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Waris Ali Shah (Urdu: حاجی وارث علی شاہ, Hindi: हाजी वारिस अली शाह) or Sarkar Waris Pak (Urdu: سرکار وارث پاک, Hindi: सरकार वारिस पाक) (1819-1905) was a Sufi saint from Dewa, Barabanki, India, was the founder of Warsi order of Sufism, he travelled widely in the west and admitted people to his spiritual order.[1] His shrine is situated at Dewa, India.[2][3]
Father[edit]
His father's name was Qurban Ali Shah whose tomb too is located in Dewa.[4]
Haji Waris Ali Shah at a very early age showed an extraordinary inclination for a religious life and that even in his extreme boyhood he was regarded as amazingly proficient in his knowledge and practice of religion.[5]
Sufi order[edit]
Waris Ali Shah belonged to the Quadira and Chistaya schools of Sufism,[6] he was initiated in traditional Sufi order of Chishtia but he adopted more liberal view and permitted his followers to remain in their own religion.[1] When he was a small boy Waris Ali attached himself to Haji Khadim Ali Shah, a sufi darwesh of Golaganj, Lucknow and remained with him until his death in 1832-33 when Waris Ali was 16 years old.[7]
Social engagements[edit]
He went to Mecca for pilgrimage many times.[8] During his extensive travel to Europe he visited Sultan of Turkey and Bismarck of Berlin.[1] He also travelled to England and had an audience with Queen Victoria.[8]
He was a friend of Abdul Bari.[9]
Urs[edit]
An urs locally known as Dewa mela is observed in October–November, it is attended by nearly a million Muslims and Hindus.[8][10][11][12] It is said that this fair was started by Haji Waris Ali Shah in memory of his father, Qurban Ali Shah. Another fair is held beside the tomb of Haji Waris Ali Shah on the first of the Muslim month of Safar every year.[13]
Death[edit]
He died on thirteenth of Muharram 1323 AH corresponding to sixth of April 1905 CE.[14]
His disciples[edit]
His numerous disciples both Muslims and Hindus, add Warisi or Warsi to their names.[3][8] He had many prominent followers from several faiths.[15] Haji Waris Ali Shah was pir of Mushir Husain Kidwai of Gadia, a zamindar, barrister and pan-Islamist politician from Barabanki.[9] According to Narayan, Waris Ali Shah was the pir of famous Sai Baba of Shirdi.[16]
Shaiq Khuda Bakhsh was a follower of Waris Ali Shah, he collected sayings of his spiritual guide Malfūzāt-i-Hāji Wāris 'Ali Shāh.[2] His book Tohmat-ul-Asfiya is the biography of Waris Ali Shah.[17]
