The 44th death anniversary (Urs) of renowned Kashmiri Sufi poet and saint, Pir Faqir Ghulam Nabi Shah Zahoor Kubravi Chishti (RA), was solemnly observed on Sunday, March 1, at his ancestral village Tumlehall in Pulwama district of South Kashmir.
A brief but spiritually charged ceremony was held at Khanqah Bayt al-Zahoor in Tumlehall, followed by special prayers and Fatiha at his shrine. Devotees, disciples, scholars, and admirers from various parts of the Valley gathered to pay homage to the revered saint, remembering his spiritual legacy and literary contributions.
Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Zahoor (RA), who passed away on March 1, 1982, in his native village, is remembered as a towering Sufi personality affiliated with the Kubravi and Chishti spiritual orders. A poet of remarkable depth, he wrote in Kashmiri, Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and Punjabi. Among his notable works are the Persian translation of “Qissa-e-Chahar Dervish” originally authored by Amir Khusro and the Kashmiri poetic translation of Surah Yusuf from the Holy Qur’an.
Apart from his spiritual pursuits, Shah Zahoor (RA) lived a life of humility and self-reliance. He worked as an Imam, calligrapher in several Srinagar-based newspapers, and a bookbinder to earn his livelihood. He was a disciple of Hazrat Mir Syed Muhammad Saeed Hakkani (RA), grandson of Hazrat Mir Syed Azizullah Hakkani Kubravi (RA).
He was also the founding president of Mahfil-e-Bahar-e-Adab Shahora Pulwama, a literary organization dedicated to promoting spiritual and literary thought in the region. Members of the organization, including Wani Ali Dilshad, Pir Sanaullah Shah, Riyaz Wani Nair, Ali Muhammad Butt Zasu, and Ali Muhammad Butt Maghmoom, paid rich tributes to the saint. Member of Assembly Pulwama, Waheed Ur Rehman Parra, also joined in remembering the saint’s contributions.
The organization and local youth reiterated their long-pending demand for the construction of an auditorium in Tumlehall in memory of the late Sufi poet, stating that such an initiative would preserve and promote the village’s spiritual and literary heritage.
A Village Immersed in Sufi Traditions
Tumlehall, often referred to as a “Sufi Village,” continues to embody the ethos of Dervish culture. Though primarily engaged in farming, horticulture, and trade, the residents reflect deep-rooted Sufi values in their conduct, hospitality, and way of life.
The village remains home to several Sufis, dervishes, mulangs, and majzoobs who dedicate themselves to serving the people. Visitors from other areas frequently come to Tumlehall, where locals arrange food and accommodation for them with devotion and respect.
Among the respected spiritual figures residing in the village are Mir Abdul Aziz Qadri, Malang Ghulam Hussain Mir, Ghulam Mohiuddin Butt, Abdul Jabbar Dangroo, and Muhammad Akbar Parray. Mir Abdul Aziz Qadri, an elderly spiritual guide, receives devotees and needy visitors throughout the day at his residence.
Ghulam Muhammad Hijam, popularly known as “Muhammad Mastana,” though originally from a nearby village, considers Tumlehall his spiritual duty station. He remains a beloved figure among villagers.
Interestingly, many youths of the village—doctors, professors, and engineers—actively engage in serving Sufis and dervishes, reflecting a rare blend of modern education and spiritual tradition.
During winters, groups from Tumlehall travel to the revered shrine of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, dedicated to Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Direct buses are arranged from the village, and many villagers personally drive to attend Urs ceremonies and major Islamic festivals.
Historical and Spiritual Roots
According to Pirzada Shah Hamid Ullah Hamid, former Information Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, his family traces its lineage to Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, widely known as Shah Hamdan, associated with Khanqah-e-Moula in Srinagar. Shah Hamdan, an Iranian Sufi saint who arrived in Kashmir with hundreds of disciples, is historically credited with spreading Islam and shaping the spiritual and cultural fabric of the Valley.
Pir Zahooruddin Shah of the Kabari tradition stated that Hazrat Baba Nasibuddin Ghazi came to Tumlehall around 400 years ago and established a mosque in the village, laying foundations for the region’s spiritual transformation.
Every year on the 14th of Rajab, the Urs of Hazrat Syed Muhammad Jafar Kabari is celebrated in Tumlehall with unique fervor, further reinforcing the village’s identity as a center of Sufi devotion.
As the 44th Urs concluded with collective prayers, devotees described Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Zahoor (RA) as a guiding light whose willpower, sacrifice, and literary brilliance continue to inspire generations. Tumlehall stands today not merely as a village, but as a living embodiment of Kashmir’s enduring Sufi heritage.
