By: Bashir Ahmad Dar
The Sufis, particularly the Rishis of Kashmir have always regarded the service to mankind as the path to reaching‘Truth’. For this reason most of the Sufi’s established hospices (LangarKhanas) where they would serve the needy from their personal expenses and from the contributions by devotees. It is reported about the parents of Sheikh HamzaMakhdoom (R.A) that they would donate a part of their income to the Langar attached with the Darululoom of Baba Ismail Kubrvi (R.A.).To quote DrIshaq Khan, “…some of the abodes of the Rishis seem to have become self-sufficient institutions even during their lifetime.
The habitats of Baba Daud (Batmaoo sahib) and many others were self-sustaining institutions, thanks more to their active social roles than gifts and donations offered by the devotees for the maintenance of the public charity kitchen (Langar).There is no evidence to show that the revenue of the Ziyarats were expended by the immediate successors of the Rishis in rich living”.
Commenting on the situation in the later period Dr Khan laments, “However, in later times, the charge of the Ziyarats assumed hereditary characteristics with one or more social or occupational groups and gradually the Ziyarats turned into breeding grounds for superstition and social exploitation- it dealt a serious blow to their (Rishis) social role of rendering relief to the weaker sections of Kashmiri society. Since for barely four centuries the Rishis were much more than simply benefactors of the poor, it would be appropriate to evaluate the level of their social achievements in terms of the demands of the particular social, physical, environmental and in fact, political conditions of Kashmir during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.”
ShaikhDawood(R.A.) would procure meals generally Wugra or a soft mixture of rice and milk in a big vessels and would keep it near his field. He would serve the meal to all those who passed by his field. It was because of this humble social service of doling out the food that he came to be known as Bata Mol or the paternal food giver and ‘Nourisher’.
It may be added here that the 11th Hijra or 15th century A.D in Kashmir was a witness to many manmade or natural calamities like Earth quake, untimely rains, floods, massive fires, communal riots etc. In such a conflict age the philanthropic activities of ShaikhDaud would have acquired all the more significance. Commoners particularly the destitute and the poor ones badly failed to earn their livelihood and could not have something to eat. In such a situation the needy ones flocked to the hospices maintained by the Sufis and Saints to fill their bellies.
The Sufis are also known for making it sure that whatever they ate was procured from the Halal. They strived utmost to earn from their hands but if someone offered something to Baba Daud he would ensure that the offering had been earned through right means.
Baba Daud(R.A.), like many other Sufis and Rishis was severe in his condemnation of the contemporary Ulama. A person who was a Qari and an alim approached Baba Daud complaining of headache. The Sufi was as usual busy in his agricultural engagements. As he came out of his fields, he enquired of the patient. He recited surtaulShifa and with animating influence, the patient got recovery. But his malicious and arrogant minded scholar felt objected to the recitation of the Quran and remarked that the correct way to pronounce the SuraShifa is like this. The saint, who heard patiently, replied that he would take back his recited verses of Quran and the scholar should get his illness back.
Sheikh Dawood (R.A) is said to have left for eternal abode in 1070 Hijra and was laid to rest at his ancestral abode which came to be called Batmaloo.
The celebration of the Urs of the saint is marked by enjoying dried vegetables, particularly turnip,eggs etc and avoiding lavish and expensive dishes.This is to refresh and have reverence for the teachings of these Sufis who led an extremely simple life. Let us endeavour to imbibe and follow the path of the Sufis and Rishis in other spheres of life which is almost contrary to their teachings and life style.
The author can be contacted@ bashirahmaddar2012@gmail.com
