Abdullah Shah Ghazis 1,280th Urs begins

The 1,280th Urs of patron saint of Karachi Abdullah Shah Ghazis has started on Saturday. Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad opened the three-day rituals that will last till Nov 29. The rites of washing the Mausoleum of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi took place at the Mazaar located in Clifton. Meanwhile, in a bid to foil any terror attack, heavy contingents comprising police and rangers personnel have been deployed at Mazaar. Sindh government has taken special stringent security measures for Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazis Urs. BackgroundThe real name of Abdullah Shah was General Abdulla bin Nabhan. Who along with another senior commander, Badil bin Tuhafa, had launched a military expedition against the local ruler, Raja Dahir. The assault was a response to the activities of Raja Dahir, who was seen as encouraging pirates to raid Arab shipping. The war is generally attributed to being triggered by a noble woman who wrote to the then Governor of Basra, Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, that she had been kidnapped. Al Hajjaj then wrote a letter to the Raja Dahir who replied that he did not exercise any control over pirates in his kingdom thereby triggering a military expedition that ensued at Debal, near modern day Karachi. Later, a second mission was entrusted to a young commander, Muhammad bin Qasim who successfully defeated the Raja and rescued the noble woman and the other muslim prisoners. This version is at odds with first, as it paints a picture of an Ummayad prince. Ummayyads persecuted the progeny of prophet Muhammad particularly the families of the imams in whom was vested religious authority which challenged the former's role as Kahalifas (Caliphs).While Muhammad bin Qasim pressed on to topple the Raja and conquer, Abdullah Shah continued to live and preach Islam in Sindh. Beside preaching, Abdullah Shah was very fond of hunting. In old times, Sindh had plenty of wildlife like ibex, urial, blue bull, gazelle and deer. In his passion for hunting, Abdullah used to go far from the base and while he had was far enough away he was intercepted by the enemy. Out-numbered, he preferred to fight rather than submitting and it is because of this display of valor he was given the title of Ghazi meaning victorious. He died in the year 773 near the sea while dressed in war attire. He was buried at the present place, atop a hill in Karachi. Abdullah Shah Ghazi's shrine in Karachi is dated back to 1400 years ago, his brother, Syed Misry Shah, who is also buried along the coastline in Karachi, is also remembered as a saint. A famous myth about the mazar is that Karachi never had a tropical disaster in a thousand year because of the shrine's blessing.