Such as Christmas comes every year coinciding with the music season in Chennai, the second Urs of Qutubul Akhtab Hazrath Hafiz Syed Habeeb Mohammed Hasan Moulana Khadiri Baghdadi (Raz), the 31st descendant of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the 19th descendant of Baghdad’s patron saint Hazrath Abdul Khader Jeelani (Father of Khadiri order and leader of Aulias), was held at the Dargah on December 13.
As the ancient clock at the heritage structure struck 10, H.Habibullah Shah, Sajjad-e-Nasheen and Muthavalli began the proceedings with zikhr majlis. The names of Allah were chanted and soon the congregation joined in the recital of poems and hymns in praise of Prophet Mohammed. Childhood friends Afzal Bijli, Tahir, Ameen, Yousuf Qureishi and Samiullah rendered the salaam (salutation to the Prophet).
In this age of technological revolution, it was heartwarming to see the oral culture being preserved through the recitals of Qasidas (Burdah and Ghousiya). The beauty of Qasida Burdah, a poem written by Imam Busiri in praise of Prophet Mohammed, is that each verse ends with Arabic alphabet mim in a style called mimiya .
On the other hand, Qasida Ghousiya establishes a spiritual connection between the reciter and Hazrath Abdul Khader Jeelani (a gifted saint crowned with the crown of perfection). Longer than a ghazal but following a rhyme pattern, both subtle and smooth, this poem is a masterpiece in Arabic literature. Joining the chorus was Dr. Mohammed Salahuddin Ayub, the Chief Khazi to the Government of Tamil Nadu, who was among the ulemas and dignitaries who attended the Urs.
The traditional flag hoisting ceremony, which marks the beginning of the Urs was held on December 8. H. Habibullah Shah, who authored the biography of the saint ( Hayat-e-Qalandari ), said, “The sufi saint, who was born in Baghdad came to Hyderabad to propagate the spiritual aspects of Islam. Having gained training from his mentor, Hazrath Syed Saleh Maulana Madani of Colombo, he was conferred Qutubiath (highest order in Islamic spiritualism). Spreading the message of peace and love, the saint was revered by the people of Chennai in general and the locals of Mannady in particular.”
