A narrow incline goes directly to the shrine of Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani ­— descendant of Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani ­— in Hyderabad’s densely-populated Pucca Qilla area. Jillani is a saint for not just one sect, but many: its outer premises abut Qadam Gah Maula Ali, but Jillani is protected by the community, Sunnis and Shias alike, that lives around the shrine.

Both Jillani’s shrine and Qadam Gah Maula Ali are among the most-frequented religious places in Hyderabad, but despite being located adjacent to each other, no unpleasant incident of sectarian strife has ever been reported. There is coexistence, as visitors and devotees pay homage in their own ways. Their managements organise their respective programmes without any issues, reflecting a sense of accommodation and respect for each others’ religious beliefs despite holding different positions and interpretations on Islam.

In practice, the Jillani shrine’s management is a fair example of community ownership — of the devotees, for the devotees and by the devotees. Most of its affairs are looked after by the Syedna Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani Trust that is led by Haji Gulshan Ellahi, whose trust meets many expenses of the shrine and other religious gatherings that are organised there.

Of late, the area is cramped because of repair and renovation work. Repair and renovation work began in 2008, after the Sindh government approved a project cost (PC)-I of Rs139m, which is a revised cost. Development work on the shrine had begun after then Sindh chief minister, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, had approved it following Ellahi’s request. A PC-I of Rs35.74m was then ‘okayed’ by the government in September 2008 but revised first to Rs84.74m in February 2012, and then to Rs139m. Thus far, Rs73.190m has been spent and the remaining Rs66.719m is to be released by the Sindh government, for which a summary awaits the approval of Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.

Community ownership of Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani’s shrine in Hyderabad brings together various sects, reports Mohammad Hussain Khan

This renovation work is a major development in the known history of the shrine. Back in the early 80s, work on the shrine’s mosque was executed on the directives of then Sindh governor, Ashraf Tabani. According to the website of the Auqaf department, Hazrat Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jillani was the descendent of Hazrat Shah Abdul Qadir Jillani. He migrated from Baghdad to Kathri Sharif near Hyderabad. His father’s name was Syed Ahmed Shah. He set up madressahs whose ulema spread the teachings of Islam. His urs is observed between Rabi-us-Sani 22 to 24.

“We have purchased some shops from our Trust’s funds and are negotiating with some other inhabitants and shop owners in the area so that their area can be annexed with the shrine for expansion purposes,” says Ellahi. He says that if he is able to purchase shops for the shrine, it will create an aesthetically pleasing look to the shrine’s front elevation from the Pucca Qilla incline.

“So far we have purchased seven shops from our own funds for the shrine’s expansion,” Ellahi says. “We purchased space for mehfil khana and langar khana out of our own funds. The cost of the seven shops is Rs2.4m, and this space has been handed over to the works and services department so that it can be utilised accordingly in development works of the mosque and ablution area.”

Expansion is doable towards the northern side of the shrine. Besides, if an adjacent hotel is purchased and its space is annexed with the shrine’s area, it would create a sizeable ground for devotees and for distribution of food among deserving people who throng the shrine on special occasions. Even otherwise, food is distributed among them by philanthropists and devotees of Jillani on the roadside causing road blockades.

Besides men, the women’s turnout on special occasion is always huge. Keeping this in view, a separate area in the basement has been created for them so that they can visit the shrine to pay homage. “We have separated the area for women under the new construction so that they can visit the shrine from there and can have food as well,” says Ellahi who has been associated with the shrine for the last 35 years. Professionally, he is engaged with the construction sector in the city.

Ellahi explains that the mosque structure has been expanded as well but finishing and renovation work are yet to begin, for which approval of the summary is awaited. “The major work is that of the shrine’s dome, which is dependent on approval of second summary of Rs66.719m. Some Rs11m have been spent on constructing columns to provide a solid foundation to the main shrine.”

The shrine’s security, however, remains a major area of concern. Having three different exits, the shrine is looked after by only one policeman. Surprisingly, no policewoman has been posted. On occasions such as Shab-i-Barat, authorities usually block the road leading to the shrine for motorcyclists.

“We badly need policewomen for security duties and this has been brought to the notice of police authorities, but all in vain,” Ellahi says, arguing that religious gatherings to mark different occasions are organised round the year. In the 10-day celebrations of Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi, when renowned ulema from the Ahl-i-Sunnah sect address the gatherings, security becomes a concern.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 20th, 2014