Karbala and how Lahore was involved
A Muharram procession in Lahore, Pakistan.—File Photo
IN our school and college days we all loved to assist friends set up ‘sabeels’ alongside Lahore`s traditional ‘Ashura’ procession, providing cold drinks to the thousands who mourned. Sects and beliefs never mattered then. But then neither did one`s religion.
For well over 1,332 years, the tragedy of Karbala moves everyone who hears about it, be they Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh or any other religion. This is one incident that brings out the need to support those with a moral position.
As children we attended the ‘sham-i-ghareeban’ with our Shia friends, and learnt the lesson of supporting those in the right. Everyone respected the beliefs of others. Yes, there were always a few silly chaps who wanted attention, but they were at best ignored.
The ancient city of Lahore is connected to the tragedy in no uncertain terms.
Historical accounts say seven brave warriors from Lahore died while fighting in the Battle of Karbala. It is said their father Rahab Dutt, an old man who traded with Arabia in those days, had promised the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) to stand by his grandson in his fight to uphold the truth.
That pledge the brave Rajput Mohiyals of the Dutt clan from Lahore upheld.
Today they are known as Hussaini Brahmins, who lived in Lahore till 1947.
Then there is the fact that besides the Hindu Rajputs of Lahore, in the battle also fought John bin Huwai, a freed Christian slave of Abu Dharr al-Ghafari, whose `alleged` descendents, one researcher claims, still live inside the Walled City of Lahore.
I have been on the track of these ancestors for quite some time and have been able to trace one Christian family living inside Mori Gate. They claim to have a connection with a `Sahabi` whose name they cannot recollect. M. A. Karanpikar`s `Islam in Transition`, written over 250 years ago, made this claim, but I do not think it is a claim worth pursuing.
But the most powerful claim of Lahore as the place where the descendents of Hussain ibn All came lies in the Bibi Pak Daman graveyard, where the grave of Ruquiya, sister of Hussain ibn Ali and wife of Muslim ibn Ageel, is said to exist.
Also graves here attributed to the sisters of Muslim ibn Ageel and other family members. Many dispute this claim.
But then no less a person than Ali Hasan of Hajweri, known popularly as Data Sahib, came here every Thursday to offer ‘fateha’ at the grave, informing his followers that this was the grave of Ruquiya. The place where he always stood to offer `fateha` has been marked out, and his book also verifies this claim. Mind you detractors exist, of this have no doubt, but the supporting evidence is quite strong.
Let me begin the story of the Dutts by going through the record of the Shaukat Khanum Hospital and the recorded fact that Indian film star Sunil Dutt, who belonged to Lahore, made a donation to the hospital and recorded the following words: ‘For Lahore, like my elders, I will shed every drop of blood and give any donation asked for, just as my ancestors did when they laid down their lives at Karbala for Hazrat Imam Husain.
Makes you think -but then there is this account which says that the seven sons of Rahab Dutt lost their lives defending the Imam at Karbala. The Martyr’s List at Qum verifies this. History records when the third thrust by Yazid’s forces came, the Dutt brothers refused to let them pass. The seven Punjabi swordsmen stood their ground till they were felled by hundreds of horsemen. In lieu of the loyalty of the Dutt family to that of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) was coined the famous saying: ‘Wah Dutt Sultan, Hindu ka dharm, Musalman ka iman, Adha Hindu adha Musalman.’ Since then, so the belief goes, Muslims were instructed never to try to convert the Dutts to Islam.
A grieving Rahab returned to the land of his ancestors, and after staying in Afghanistan, returned to Lahore. I have tried my very best to locate their ‘mohallah’ inside the Walled City, and my educated guess is that it is Mohallah Maulian inside Lohari Gate. Later they moved to Mochi Gate, and it was there that the famous Dutts lived before 1947 saw them flee from the hate of the people they gave everything for.
The most interesting thing about the Hussaini Brahmins is that they are highly respected among Hindus, and even more amazingly it is said that all direct ancestors of Rahab Dutt are born with a light slash mark on their throat, a sort of symbol of their sacrifice. I was reading a piece by Prof Doonica Dutt of Delhi University who verified this claim and said that all true Dutts belong to Lahore.
I must point out to an amazing version of these events that an Indian historian, Chawala, has come up with. It says that one of the wives of Hazrat Imam Husain, the Persian princess Shahr Banu, was the sister of Chandra Lekha or Mehr Banu, the wife of an Indian king Chandragupta. We know that he ruled over Lahore. When it became clear that Yazid ibn Muawiya was determined to eliminate Hussain ibn Ali, the son of Hussain (named Ali) rushed off a letter to Chandragupta asking for assistance. The Mauriyan king, allegedly, dispatched a large army to Iraq to assist. By the time they arrived, the Tragedy of Karbala had taken place.
In Kufa in Iraq a disciple of Hazrat Imam Husain is said to have arranged for them to stay in a special part of the town, which even today is known by the name of Dair-i-Hindiya or ‘the Indian quarter’ The Hussaini Brahmins believe that in the Kalanki Purana, the last of 18 Puranas, as well as the Atharva Veda, the 4th Veda, refers to Hazrat Imam Husain as the avatar of the Kali Yug, the present age. They believe that the family of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him)is Om Murti, the most respected family before the Almighty.
All these facts bring me back to our days as school children working hard to provide relief to the mourners on Ashura. Reminds me of our neighbour Nawab Raza Ali Qizilbash, who invited us to his ‘haveli’ every year to see the preparations before the event. Raza Bhai is no more, and neither is the tolerance that we all enjoyed so much.
