Yasir Imran's blog: Miyan Khaki Shah Baba میاں خاکی شاہ بابا

In 11th century A.D a great saint (sufi) Shah Kamal Uddin Qureshi lands at Multan after having a tiresome voyage of 15 long years all across Indian Sub-continent preaching Islam. He was Khalifa (caliph) of renowned Sufi and founder of Suhrawardi chain (order of Sufism) Shiekh Shahāb ad-Dīn" Yahya ibn Habash as-Suhrawardi. Shah Kamal Uddin has his traces (genealogy) to Hazrat Ali Ibni Abi Talib the last pious caliph and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). A great history of Suhrawardi chain starts here.

Son of Shah Kamal ud Din, Sheikh Wajeeh ud Din was also a renowned Sufi of Suhrawardi Chain having great respect and admire among the people of the land. In the year 1170 one of his son born regarding whom no one known that he will begin a new era of love, brotherhood, hospitality and promotion of teaching of Islam.

Parents named him as Bahauddin but world know him as Bahauddin Zakariya Multani.
According to Wikipedia Baha-ud-din Zakariya had seven sons who gained fame in their own right as great Sufis - Shaykh Sadruddin Arif, Shaykh Burhanuddin, Shaykh Ziauddin, Shaykh Alauddin, Shaykh Qudrat-ud-din, Shaykh Shahab-ud-din, and Shaykh Shams-ud-din. Shaykh Sadruddin Arif's son was the famous Sufi Shaykh Abul Fath Ruknuddin, also known as Shah Rukn-e-Alam. His progeny dispersed all over India during the coming centuries and produced many famous people in all walks of life and scholarship. His descendants are found in Multan, Karor laal esun, Gujrat, Gujar Khan, Watli Distt.Chakwal,Pail Piran (Khushab),Bhera Sharif (Sargodha) Pir Khara Distt. Chakwal,[Karuli Piran (Chakwal) Hazara.
One of the sons of Shaik Sadruddin Arif, namely Shaikh Qutbuddin was Qazi of Sargodah during the era of Aurangzeb Alamgir. Sheikh Qutbuddin had three sons. One of them was named on his grand-father Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya. Miyan Bahauddin is little known to the people but Miyan Khaki Shah is known to all. No documentary evidence available that how and when Miyan Bahauddin embraced the title of Khaki Shah but it is widely believed that his companions gave him this title due to his down-to-earth behavior and humble attitude.

Miyan Khaki Shah was a great Sufi and religious scholar of his time. His basic education and graduation in religious sciences was from renowned institute of religious teachings ‘Madrasah Raheemiya’ Dehli which was founded by Shah Abdur Rahim son of Shah Wali Ullah. He came to Guli Bagh area of Pakhal valley where two of his friends Shah Deewana baba and Shah Kangal were residing. Both of them were famous saints of the area. Mian Khaki Shah also started teaching the masses regarding Islam. In a short span of time, his fame spread all across the region.
The area, at that time was ruled over by Turks tribes who were allies of Mughals. In recognition of his services, Turks awarded him with vast fertile lands so that he can continue his job of preaching Islam without any hast of livelihood. He used to travel far and wide for preaching his mission. Once during such journey people of the area where village Khaki is situated nowadays, told him regarding the unavailability and shortage of drinking water. He prayed to Allah and dug a water well himself. Its been almost 300 years but that well is still watering thousands of people of the area. That water well is known as ‘well of Khaki Shah’. Since than name of the area also changed to his name and now called as ‘Khaki’.

It is said that his popularity among the masses grown by each passing day. People of the area gathered around him round the clock which was in fact contrary to his temperament. He decided to to migrate once again. He travelled to Agror valley and chose an area surrounded by mountains from three sides carpeted with dens forests away from the main Oghi town of Agror which is now called as Sufaida. Once again Turks allotted him a vast piece of land which is still in possession of his descendants.

Miyan Khaki Shah after living a purposeful life of almost 70 years died in mid of 18th century . He was laid to eternal rest at the bank of main Oghi Mansehra road near the town of Bandi Sadiq. Area is now commonly known as

Ziyarat Khaki Shah Baba which is the main graveyard of the areas as well. Khuddam (servants) of Khaki Shah Baba, also known as Malangs or Faqeers are having their residences side-by this graveyard and are permanently serving the grave of Miyan Khaki Shah as well as the graveyard in general. Pedestrians, passengers traveling on Mansehra Oghi road as well as visitor all across Pakistan use to give their Nazranas (donations) to these Khuddams of Khaki Shah Baba which is a great source of income & livelihood.
Children of Miyan Khaki Shah are now one of the biggest families of the area. They are called ‘Miyan’ and residing at various villages of the valley including Sufaida, Bandi Sadiq, Maloga, Sher Gahr as well as in Khaki village of Pakhal valley. A huge portion of this family is now permanently settled in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore.
In recent years, one of the descendent of Miyan Khaki Shah Baba, Miyan Abid Imran S/o Miyan Gul Imran of Sufaida village, articulated his dream of seeing a fabulous Urs on the shrine of Miyan Khaki Shah Baba. Till the year 2010 there wasn’t any tradition of celebrating Urs on this Shrine. However, since ages, every year on the second day of both Eids (Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Azha) there use to be a

Mela (fare) wherein small-businessmen use to establish temporary stalls of various goods of kids entertainment and edibles. Various activities of entertainment, magic shows etc. also convokes. People from all across the Oghi valley use to come along with their children for celebrations and entertainment. The narrated dream turned into reality just a couple of years later when mining of china-clay (kaolin) discovered in the lands of descendants of Miyan Khaki Shah. Mines owner decided to allocate a specific amount on each truck of sold kaolin. This allocation, at the end of each year, becomes a hefty sum which utilizes for organizing the Urs and carry out other social activities in the villiage Sufaida. A tradition of great Urs is establishing now where people from across the country come to celebrate the Urs.