand Mehlu, and Syed Sabir Shah Chishti Sabiri, whose shrine is located in Gujar Khan’s Paroch village. As per the inscription on the facade of his tomb, Molvi Abdul Sattar Chishti Sabiri passed away on October 30, 1941.

Interior view of Sain Muhammad Hussain’s shrine

Many literary figures were disciples and successors of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, who produced valuable literature not only for their followers but also for others seeking to understand the development of the Chishtiyya- Sabiriyya Silsila in the Pothohar region. Numerous writers and scribes penned books, some of which are still in possession of the descendants of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami’s followers. Raja Moula Bakhsh, a poet and author, wrote Gulzar-e Fazal, a poetic biography of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami. Raja Moula Bakhsh’s grave is located in Fateh Jang’s Dhoke Narain village. Munshi Karam Illahi and Munshi Fazal Illahi, both poets and disciples of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, were also prominent.

According to Hasan Nawaz Shah, the author of several books, Mian Muhammad Fazal of Pind Jhatla in Rawalpindi tehsil was also a Khalifa of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, and he held sacred relics used by his spiritual master. The Urs (celebration of a Saint celebrating and commemorating his union with God). On the eve of the annual Urs of the saints, devotees from across the country swarm the shrine complex of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami. During the Urs, Qawali is performed at the shrine complex of Khwaja Fazaluddin Chishti Sabiri Kalyami, among other events.

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