Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari

Sayyid Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari (, c. 595-690 AH, 1190 – 1295 CE was a saint from the Indian subcontinent. He belonged to the Jalali Sufi order and was descended from the 10th Shia Imam, Ali al-Hadi.

Early life
Bukhari, a family name, is derived from the location of his descent from the city of Bukhara in the ancient administrative region of Bukhara Province Uzbekistan. Sayyid Jalaluddin Bukhari was born in Multan but later settled in Uchh. Bukhari was nicknamed Surkh-Posh ("clad in red") because he often wore a red mantle.

Career
Bukhari's life was spent travelling. As an Islamic missionary, he converted tribes such as the Soomro, Samma, Chadhar, Sial, Daher and the Warar to Islam. Bukhari was one of the Chaar Yaar (not to be confused with the Rashidun). The Chaar Yaar were the group of pioneers of the Suhrawardiyya and Chisti Sufi movements of the 13th century. Bukhari founded the "Jalali" order.

According to legend: Jalaluddin Surkh Posh was on his way to India and met Chengiz Khan, the Mongol conqueror. So forth he tried to convince him to convert to Islam however failed.

Family
Bukhari's biography and family history are cited extensively in such works as the Marat-e-Jalali, the Mazher-i-Jalali, the Akber-ul-Akhyar, the Rauzat-ul-Ahbab, Maraij-ul-Walayat, Manaqabi Qutbi, the Siyar-ul-Aqtar, the Siyar-ul-Arifeen and the Manaqib-ul-Asifya. These manuscripts are held by Bukhari Sayyids, however the work Marat-e-Jalali was first published (by Asrar Karami Press) in 1918 into a book form from Allahabad, India (eBook) and its second edition with updates and more research material was printed (by V I Printers) as a book in 1999 from Karachi, Pakistan. His descendants are called Naqvi al-Bukhari. However, this book is heavily critiqued due to having names and family trees mixed up. Furthermore, the author a police officer claimed Bukhari lineage but did not know his own bloodline which he claimed to be of Bukhari lineage.

In Kannauj there is a mosque in the name of Bukhari's son Makhdoom Jahaniyan Jahangasht, built by Jahaniyan's descendant and Sikandar Lodi’s advisor Syed Sadarudin Shah Kabir Naqvi Al Bukhari. This mosque has an aesthetic blend of architectural styles.

The tomb of Bibi Jawindi and the tomb and mosque of Jalaluddin Bukhari have been on the "tentative" list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2004. World Monuments Fund also promotes its conservation.

Death
In 1244 CE (about 640AH), Bukhari moved to Uch, South Punjab (also known as Uch Sharif after the saint settled there) with his son, Baha-ul-Halim, where he founded a religious school. He died in 1290 CE and was buried in a small town near Uch. The tomb is a short way from the cemetery of Uch. It stands on a promontory overlooking the plains and the desert beyond. To one side of the tomb is a mosque decorated with blue tilework. In front of the tomb is a pool. A carved wooden door leads into the room containing Bukhari's coffin. UNESCO describes the site: "The brick-built tomb measures 18 meters by 24 meters and its carved wooden pillars support a flat roof and it is decorated with glazed tiles in floral and geometric designs. The ceiling is painted with floral designs in lacquer and its floor is covered with the graves of the saint and his relatives an interior partition provides 'purdah' for those of his womenfolk. Its mosque consists of a hall, measuring 20 meters by 11 meters, with 18 wooden pillars supporting a flat roof. It was built of cut and dressed bricks and further decorated, internally and externally, with enamelled tiles in floral and geometric designs."