Hadrat Qibla Hajji Pir Sahib (1957-2013)

During my later visits to Hadrat Sahib, I also met his eldest son Qibla Hajji Pir Sahib: Hafiz Muhammad Abd al-Wahid Sahib about whom I had heard of miraculous stories through Sangi Hajji Muhammad Zaman. For example, once as a child he was travelling in a Jeep and it ran out of petrol, he told the driver to put some water in and continue driving. When Hadrat Sahib found out this incident he was annoyed with him for displaying spiritual powers at such an early age. I have also heard from Sangis in Bury that he was named Hajji Pir because he went to Hajj when he was a young boy. I can confirm these stories are authentic as I have heard them from reliable sources. Hajji Pir Sahib is about the same age as me and thats where the similarities end. Unlike me he is totally devoted to Islam and never wastes a moment in useless activities. He is a very pious and learned person. He has very piercing eyes, a beautiful smile and a great sense of humour. I was able to learn a lot in his company. For example, in one of the

khatams which was held in the memory of a Sangi in a village called Kurti Bangla, I
attended the khatam but did not eat the food. Hajji Pir Sahib was there too and somehow he found out that I did not eat at the khatam. Later he enquired: You are not a Wahhabi Shahabbi are you? I asked what made him say that, he said: Because you did not eat the food from the khatam. I explained that I normally do not feel comfortable in these kind of

khatams and plus the fact that it is very rarely from lawful income. He explained that it is
wrong to doubt other peoples livelihood, unless one has proof to the contrary. From that moment onwards I never turned down food from khatams. We stayed at the Kurti Bangla mosque, later that night Hajji Pir Sahib enquired: Is the popular term kali kamli walay (the one with the black mantle) used for the Prophet based on some tradition? We all tried our best but no one really knew the answer. Many years later I found a narration by Sayyida Aishah in Shamal-e Tirmidhi which suggests the Prophet did have a black mantle.

Sometime later I went to a mosque in Haweli near Dars Sharif where I spent the night. I gave sweets and laughed and joked with the students. One of the students remarked: This pir is good as he laughs and jokes with us, but the other Pir Sahib (Hajji Pir

Sahib) is quiet and does not tell us stories like this one, Eh pir changey hain. In Hajji Pirs gatherings the discussion was normally about matters of fiqh. However, I asked many question about Sufism and he was equally well informed on this topic as well. There is no pretence in his behaviour; he is a Sufi at heart who is also a learned faqih. Being in his presence is like being with Hadrat Sahib. The first time I attended Qibla Alams urs on 9th May 1981, Qibla Hajji Pir Sahib called me into a private room and presented two beautiful decorated caps: one gold one silver, and informed me that Hadrat Sahib had instructed me to choose one. Can I not keep both? I joked. He said: We have to obey orders. I got the message. I chose the gold one and said: I am new to this, please could you explain why holy people give gifts to people? He replied: Perhaps it is a sign that they are happy with that person.

Once I was sitting in the blessed gathering of Hajji Pir Sahib in Darbar Sharif after

Juma prayer, one stranger who was not a Sangi began to say how much aqidat (devotion) he
had for him. Hajji Pir Sahib replied: Aiqda weh teh aqidat hoini, One must have belief before he can have devotion. I have observed that one must be very careful what one says in his presence because he does not tolerate nonsense. I have made a fool of myself in his presence on numerous occasions and now wish I had kept quite. However, I have learned that holy people like Hajji Pir Sahib are also very forgiving and never remind you of your previous mistakes. I met him on 10th May 2004, a day after the Urs of Qibla Alam. He had been suffering for many months due to pain in his leg and one Sangi suggested that he should visit a particular hakim. Hajji Pir Sahib smiled and replied: I am but an individual, how many hakims can I visit, because everyone who comes here suggests someone or another. The Sangi humbly replied: Master, we cannot see you suffer like this. Hajji Pir Sahib said: In that case pray for me so that the medicine I take has a positive affect. I know when I am ill I do nothing but moan and groan but despite the fact he seemed to be in a great deal of pain Hajji Pir Sahib did not utter a word of complaint. In fact he was full of humour (he is a very witty person) and dealt with the Sangis in his usual wonderful manner. Being in his presence is like being with Hadrat Sahib.

One day as I sat in the blessed company of Hadrat Sahib two young boys came and sat next to him, they were extremely well behaved. I did not know who they were and did not think it was appropriate to ask Hadrat Sahib. After they left the gathering Hadrat Sahib said: Eh Abd al-Wahid neh nikkeye, These are Abd al-Wahid (Hajji Pir Sahibs son). I thought to myself al-hamdu lillah good manners have been passed down to each generations of this noble family. (Excerpts from my autobiography) Muzamil Khan (Bawa)