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.
Very interesting read!
Wife of Hussain was sister to wife of Chandragupta Vikramaditya. It was Chandragupta who asked Rahib Dutt (our ancestor) to help his co-brother Hussain. It is said in our folklore that our ancestor got back the head of Hussain which was buried with Body at Karbala.
I am a Mohiyal (Dutt brahmin). As mentioned, we are not rajputs, We are part of Baavan jai Saraswat. In all 16 of brahmin Gotra fall in here. Always lived & worshipped in Muslim lands, Never converted(except for Gakkars). Oh by the way, We are not told that any of our family branch lived in Lahore, May Be Gakkars. They converted to Islam so not longer part of the clan. Ancestors lived in Iraq, then Singh and then Peshawar & then Jammu. Now largely in Haryana/Punjab/East UP
Wea re hardly few lacs in numbers but have 2 Paramveer Chakras in wars with pakistan & Yes Sunil Dutt & Sanjay are Mohiyal Brahmins and so is Barkha dutt.
Very interesting post, but the Ghakkars of Potohars are not Brahmins. In fact the Ghakkar clan has no place at all within the Hindu caste system. Brahmins would perhaps consider them as Shudras. They owe their high social status in Potohar to the political power they have always wielded there.
Also there are many Muslim Dutts in West Punjab so it is incorrect to say none converted to Islam.
This seems incorrect. The place Hindustan do came during conversation with Ibne Saad
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.
Please explain this…as this goes aganist the teching of IMAM A.S
How many Shias outside Pakistan know that the grave of Ruqayya, sister of Imam Hussain and wife of Muslim Ibne Aqeel is in Lahore????? This story needs to be explored much more in depth in order to estbalish its authenticity.
One version puts the graves as being 12th century. The other as being of Ruquiyya. This doubt will remain … always. Ali Hasan of Hajweri (Data Ganj Bakhsh) claimed it in his book as being of Ruquiyya. I have my doubts.
yes, I agree with Mr.Bhatti.
Dear Majid Sheikh,
I am a Mohiyal or what is called ‘Dutt Brahmin’. We are not Rajputs by a stretch and fall under Bavanjaayi Saraswat Brahmins. Our ancestors have always lived in Islamic lands and none of the Gotra, total of 16 fall under Dutt Brahmins (except Gakkars) converted. We are not ‘karma kandi Brahmins’, we are ‘Shashtradhari brahmins, we wield weapon.
The famous of the clan are Maj Somnath Sharma (Param veer Chakra), Sunil Dutt, Barkha Dutt ..
Rahab did not return to Lahore, he and our ancestors stayed in Iraq’s Basra for centureis before moving to SIndh and then Peshawar & Jammu and later to modern day Kanpur & Parts of Punjab/Haryana.
Lahore as a city was founded by Son of Lord Ram(Love).
Its fight between liberals and conservatives
Its fight between seculars and communals
Hussein represents secular or liberal. Yazid represented conservative/communal.
Whom do you support?now Karbala is Pakistan
Imam hussain R.A was way above these petty labels.
Mauryan Empire existed between 322 BC to 185 BC………..the war of Karbala was fought in 7th century AD !!!
Come on check all the facts before writing anything on such a reputed newspaper.
Best Regards,
History Lover from India
There are lot of factual inacciracies in the article.. It was Chandragupta Vikramaditya. His wife and Hussain’s wife were sister. Similarly, we are not Rajputs but Brahmins.
Absolutely correct, I was about to write the same.
Author needs to rechck his article in detail.
What a none sense this article is
Dear Waqar,
We exist and so does our history. Ask the Shias of Lucknow/kanpur & kashmir who come to invite our family for Tazzeeya. yes they touch feet of our elders too.
complete nonsense.
Amazing details !
Great research sir!…….
Where is the research?
Thank you for this article… I didn’t know that we Lahoris were this great…
My prayers and wishes are with you…
Its sad that the majority Muslims keep quiet when minority Hindus were driven out of Pakistan.There was no one saving us and our property.
I stood for my Pakistani Hindu brothers. I will always stand for them.
A similar thing happened in India also, when millions of Muslims died while coming to Pakistan
Population of Hindus in Pakistan has reduced significantly after independence.Less than 2% Hindus are present in Pakistan today.
They have converted to Christianity, as I have.
khurram–,millions of Hindus died coming to India during partition
Disappointing to hear that Brahmins fought for Muslims.
That time it was nothing to do with islam, it was to save the husband of Chandragupta Vikramaditya’s wife’s sister of Saadu bhai as they say in India. islam per say was nothing as it is now. Mohd’s father and uncel were worhsipers of Shiva and used to recite poetry in his honor. There is lot of historical evidence in support of that.
“all these facts”?
This is a very very strange article. I couldn’t find any solid evidence to back any claim.
There is no evidence.
It wasnt tollerance back then, it was love for humanity that died somewhere in the mist of lack of knowledge
Very nice
one of the most intriguing pieces i have read in a while
Sub ka Hussain (a.s) Rub ka Hussain (a.s). Excellent article!!!
Great piece and thank you. Its a shame that we do not have an outlet from where we can learn this history. This is the stuff that united us all and is stuff that we can be proud of. thank you again.
While the message is indeed well intended, some of the connections made between disparate facts are misleading.
And how do we say Ali bin Hussain wrote to the Indian king for military aid? That just does not gel with the whole purpose of Karbala as explained by the Imam – showing the people the folly of their believes by using one of their own ways! how is the soul purified by getting overpowered physically!!!!
BTW, two supporters who went with Ninth Guru Shri Teg Bhadur, in a passive defiance of atrocious acts of Mighty Mughal emperor AurangJeb, were also Mohyal brahmins. They offered themselves, along with Ninth Guru, for most horrible death and suffered the atrocities by singing hymns.
factually incorrect ..although interesting article … yes hindus may have been involved in assisting their friends in Karbala as hindustan was very rich then and extended its might beyond …but lahore residents then were not muslims and islam took many 100s of years later to come to india…
Brother, Article is saying the same thing. Hussaini Brahimins were not muslims, but they helped Imam Hussain. May Allah (SWT) raise us with our role model Imam Hussain (AS), and raise others with their role models.
This is completely non-sence, Muslims were in power at that time and there were millions of Muslims who could have helped Hazrat Imam Hussain if he at any stage requested any help. India was so far to be asked for help instead of Makkah and Madina and there were Sahaba in large numbers who could have helped them if they had asked for any help. Please stop spreading non-sence. Hazrat Imam Hussain requested any help from any non muslim what a non-sence…
I am not concerened about article. But one thing is sure that all muslims and India were Hindu or belonged to some other religion.
Wrong…!