Though utterly lacking facts,Majid Shaikh has provided a good script for future TV drama.
for real muslims… our focus should be the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s sunnah and his ahlulbayt… common logic.. the Prophet showed so much love and affection to his grand sons.. which is documented clearly in Islamic History… when His beloved Grandson Imam Hussain sacrificed him and his family to save the religion of Islam.. the least we can do is commemorate and recognise the great sacrifice he gave.. we have hijabs on our heads today but at that time the hijabs of the Prophet’s family were snatched from their heads.. peace and blessing be on our beloved Prophet and his family who ultimately scarificed everything to save this religion.. my dear brothers and sisters.. pls with an open mind read Islamic History the truth will be crystal clear.. the truth has been hidden for many years.. the general muslims have relied on hear say to make judgements about people and their beliefs.. pls do your own research and then form opinions based on facts not hearsay pls … your sister in Islam
What is truth? what you say or what they say? cause what it is to them is not to you & what it is to you not to them. Why cant we JUST BE MUSLIMS like our Prophet (P.B.U.H), Hazrat Ali (A.S) & Imam Hussain? why cant we simply follow QURAN & Prophet (P.B.U.H) teachings rather than believing on old history written by someone (hearsay) which cannot be authenticated by anyone? Imam Hussain gave the great sacrifice to protect the Teachings of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) & Word of Allah (Quran) which is Islam & followers are called MUSLIMS not Sunni, Shia, Wahabi, Baralvi and what not sect muslim. Wake up & unite Muslims brothers and sisters as we were at the time of Prophet (P.B.U.H).
Such articles having no authentic record, specially relating to sectarian issues should not be published by news papers. Further the newspapers should also accept the negative view of the people having authentic records. The responsible authorities, controlling the media realize that the articles having baseless material create hatred. Media should bear responsibility in this respect.
Sunil dutt and his wife nargas belong to sanghoi Jhelum and not to Lahore.
For real Muslims…our focus should be only Holy Qur’an Confirmed Ahadees
How far is Lahore from Karbala? How long would it take a rider on a horse to traverse this distance? How many horses would he need? There is no recorded history of Islam having come to the Punjab by that time.
History tells us very clearly that Hazrat Ali(A.S.) had come to Hind atleast once in his lifetime his footprints have been left in present Pakistan and India both.
QADAM SHAREEF IN Thatta is an example
To me its history and never heard that Lahore and Karbala were so close and to travel by land was impossible.Well each one to his belief but have full faith in mohurum and have for Zairat with my late wife.Faith can only heal and wish Icould visit again
Kindly read history before writing something the Hindus of that time frequently travel to Arabian peninsula for trade
Following the conspiracy theory above, here is a real lesson in history ..mourya dynasty and chandragupta’s rein were more 250 and 500 years before christianity and (hence islam) came to being.
Muhammad Sahib (PBUH) said to the world – stop worshiping all gods, except the Supreme God Allah. The supreme God is known as ‘Maha Dev’ among Hindus. Maha Dev is also called Lord Shiva. One of the most ancient Sanskrit names for Shivalinga is ‘Allah’. Shivalinga is just a yogic depiction of Ardh-Narishwar (God is just not a male, it is made of both woman and man).
Muhammad Sahib (PBUH) himself removed all other idols from Kaaba, but established Shvalinga there with his own hands. Ask any Hazi, they go around the Shivalinga (the famos black stone at Kaaba) seven times in Mecca. Guru Nanak himself went there to verify this. Going around Shivalinga for seven times in white robes and less hairs is an vedic rituals of worshiping. This performed by every Hazi. The Minarets of Mecca are aligned towards Kailash – the spiritual abode of Shiva. Shiva has the crescent moon on his head, so there is a crescent moon symbol right next to the black stone. That is why moon is worshiped in Islam. 786 is nothing bit Hindu symbol ‘AUM’ if read from right to left (as practiced in Arabic).
So Prophet Muhammad Sahib (PBUH) established a religion devoted only to Allah (Shiva).
That black stone is not a Hindu god AT ALL….it is a sacred stone sent from heaven.A branch of hindu religion is based around Islam and not the other way round.
Rubbish. Nonsense.
The crescent and star was first used by Muslims hundreds of years after Muhammad during the Ottoman Empire.
This what the Qur’an states:
[Quran41.037] And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Worship not the sun not the moon; but worship Allah Who created them…
@Vish…
.
What you have stated is demonstratively untrue.
what utter rubbish???? The Mauryan’s died out in the early first century BC?????????
Karbala was fought in the 7th century AD – what a joke?
Well researched and support by historical facts.
hahaha, what a joke!
“….and neither is the tolerance that we all enjoyed so much”… Baat tu sach hai magar baat hai ruswai ki… so true!
Good research, Can you please share the list which enlists the name of these 7 Martyrs as well. Will be great help.
it is very informative and valuable research. I would like to appreciate dawn for publishing it.
Fantastic article. We have a common humanity. Let us bring back the tolerance of this beautiful past. My respects go out to the Dutt clan and the Hussaini brahmins.
Thanks Mr. Majid Sheikh. Please keep writing.
@ Abbasi…1) Those who invited Imam Hussain to Karbala for help were the “MUSLIM”
2) Later who betrayed Imam Hussain were the “MUSLIMS”
3) who killed Imam Hussain were the “Muslim”
and yes he did ask for help out loud when he was left alone and all of his loved ones were dead.It was Imam Hussain’s final Hujjat final call for help to all Muslims. Nobody came.
No one betrayed anyone. Karbala was about allegience and politics…and poor fight strategy.
Such articles depress me. Imam Hussain (RA) and Khanwada-e-Rasool (SA) do not need friends in this way. Please write something after research as many of us have demanded. Believe me, Waqia-e-Karbala is not new for us.
Beautiful article……. !!! i believe the facts
Very well written..
it doesnt makes any sense . The author has made up a story on his own . Why not follow the footsteps of shuhada e karbala rather than making up false stories.