Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi

Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi a famous Sufi who was born at Tabriz, Iran and came to Bengal during the early period of Muslim rule. He was a disciple of Shaikh Abu Sayyid Tabrizi, but after the latter's death became a disciple of Shaikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi. The date of the death of Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi is a subject of controversy. Two dates are put forward: 623 AH/ 1226 AD, and 642 AH/1244 AD.

Quotes

• An anecdote relating to Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din’s stay in Deva Mahal reads like other stock-in-trade stories and fairytales. It was related by such an authority as Gisu Daraz. According to him Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din stayed at Pandua in the house of a flower vendor. On the day of his arrival, he found each of the house members crying. On enquiry he was told there was a demon in the temple who daily ate a young man. It was the king’s duty to provide the demon with his daily food. On that day it was the turn of the young son in the family. The Shaikh requested them to send him in place of their son but they refused to accept the offer for fear of the king. The Shaikh, then followed the young man to the temple and killed the demon with a single blow from his staff. When the king accompanied by his retinue reached the temple to worship the demon they were amazed to find the demon killed and an old man dressed in black with his head covered with a blanket. The Shaikh invited them to see the fate with their god. The sight of their vanquished idol prompted them to accept Islam.
  • Anecdote about Shykh Jalãlu’d-Dîn Tabrizî (AH 533-623) at Pandua. Jawamiu’l Kilãm in S.A.A. Rizvi in History of Sufism in India, New Delhi, 1978, Vol. I, pp. 201-202, footnote 4.

• “Shaikh Jalalu’d-Dîn had many disciples in Bengal. He first lived at Lakhnauti, constructed a khanqah and attached a langar to it. He also bought some gardens and land to be attached to the monastery. He moved to Devatalla (Deva Mahal) near Pandua in northern Bengal. There a kafir (either a Hindu or a Buddhist) had erected a large temple and a well. The Shaikh demolished the temple and constructed a takiya (khanqah) and converted a large number of kafirs… Devatalla came to be known as Tabrizabad and attracted a large number of pilgrims.”
  • About Shykh Jalãlu’d-Dîn Tabrizî (AH 533-623) (He was the second most outstanding disciple of Shykh Shihabu’d-Dîn Suhrawardî (AD 1145-1235), founder of the Suhrawardiyya silsilã of Sufism. Having lived in Multan, Delhi and Badaun, he finally settled down in Lakhanauti, also known as Gaur or Gauda, in Bengal.) Lakhnauti, Devatala (Bengal) . Siyaru’l-‘Ãrifîn, S.A.A. Rizvi in A History of Sufism in India. Vol. I, New Delhi, 1978, pp. 201-02.

• Shaykh Jalal ad-Din Tabrizi demolished a large temple and constructed a Takiyah (khanqah) at Devatalla (Deva Mahal) in Bengal...
  • Harsh Narain, Myths of Composite Culture and Equality of Religions (1990)

• The second most outstanding disciple of Shaikh Shihabu’d-Din Suhrawardi, who became famous in Bengal, was Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din Tabrizi. He studied at several places, including Bukhara. Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din and his father were disciples of Shaikh Abu Sa’id Tabrizi, but after the latter’s death Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din went to Baghdad and became the disciple of Shaikh Shihabu’d-Din. He excelled over all the Shaikh’s disciples in serving his pir. Shaikh Shihabu’d-Din was, at that time, quite elderly but continued to perform his yearly hajj. Because of his age, cold food was harmful to him. Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din devised and had made a special type of stove on which pots of hot food could be kept warm. He carried it on his head, dispensing food to the Shaikh whenever it was needed. He continued to serve his pir with great devotion for seven years.... Shaikh Jalalu’d-Din had many disciples in Bengal. He first lived at Lakhnauti, constructed a khangah and attached a langar to it. He also bought some gardens and land to be attached to the monastery. He moved to Devatalla (Deva Mahal) near Pandua in northern Bengal. There a kafir (either a Hindu or a Buddhist) had erected a large temple and a well. The Shaikh demolished the temple and constructed a takiya (khangqah) and converted a large number of kafirs.
  • Rizvi S.A.A. (1978) A History of Sufism in India, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, New Delhi, Vol. I, p. 199 ff. [1] (also quoted in Khan, M. A. (2011). Islamic Jihad: A legacy of forced conversion, imperialism and slavery. Chapter IV)