Bholoo Shah

{{Infobox religious biography

| name = Bholoo Shah

| religion = Islam

|denomination = specifically the Qadri of Sufism

| alias =

| region = Indian subcontinent

| period =

| Predecessor = Shah Abdul Hameed

| Successor = Shah Mohammad Hafeez

| ordination =

| post =

| previous_post =

| present_post =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date|1789|10|10|df=yes}}

| death_place = Old Delhi, India

}}

Bholoo Shah or Bholu Shah also called Shah Behlan and Bhollo Shah was an 18th-century Muslim Sufi saint from Delhi, India. He was a Majzoob who belonged to the Qadri order. His dargah (mausoleum) is in Old Delhi, India.Yahya Anjum, Dr Ghulam, 2002, Tareekh Mashaikh Qadria Vol III, Kutb Khana Amjadia 425 Matia Mahal Jama Mosque, Delhi-6, India

Biography

Most writers maintain that Bholoo Shah’s birthplace to be Punjab. This was before the partition of the Indian subcontinent when the Mughal era was on the rise.{{cite book|last1=Pletcher|first1=Kenneth|title=The Geography of India: Sacred and Historic Places|date=2010|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=9781615301423|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mjr0X-8jrLAC}}

He migrated to Delhi from Punjab leaving his family behind. In Delhi, he got beneficence from Shah Abdul Hameed and became his spiritual successor.{{cite book|author=Z A Tofayell|title=Lalon Shah and Lyrics of the Padma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzswAAAAMAAJ&q=bholu+shah|publisher=Ziaunnahar original from University of Michigan April 2007|year= 1968|page= 92 |isbn= 978-9-699-79518-3}}

Shah Mohammad Hafeez became his khalifah and shrine supervisor. After he died, his son took this responsibility. Their shrines are also near the shrine of Bholoo Shah.{{cite book|author=Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib|others=Daud Rahbar|title=Urdu Letters of Mirza Asadullah Ghalib|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h8RMuo3a79kC&dq=bholu+shah&pg=PA561|publisher=SUNY Press|year= 1987|isbn= 978-0-887-06412-8}}

One account states that he was the disciple and khalifah of Abdul Hamid in Qadri orderNaqvi Achvi, Syed Tajamal Shah, 1934, Bagh-e-Sadaat, 2nd edition in 1947 while some scholars opine that he was the disciple and khalifah of Shah Abdul Hameed in Qadri Razzaqi Order and also enjoyed the company of Shah Nano and Shah Fakhr-ud-Din Chishti. Rehnuma-e-Mazaraat Delhi, Mohammad Asim-ul-Qadri Sanbhli, Mohammad Book Depot, 2007, Old Delhi IndiaSiddiqui, Dr Hifz-ur-Rehman, 2006, Mazaraat-e-Auliya-e-Delhi, Farid Book Depot (Pvt) Ltd, Pataudi House Darya Gunj, New Delhi-2, India, p.p. 157

Tomb

The dargah (mausoleum or shrine) is at the Kabuli Darwaza (west side of the Red Fort and should not be confused with Khooni Darwaza)http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Jun04-Print-Edition/011506200496.htm Dilli's gates and windows

By Mahtab Jahan in Old Delhi, India as verified by the first book on the shrines of Delhi, "Mazaraat-e-Auliya-e-Delhi".Siddiqui, Dr Hifz-ur-Rehman, 2006, Mazaraat-e-Auliya-e-Delhi, Farid Book Depot (Pvt) Ltd, Pataudi House Darya Gunj, New Delhi-2, India, 2nd edition in 1930 later republished in 2006 with changes made by the same author, p.p. 157{{cite web|url=http://vps1.twocircles.net/2014mar06/central_government_return_123_wakf_properties.html#.VZVdDc8irIU|title="Central Government to return to 123 Wakf properties," Shrine Bholu Shah|access-date=14 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715022121/http://vps1.twocircles.net/2014mar06/central_government_return_123_wakf_properties.html#.VZVdDc8irIU#.VZVdDc8irIU|archive-date=15 July 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}TwoCircles.net

The shrine of Bholoo Shah which used to be in Kabuli darwaza has now been removed but only its remains are visible. Nearby is the shrine of his disciple Shah Mohammad Hafeez and his son Shah Ghulam Mohammad is also buried nearby.Waqiat Dar-ul-Hakumat Delhi Vol II, p.p 473

Some sources cite that Bholoo Shah died on the 20th Moharram 1024 AH or 10 October 1789 CE and his shrine along with a mosque enclosure is near the railway line, under the left side of the Mithai Bridge (Lahori Gate 4, Old Delhi 6). His khalifah Shah Hafeez-ur-Rehman is buried nearby who died on the 30th Ziquad 1236 AH 28 August 1821 CE during the reign of Akbar Shah II (1806–1837). Shah Hafeez-ur-Rehman’s son and khalifah Shah Ghulam Mohammad is buried at his feet. Rehnuma-e-Mazaraat Delhi, Mohammad Asim-ul-Qadri Sanbhli, Mohammad Book Depot, 2007, Old Delhi India, p.p 284-286

His annual Urs is held annually on 19th of Muharram. His devotees also celebrate basant in the spring season at his shrine with great enthusiasm.{{cite web |url= http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/4474/the-truth-behind-the-basant-ruling/|title=The truth behind the Basant ruling}} The Express Tribune Blogs{{cite book|author=Maheshwar Daya|title=Rediscovering Delhi:The story of Shahjahanabad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7YBAAAAMAAJ&q=bholu+shah|publisher=S. Chand original from University of Michigan, July 2006|year= 1975|page= 61|isbn=9780842608626}}

Bholoo Shah

Biography

Tomb

References

Further reading