Uch Sharif

Uch Sharif has played a signficant role in the making of our history . For some time it served as a provincial metropolis of the well known raj hindu dynasty and then the capital of nasir-uddin qabacha . However, it remained a favorite place of religious excellence and piety throughout the period of its existence The city once possessed several sun temples . with the advent of islam sprang up various institutions of formal and infomal education . it was divided into three socio-administrative sectors :-
1-Uch Jilani 2-Uch Bukhari 3-Uch Moghla
Uch jilani was founded by syed saif-uddin Ghazrooni while Uch Bhkhari by syed Jalal-uddin surkh bukhari. The saintly personages living in the city imparted mystic training and guidance to the thousands who approached. The suhrawardia silsila was established over here by jalal-uddin surkh bukhari. The place got name and fame due to jalal-uddin makhdoom jahanian jahangasht. similarly, syed muhammad ghous jilani hallabi established the qadirya silsila. it was Uch from where this order spread to entire subcontinent and was carried to indonesia and malaysia. The famous tombs existing at Uch include those of makhdoom hazrat bahawal haleem, makhdoom jahanian jahangasht, bibi javindi, the tomb of the wife of jahanian jahangasht, who was the daughter of sultan lange khan, the governer of multan whose name there is a garden in multan. The oldest shrine at Uch is that of sheikh saif-uddin ghazrooni, who was the first muslim saint to settle down at Uch. Most probably, Ghazrooni`s is the oldest muslims tomb in the whole of sub-continent. Makhdoom shams-uddin and makhdoom Nau bahar are the sajjada nasheens of jilani and Bukhari syed`s shrines respectively-the former having sunni faith and the later shia faith. thousands of devotees from far flung areas come to Uch sharif at the time of ‘urs’ which is held every year in april. These sajjada nasheens have in thier possession rare islamic ralics of older days, which have been preserved with great care. The sajjada nasheen of Uch Bokhari has the following relics:-(1) A turban of the holy prophet, (2) A robe and mantle of the holy prophet,(3)”samsam”(sword) of hazrat imam hassan,(4) A cap of hazrat shaikh abdul qadir jilani of beghdada, (5) The turban and mantle of hazrat salman farsi. The sajjada nasheen of Uch jilani is the custodian of:- (1) Holy prophet’s footprints, (2) a few chapters of the Holy Quran written by Hazrat Imam Hussain and (3) a tooth of Hazrat Awais Qarni.

Syed Jalaluddin Munir Shah (Surkh Bukhari)

Every Thursday disciples come to the shrine of Hazrat Syed Jalal-uddin Munir Shah Mir Surkh Bukhari at Uch Sharif near AhmedpurEast. He is also known by a variety of names such as Sher Shah, Mir Surkh, Sharifullah, Abul Barkat, Mir Buzurug, Makhdoom Azam, Jalal Akbar, and Azimullah. but his eminence in sufi order can be guessed from the fact that Hazrat Surkh Bukhari is the grandfather of Makhdoom Jahanian. He was also the disciple of Hazrat Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria and established the Suharwardiya Silsila at Uch Sharif. The saint was born in 595 A H (1177 A.D.) after completing his education, he travelled to Najaf, Hijaz, Jerusalem himself to prayers and meditation. on return to Indo-Pakistan Sub-continent, he founded the city Jhang Sial and built a monastery. A legend says that one day he went out after locking his room but students in the monastery heard voices calling the various names of God from his room. it was discovered that the container from which he drank water was reciting the Quranic verses.
Hazrat Jalal-uddin Bukhari ( Jahanian Jahangasht )
The shrine of Hazrat Jalal-uddin Bukhari, nick-named Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangasht (traveller of the world) is at Uch Sharif, AhmedpurEast. He was the grandson of Syed Munir Shah Jalal-uddin Mir Surkh Bukhari. He was born in 706 A.H. (1303 A.D.) and belongs to the suharwardiya school of sufi thought. He settled down at Uch after travels to Mecca, Madina, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Khurasan. He also spent some time in the service of Hazrat Nazeer-uddin Dehlvi of the Chishtia order. His Urs of death anniversary is celebrated on the tenth of Zilhaj, the last month of the Muslim calendar. He died in 1383 A.D.
Tomb of Bibi Jiwindi
The Tomb is built in 1494 A.D by Muhammad Dilshad of Khorasan. It is the most remarkable monument of its kind at UCH. The personage lying buried here was the pious lady popularly known as Bibi Jiwindi, the great Daughter of Syed Jalal-u-din bokhari jahangasht. The tomb was built on octagonal base and crowned with a single raised on externally octagonal drum. The tomb as provided with arched windows. The walls and turrets taper upwords. The monument is profusely and brilliantly decorated with mosaic in White, Blue and Green Colour in 1817 A.D, a fierce flood destroyed almost half of it.
Shrine of Muluk Shah
The shrine of Muluk Shah is located in the Bahawalpur City. He was a great Saint of his time and had a great following in the area. People come to offer Fateha at his tomb on Thursdays, Eid and Ashura Days. A small fair is also held on the mazar every year.
Musafir Khana
It is 25 km from Ahmed pur east. It is said that there are seven tombs known as ‘Ali Ashab’. These tombs are said to be of the companions of holy prophet (peace be upon him). A fair is held in the village which has been named as ‘Ali Ashab’ and visited by the local people every Friday in the month of jeth (May) and on Fridays in the month of ‘Har’ (june).
Other Shrines
The shrine of Khawaja Noor Muhammad known as Qibla-e-Alam is at Chishtian. The shrine of Hazrat Mohkam Din known as Sahib-us-Sair (great traveller) is at Khanqah Sharif about 30 Kms from AhmedpurEast. Another saint also known as Khawaja Noor Muhammad is buried at Chachran.

Channar Pir

The famous Cholistan desert known as “Rohi” to the locals is about 45 kms from AhmedpurEast which has its own culture. Cholistan is derived from “Cholna” means moving. Therefore, the people of Cholistan lead a semi-nomadic life usually moving from one place to another in search of water and fodder for their animals. In the middle of the desert, there is a shrine of Pir Chanar who was a disciple of Makhdoom Jahanian Jahangasht. The Pir was brought up in a state of destitution. It was believed that the Ziarat to his tomb protects the children. The Pir never married but had seven brothers whose descendants are called the Channars. The approach to the shrine is very difficult. but the annual urs at the beginning of March- is held at his tomb in a colourful manner which is known as the Mela Channar Pir. A large crowd gathers on the night of full moon to offer Fateha. People of the area start for the fair sufficiently in advance through camel caravans marching day and night to the tune of little bells or trinkets around the neck of the camels.