Hamza Makhdoom


Hamza Makhdoom, popularly known as Makhdoom Sahib, was a Sufi mystic living in the Kashmir Valley. He is sometimes referred to as Mehboob-ul-Alam and Sultan-ul-Arifeen.

Early life

Hamza Makhdoom was born as Muhammad Hamza Raina in the village of Tujjar near Sopore in Baramulla district. He was son of Usman Raina and Bibi Maryam who came from a Chandravanshi Rajput family of the Raina clan. According to tradition, teenage Hamza Makhdoom studied in the Shamsi Cha monastery for a year, and later studied jurisprudence, tradition, philosophy, logics, ethics and mysticism in a madrasa founded by Ismail Kubrawi.

Teachings

A prolific scholar and spiritual preacher, Hamza Makhdoom adhered to the tradition and was a disciple of Syed Jamal Uddin Bukhari of Delhi who was great grandson of Jahaniyan Jahangasht. He directed his teachings specifically to the followers of Islam, and under his influence a part of Kashmir's population truly followed the Hanafi jurisprudence. He was staunch follower of Shariah and Sunnah.

Disciples

Hamza Makhdoom himself attracted a number of prominent disciples. Among his most notable disciples were:
Baba Dawood Khaki, a jurist, poet and later Chief Qazi of Kashmir. He authored works such as Dastur-ul-Salikin, Vird-ul-Murideen and Qasida-i-Jalaliyya. Allama Shams-ud-Din Pal, an eminent scholar who became known for his spiritual connection with Hamza Makhdoom. He later travelled to Mecca and is reported to have been buried in the cemetery of al-Baqiʿ in Medina. Mulla Ahmad Chagli, a Kashmiri scholar associated with his khanqah. Mir Hyder Tulmuli, a contemporary disciple who promoted his teachings locally. Baba Hardi Rishi and Shaikh Roopa Rishi, representatives of the indigenous Kashmiri Rishi tradition who became affiliated with him, reflecting his role in blending the Rishi movement with Sufi practices. Baba Naseeb ud Din Gazi, Mir Mohammad Afzal, Bayezid Shumnagi, Feroz Ganai, and Mohammad Ali Raina, who carried his teachings into different regions of Kashmir. Through these students, Hamza Makhdoom’s influence extended across the Valley

Death

He died at an age of 82 in year 1576 in Srinagar.
Nearly fourteen years after his death, king Akbar built a shrine there which was reconstructed during the Afghan rule by governor Atta Mohammad Khan around 1821 AD. The shrine, located on the southern slope of Hari Parbat Hill and popularly called Makhdoom Sahib and Hazrat Sultan, is an important pilgrimage centre in Kashmir.
Atta Mohammad Khan Barakzai in his honour issued the coins bearing the names of Noor-ud-Din-Rishi and Hamza Makhdoom.