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.
Whatever you write, our frenzy nation would believe that. Your story do not make any sense but there are many who would say ‘subhan allah’.
Thanks lol
I do not claim to know a lot about Muslim histroy. unfortunately Muslims are most intolerant and divided people. They kill each other just because of someone elses belief. If Shias commemorate the death of Imam Hussain what is the the problem of others. In the name of religion Muslem kills other Muslims which is forbidden in Quran Pak. We need a Kamal Ataturk in Pakistan and banning of all Madarsas will solve most problems.
Ali
Dear Ali Rizvi, Shia’s are killed because they disrespect the Hazrat Ama Ayesha and first three khulfa e rashdin.
but i am pretty much sure that its an indian myth..nothing to do with reality..
very interesting and informative article
@ Author
We support peaceful co-existence. But what a baseless story of Hussaini Brahmen you quoted. Total ignorance.
Nice piece of information about sacrifices of Hussaini Brahmins and Dutt clan. God is one and he is least worried of ” How we connect him ” , what affects is our intolerance that cynically tries to justify killings and conversions in his name.What matters is our dedicated love for that almighty.
every1 as well as every nation has his own history on Karbala….but instead of trapping ourselves in such….need to take lesson from this Tragedy….
Lies have no feet but many friends among the false story makers…
Where’s the real part of the history, we never know.
Information provided does not make sense. I wonder how the writer can relate things, which have nothing to do with the actual incident of Karbala.
The author is denying the truth of Karabla
Truly commendable work by the writer of this article. We wish that those days of tolerance, love and peace come to our beloved Pakistan again.
Interesting, Hardworking, but need more historical research to expose the more accurate picture of history.
This is the most interesting piece of history I have read ever. Whether it can be verified or not but I am deeply touched.
interesting. When we dig deeper we are all actually related somehow. But our prejudices, our intolerance and biases keep us apart.
Thanks for mentioning that Punjabi Puttar, we all should have respect and
tolerance for one another. But now a days people don’t respect one
another and people don’t have tolerance for one another because
of their differences
It would be nice if we can stop arguing who is right and who is wrong
and respect one another and be happy that Allah made us Muslims.
I am just happy over the fact the city we live and dwell had something to do with the tragic events of Karbala and all in positive connotation.
People with an interest and history can correct and update it.
Salman there is a mountain with a cave in Baluchistan. The people who live there say that Hazrat Ali (RA) had visited that place. The place is called Lahoot La Makan. According to the story the cave ends in Makkah.
Interesting fiction, vedas were recorded around 3000 BCE Islam came around 500 AD. Good message though which is, we belong to humanity first and then we chart our religious paths
Yes but a universal truth will appear in the scripture irrespective of its date.
Islam did not come around 500AD.
Beautiful Article. Brings tears to ones eyes. I hope one day we can all get along.
Shame on Dawn for this article
History is too important to be played around with!
The fallen emperor Yazdgird of Iran had two daughters which were present in Madina al-Munawara when the bounty of war was presented to Caliph (RA). The first daughter was married to the son of the 1st Caliph Abu Bakr (RA) and the second to the son of Imam Ali (RA): 3rd Imam Hussain.
There was no third daughter of Yazdgird before or after his defeat to the Holy Rashedun Army.
Regards, Yasser Hamid Khwarizmi
A great article, if we keep aside a few points, it gives such an important message to us. We Muslims need to wake up and realize how much blessed we are. It is just amazing how ancient Hindu manuscripts contained such amazing knowledge about Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S) and about the family of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). This shows that we need to open our eyes to these startling truths about our religion, found in other religions and be united for the sake of Islam! It’s just beautiful how people would join together in the past despite of their believes on the day of Ashura and mourn over the greatest tragedy of Islam. It’s a pity when I look at us today! The stone still weeps blood on the day of Ashura. What more can I say! Labaik Ya Hussain (A.S)
This is in response to history lover from India. There were two Chandragupta: I. Chandragupta Mauriya who ruled India 320-298 BC and 2. Chandragupta Vktrmaditya( also called Chandragupta II ), whose rule was 318-413 AD. Dawm made a mistake by publishing Mauriya. I hope it clears the confusion.
The battle of Karbala took place in year 680 AD. So it can’t be Chandragupta Vikramaditya either.
I must confess my ignorance and say that it is new knowledge for me. I humbly request the writer to come up with more such research based articles.
I request him to write about Hussaini Birhamins also, but after research.
My Salams to all those who sacrified their life for Prophet (SAWW) and His Family (Alaih e Salam).
Very strange article
How did this article manage to make it to the news??? I don’t understand anything in this article???