Opinion | Arrival of the Sacred Relic (Moi- Muqadas) of Prophet Mohammed PBUH, and, the Role of Hazrat Sheikh Mohammad Radhu Chishti RA 

Syed Hameed son of Hazrat Syed Abdullah presented the holy relic along with its caretaker servant, Maidanish, who had been taking care of the holy relic, to a renowned and famous Kashmiri businessman, named Khwaja Noor ud din Ashawari RA. While on way to his homeland Kashmir along with the holy relic and the caretaker servant Maidanish, he was arrested in Lahore in 1692 A.D., on the secret information of spies. The holy relic along with Maidanish was produced before King Aurangzeb in Delhi. The king kept the sacred relic in the shrine of Hazrat Syed Khwaja Moin ud din Chishti RA Ajmer Sharief. It hardly remained there for nine days, that King Aurangzeb had Prophet Mohammad PBUH in his dream, where he was directed to send the relics to Kashmir. The King did exactly what was directed to him by the Holy Prophet PBUH and sent Maidanish, the caretaker servant of the relic to Kashmir. While on his way to Kashmir, he unfortunately found Khwaja Noor ud din Ashawari RA had just died in Lahore, and, then Maidanish, took the holy relic along with the corpse of Khwaja Noor ud din Ashawari RA, and, reached Kashmir valley via Mughal Road.

When the news of arrival of the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad PBUH reached Kashmir, Hazrat Sheikh Radhu Chishti RA, a spiritual and religious personality of his time, was chosen  by the people to lead the group of Sufis, Ulema’s and lovers of Prophet Mohammad PBUH, in order to welcome and receive  the holy relic of Prophet Mohammad PBUH at Hiripora, Shopian. He had walked bare foot and received the holy relic at shopian, having arrived in Kashmir from Lahore via Mughal Road. The holy relic was firstly placed in the shrine of Hazrat Naqshband Sahib RA, Khwaja Bazar, Srinagar. Hazrat Sheikh Mohammad Radhu Chishti RA exhibited the relic to the public, but, due to huge crowd of people, a stampede occurred, and some people lost their lives. After the incident, the holy relic was shifted to Hazratbal. Later, after the departure of Hazrat Sheikh Mohammad Radhu Chishti RA., the custody and all other responsibilities shifted to the Banday’s family, who was son in law of famous Kashmiri business man Khwaja Noor ud din Ashawari RA. Since then the Banday’s, the descendants of Jinab Balaqi Banday, are taking care of displaying the holy relic during special /URS days. Hazrat Sheikh Radhu Chishti’s grave is situated at Chishtia Shrine, Chishti Kocha, Fateh Kadal, Srinagar.

Syed Majid Gilani is a writer and GST Inspector. He can be reached at syedmajid6676@gmail.com