Pir Sabir Shah

[BarakzaiAbdali]

We hear, this name mentioned in the various chronicles surrounding the rise of Ahmad Shah Abdali Baba.

Just who was he? What influence did he bear? Where was he born and how did he die?

For the answers, for the first time at PF, we can refer to the CONTEMPORARY Khojeh Abdul Kareem who accompanied Nadir Shah Afshar and Ahmad Shah Abdali back to Persia after the conquest of India.

http://books.google.com/books/about/...d=xFljXwAACAAJ

This was published in 1788

Here is a translation:
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/m...1030%26ct%3D30

So who then is the mysterious Sabir Shah? The spiritual mentor of Ahmad Shah Baba?

Khojeh Abdul Kareem is kind enough to provide a very strong historical reference in the person of Muhammad Yar Khan, the mint master of Ahmad Shah Abdali himself as the source of his information for his brief, but important biography of Pir Sabir Shah:

Kareem is discussing the martyrdom of Pir Sabir Shah at the hands of Shah Nawaz of Lahore when the former was sent as an ambassador for terms to the latter by Ahmad Shah Abdali.

Sabir, the derveish, went into the city of Lahoor, to visit the holy shrines, and see his mother, who resided there; as well as to endeavour to prevail upon the governor to surrender: but lost his life in the attempt. I shall relate the particulars in the manner they were told me by Mohammed Yar Khan, Ahmed Shah’s mintmaster, who was intimately acquainted with the derveish. Baba Sabir, a handsome youth, was the son of a farrier of Lahoor, and having an early inclination to abandon worldly pursuits, left his own country when very young, and travelled to Cabul, Kandahar and Herat. A short time before the murder of Nadir Shah, Baba Sabir was pitching a little tent, and playing like a boy, when they asked him, “Derveish, what are you about?” He answered, “The kingdom of Nadir Shah being at an end, I am setting up the tent of Ahmed Shah.” After the death of Nadir Shah, Ahmed Shah having obtained a kingdom as the derveish had predicted, whatever he asserted afterwards gained universal credit. By his advice, Ahmed Shah assumed the title of Doordowran, or the pearl of the age; from whence he and his Abdallees were afterwards called Dooranee. When they came to Lahoor, the derviesh insisted upon going to the city, notwithstanding all Ahmed Shah’s endeavours to dissuade him from so rash an undertaking. He accordingly set out, attended by Mohammed Yar Khan. When he entered the city of Lahoor, the spies of Shahnowaz Khan brought intelligence, that the magician of Ahmed Shah was come with intention to bewitch all the cannon: He was accordingly seized, and brought before Shahnowaz Khan, who at the intercession of Adeeneh Beg Khan, received him with civility and respect: but not consenting to the derveish’s proposal of surrendering himself to Ahmed Shah, Sabir behaved with such insufferable insolence, that he and Mohammed Yar Khan were committed to prison. The next day Shanowaz Khan’s courtiers persuading him, that he would bring misfortune upon himself by suffering Sabir the magician to live, he gave orders for him to be put to death, and the sentence was executed in a cruel manner. But Mohammed Yar Khan, at the interposition of some of the courtiers of Shahnowaz Khan, to whom he had formerly rendered good offices, was set at liberty. Ahmed Shah was so enraged at the death of his spiritual guide and ambassador, that he instantly crossed the Ravee to attack the enemy’s intrenchments...

[BarakzaiAbdali]

So in summary here is what we know about Sabir Shah:

1) He was from Lahore
2) He was the son of natives of Lahore
3) He travelled far and wide to Kabul and Kandahar as well where he would encounter Ahmad Shah
4) He would be murdered by Shah Nawaz of Lahore
5) His grave, though not mentioned here, is apparently behind BadShahi Mosque

I wonder if this will cause a kerfuffle in the militant secularist nationalist circles who sought to deconstruct the real Ahmad Shah Abdali- the Muslim disciple of Shah Waliullah, who took a poor denizen of Lahore as his chief priest and who fought a war for his honor - and reconstruct him into that which he never was.

Perhaps the insults that are currently hurled at the Pashtuns loyal to the nature and memory of the ghazis who are called all sort of invective today by these militant secularist circles afflicted by ahistorical and external philosophies - being called servants of Lahore and the Panjab and so on and so forth - will be hurled at this great quintessential father of the nation (if they so dare).

[Toramana]

So in summary here is what we know about Sabir Shah:

1) He was from Lahore
2) He was the son of natives of Lahore
3) He travelled far and wide to Kabul and Kandahar as well where he would encounter Ahmad Shah
4) He would be murdered by Shah Nawaz of Lahore
5) His grave, though not mentioned here, is apparently behind BadShahi Mosque

I wonder if this will cause a kerfuffle in the militant secularist nationalist circles who sought to deconstruct the real Ahmad Shah Abdali- the Muslim disciple of Shah Waliullah, who took a poor denizen of Lahore as his chief priest and who fought a war for his honor - and reconstruct him into that which he never was.

Perhaps the insults that are currently hurled at the Pashtuns loyal to the nature and memory of the ghazis who are called all sort of invective today by these militant secularist circles afflicted by ahistorical and external philosophies - being called servants of Lahore and the Panjab and so on and so forth - will be hurled at this great quintessential father of the nation (if they so dare).

And what are you yourself afflicted by ? And he would be yours quintessential father not ours.

[BarakzaiAbdali]

And what are you yourself afflicted by ?

dashing and daring and moderate good looks that are quickly fading due to the passing of time

And he would be yours quintessential father not ours.

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