Makhdoom Shah Muhammad Munim Pak

Munim Pak was born in ( 1082 hijiri/ 1671AD) in the village, Pachna, Shaikhpura, Bihar. His family linage meets up with Makhdoom Shamsuddin Haqqani who is one of the great sufi of his time, was disciple of Ibrahim bin Adham Balkhi.

Having completed his primary education at his paternal village he went to Deewan Syed Abu Sayeed Jaafer Muhammad Quadri's khanqah at Barh district near Patna, for higher education and knowledge of Sufism. After his death Munim Pak received knowledge from his son Deewan Syed Khaleeluddin and became his "murid" (disciple) under Quadria Qutubia order and was rewarded with "Khilafah". After finishing his education he moved to Delhi with the instruction and permission of his "peer".[2] or around forty years he taught the students of higher education at the Madrasa situated behind the Jama Masjid in Delhi.

Munem Pak went to Sufi saint Khwaja Shah Muhammad Farhad and dedicated himself fully to his service. Biographers say that he remained there in his service for eleven years, practising the spiritual teachings of Naqshbandia Abul-Ulaiya Silsilah. Shah Farhad’s peer, Syed Dost Muhammad Burhanpuri, was a mureed and khalifa of Syedna Ameer Abul-Ula.

He was close to Bade Peer Syedna Shaykh Abdul Quadir Jeelani and Makhdoom-e-Jahan Shaykh Sharafuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri.

He often fasted, not just during the month of Ramadhan when it is required. He never built a house, married, or settled down.

After Shah Farhad died in 1145 Hijri, Munem Pak benefitted from his mureed (disciple), khalifah (caliph) and successor Meer Syed Asadullah and when Meer Syed Asadullah died in 1147 Hijri, Munim Pak was enthroned as inheritor of Shah Farhad.

After several years in Delhi, he received indication from the Islamic prophet Muhammad to migrate to Patna. In Patna, he initially stayed at Meer Taqi mosque near Meetanghat and then came to Mulla Meetan’s mosque, known as "Jama Masjid Mulla Meetan" and his khanqah got established here.

He died on the eleventh day of Rajab in 1185 Hijri (AD 1771), at the age of about 103 and was buried next to Jama Masjid Mulla Meetan. A simple mausoleum was built there, which was later expanded and enhanced.

After arriving in Patna he went to Bihar sharif and stayed there for three months meditating near the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Makhdoom-e-Jahan Shaykh Sharfuddin Ahmad Yahya Maneri.

The total number of khanqahs (abbeys) associated with this Silsila, spread across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Sri Lanka, would be around 150 and the number of devotees and people associated with them would come to crores.

According to the contemporary Sufi literature, it was believed that he presented himself in the assembly of Muhammad. That is why he was also known as "Haazir-e- Bargah-e- Laulak" (present before Muhammad).

He wrote three books during his stay in Delhi, "Mukashifat-e-Munemi", "Ilhamat-e-Munemi" and "Mushahidat-e-Munemi" in 1119 Hijri, 1120 Hijri and 1123 Hijri respectively. The manuscripts of "Ilhamat-E-Munemi" and "Mukashifat-E-Munemi" are available at Khudabakhsh Library, Patna and other libraries of the subcontinent. The manuscripts of "Mushahidat-E-Munemi" are not so widely available.

Everybody was welcomed at his khanqah, be he Sufi or Yogi (hermit), Hindu or Muslim. He treated his mureeds (disciples) affectionately. A Hindu Yogi who was a follower of Guru Nanak and whose name was Gurbakhsh came to him and made a request. He explained that he was a devotee of Krishna and that he had been earnestly willing for a long time to catch a glimpse of him. He also mentioned that he had traveled all over the country, met a lot of reputed Yogis but nobody could help him make his dream come true. He urged that he had heard many a thing about him and came to him with lot of hope. Munim Pak and the yogi meditated; after a while the yogi got up and started dancing until he fainted and fell down. He said that when he meditated he felt as if he had reached Vrindavan and there he saw Krishna with his eyes. He said that Krishna was playing the flute which produced the sound "Laa Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah", Gopis were dancing and the environment was full of frolic. He affirmed that seeing all this he also got enraptured and started dancing. Thereafter, he became a disciple of Munim Pak and attained accomplishment.

During his stay at Delhi and Patna, many people became his Mureed (disciples), some of them attained accomplishment and became his Khalifa (caliphs). Notable disciples (mureeds) of Makhdoom Munim Pak are Quazi Maulana Hassan Raza Khan Raipuri, Sayed Dayem (Dhaka, Bangladesh) the Ustaad-e-Shahr of Patna Mulla Shoaibul Haque Musafir, the renowned teacher of calligraphy Shah Izzuddin, Khairuddin Kashmiri and Shah Quamar Ali, the younger brother of Shah Kamal Dewarvi.

Makhdoom Munim Pak died in the evening at the time of Isha after the day of 11 Rajab in 1185 Hijri. His abbey (khanqah) is at Meetanghat, Patna City and his grave is situated in the premises of Mulla Meetan's mosque. As per his will, Maulana Hassan Raza Raipuri became his first Sajjada Nasheen.

With the permission of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain Munemi, his tomb (Maqbara) was constructed for the first time by Sufi Shah Dilawar Ali Lahori in 1249 Hijri. In 1285 Hijri, during the period of Syed Shah Muneeruddin Husain Munemi Sajjada Nasheen his Tomb was renovated by Shah Aleemuddin Raipuri. Syed Shah Salimuddin Ahmad Munemi also got the tomb renovated when he served as the Sajjada Nasheen. The magnificent dome of his tomb got ready in 2010. Devotees belonging to all religions and faith can be seen paying their tributes here everyday. Next to his Dargah at Khanquah Munemia, there stands the grand historical mosque called ‘Jama Masjid Mulla Meetan’. It is very large and the only double storeyed mosque of the Mughal period in Bihar. Mulla Meetan was an eminent scholar (Aalim) and renowned Sufi of the Aurangzeb Era.

