User:Alishahs/Shah Dhand Baba

Shah Dhand Baba Shah Dhand Baba is the name of a 17th Century religious scholar and spiritual leader from Mardan District of Pakistan. He is believed to have travelled to Mardan and settled there to promote religion. He is the forefather of the Syed population in Mardan. Unlike other spiritual centres in Pakistan, there is no annual Urs (or a conference) held in Shah Dhand Baba because of the traditional belief of his descendants. Shah Dhand Baba's descendents do not allow people to ask for prayers from him as they believe that only Allah controls destiny.

Shah Dhand Baba's own name was Syed Azad Shah. His forefathers came from Hijaz (modern day Saudi Arabia) to the Pashtun dominated areas of the Sub Continent (now Pakistan). They travelled via Iraq and Iran through modern day Pakistan.

Shah Dhand Baba is a Hassani and Hussaini descendent of the the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and followed the Sunni Muslim sect. His lineage is tracked to Syed Abdul Qadir Gillani.

Shah Dhand Baba is buried in a mausoleum in Par Hoti area of Mardan district. In reverence to Shah Dhand Baba, the area is now famously known as the Shah Dhand Baba village. Around his mausoleum is a large grave yard where thousands of locals and disciples are burried - again known as Shah Dhand Baba grave yard.