Sufism In Doda-Urs Hazrat Shah Asrar-ud-Din(RA)

Monday, November 15, 2010, 15:31

The annual Urs Hazrat Shah Asrar-ud-Din (RA) celebrations has attracted, thousands of devotees in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sufism, a branch of Islam has been practised in the Doda district, where people of different faiths lived in harmony.
Ancient manuscripts, in Persian, bear testimony to the fact that Sufism flourished in Doda district , during the 15th century, spread by Sufi saints, who arrived in Doda from different parts of the country.

17th century marked the prominence of Sufism in Doda, owing to the arrival of Hazrat Shah Mohammed Farid-ud-Din Baghdadi (RA) and his two sons Hazrat Shah Asrar-ud-din (RA) and Hazrat Shah Akhyar-ud-din (RA). However, Sufism had already been introduced in Doda by other saints, including Hazrat Shah Hamdan (RA), Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (RA) and Hazrat Zain-ul-deen Rishi (RA).

These Saints exposed the basic tenets of Islam to people and urged them to be awakened out of the ignorance owing to blind pursuit of ritualism and also illiteracy. These great souls exposed people to Tawhid, or monotheism (oneness of Allah). They urged people to read the Koran and the Hadith.
The tombs of these revered Masters have been flocked by people across the world for spiritual salvation and prosperity in life.