Mulla Meetan's Masjid is a unique example of the architectural expertise of that era. This is the place which enjoys the privilege of being Munim Pak's place of worship. Makhdoom Pak used to teach his caliphs the lessons of meditation and penance here.

Next to his grave (dargah shareef), towards the north, there is a beautiful and grandiose building of Khanquah Munemia. This is also an exquisite example of architecture. In the middle of the khanqah, there is a large central hall surrounded by verandahs and rooms in such a fashion that one can move around the central hall while going into these rooms. Earlier its building was small and ordinary. The present building was constructed in place of the old one by the 7th Sajjada Nasheen Syed Shah Azizuddin Hussain Munemi.

1. Maulana Syed Hassan Raza Raipuri (Death 1215 Hijri)
2. Khwaja Ruknuddin Ishque Azeemabadi (Death 1203 Hijri)
3. Makhdoom Shah Hassan Ali (Death 1224 Hijri /AD 1809)
4. Shah Qutubuddin alias Shah Basawan (Death 1210 Hijri / AD 1795)
5. Sufi Syed Muhammad Dayem (Death 1212 Hijri / Ad1798)
6. Syed Shah Ghulam Hussain Danapuri (Death 1254 Hijri / AD 1838)
7. Shah Ahlullah Sani (Death 1224 Hijri / Ad 1809)
8. Shah Khuda Bakhsh
9. Shah Fazil
10. Shah Maneri
11. Shah Wajhullah Talib
12. Shah Muhammad Azeem
13. Shah Raheemuddin
14. Mulla Jamalul Haque
15. Mulla Kamalul Haque
16. Shah Nawazish Ali

The following relics (tabarrukat) are displayed on several occasions:

1. The hair (Moo-e-Mubarak) of Muhammad
2. Footprint of Muhammad
3. The cap of Imam Ali Musa Raza
4. The robe (Khirqa) of Ghaus-ul- Aazam, Shaikh Abdul Quadir
5. Girdle (kamarband) of Ghaus-ul- Aazam,Shaikh Abdul Quadir, with billori ghundi
6. Leather shoe of Ghaus-ul- Aazam, Shaikh Abdul Quadir
7. Robe (khirqa) of Syed Shah Abdul Mannan Quadri
8. Cap (topi) of Syed Shah Abdul Mannan Quadri
9. The cap of Makhdoom Munim Pak
10. Pushakhara of Makhdoom Munim Pak
11. Cap of Syed Shah Ghulam Hussain Danapuri
12. Cap of Syed Shah Shamsuddin Hussain Danapuri
13. Robe (khirqa) of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain
14. Cap of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain
15. Tasbeeh of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain
16. Clog (khadau) of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain Munemi
17. Shawl of Hakim Shah Farhatullah Karim Chaki
18. Cap of Khwaja Syed Shah Abul Barkat
19. Robe (khirqa) of Diwan Syed Abu Sayeed Jafar Muhammad
20. Tasbeeh of Diwan Syed Abu Sayeed Jafar Muhammad
21. Cap of Diwan syed Khaliluddin
22. Robe (Khiqa) of Syed Shah Mubarak Hussain Munemi
23. Cap of Syed Shah Mubarak Hussain
24. Tasbeeh of Syed Shah Azizuddin Hussain Munemi
25. Tasbeeh of Syed Shah Raziuddin Hussain Munemi

Serial numbers 4 to 6, the relics of Ghaus-ul-Aazam (robe, girdle, shoe) are associated with maternal ancestors of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain Munemi. His maternal grandfather Syed Shah Abdul Mannan Quadri had brought these relics from Delhi to Patna.

In 1240 Hijri when the khanqah of Mughalpura, Patna City, collapsed, the caretaker of the relics moved them from Mughalpura to Danapur.

1. 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal : Urs-e-Mubarak of Sarkar-e- Do Aalam Muhammad
2. 10-11 Rabi-us-Sani : Urs and Display of relics (ziyarat of tabarrukat) of Ghaus-ul-Aazam, organized at Shah Toli, Danapur
3. 6th Rajab: Urs of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz
4. 8th Safar : Urs of Syedena Shah Amir Abul Ula Ahrari
5. 11-12 Rajab: Urs of Makhdoom Shah Muhammad Munim Pak
6. 19-20 Shaban: Urs of Syed Shah Quamruddin Hussain Munemi
7. 12th Zilhijja: Urs of Syed Shah Mubarak Hussain Danapuri and Syed Shah Moniruddin Hussain Munemi
8. 3rd. Ramadhan: Urs of Syed Shah Azizuddin Hussain Munemi
9. 17th Jamadi-us-Sani: Urs of Syed Shah Raziuddin Hussain Munemi
10. 27th Rabi-ul-Awwal: Urs of Syed Shah Salimuddin Ahmad Munemi.
11. 19-20 Shaban : Ismail Shah Warsi Munemi,Kanti Kothiyan MuZaffarpur 843109
12. 13 Jilhijja Noor Mohammad Shah Ismaili Warsi Munemi,Kanti Kothiyan MuZaffarpur 843109

• HYAATULLAH, SHAH. Hujjatul Aarefeen. manuscript present in khanqah munemia library.