Articles
Zeeshan Ahad According to Religions accounts, Sheikh Noor-U-Din R.A, during his adolescence was highly engaged in worldly activities as per the wishes of his family and especially from his brothers. Sheikh Noor-U-Din R.A, sometimes on the insistence of his brothers used to go for robbery along with them. But he was never absent from the remembrance and worship of God. First Night One night Sheikh Noor-U-Din R.A, went to rob a rich house along with his brothers who ordered him to go inside and steal heavy things and hand over to them. When Sheikh Noor-U-Din R.A, went inside he saw trunks full of Gold, Silver and Jewels. He didn’t touch them but picked the millstone in which Salt and Dry Pepper was grinded and handed it over to his brothers through the window. His brother got confused and ordered Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA) to bring lighter material as soon as possible. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (R.A) as per their instructions brought and old sieve (an instrument used for filtering food items) and gave it to her brothers. When his brothers saw it, they got angry on him and called the sieve useless. Second Night Another night all the brothers including Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA) went for another robbery. After stealing a cow and a woollen shawl from the house his brothers ordered Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), to reach home alone with both the cow and the shawl. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), narrates while reaching near his house he saw a dog howling continuously, in two-by-two style. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), stood there in front of the dog and understand the meaning of dog’s woofing. Emotion gulfed him, tears start dripping from his eyes, then he tied the cow nearby and placed the woollen shawl over her back and left the place. After some days, when his brothers questioned Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), about the cow and the shawl, Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA) replied, “A dog advised me, what shall you grow will reap, this world is the test for the hereafter. Hearing this his brother scolded him hardly. Third and the Last Night Another night Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), went for thieving again with his brother. At this time, they braked into a poor house. Family member woke up after hearing their noises but remained silent and told each other that “thieves will get ashamed as we are helpless and indigence.” Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), after sighting their helplessness and poverty, put his headcover over them ran out of the house and told the brothers that the family woke up and I left his cover sheet there. His brothers scolded him severely. And told the whole story to his mother. Sheikh Noor-U-Din’s (RA), mother explained a lot to him and finally said to him that if he is not comfortable with going with his brother for stealing, then he should learn other skill. His mother finally took him to a local weaver where Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), learned the weaving art for sometime and finally left the place after entering in his early 30’s. Entering Spiritual World One day Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), told his mother, “Forgive me from today my God is responsible for my sustenance,” saying this he left his home and travelled to various regions of Kashmir valley for several months. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), narrates after he reached Adwan Village (now a village in South Kashmir’s Shopian) he fell asleep at night and he saw Prophet Muhammad PBUH, along with his four companions Hazrat Abu-Bakr (RA) first Caliph, Hazrat Umer (RA) second Caliph, Hazrat Usman (RA) third Caliph and Hazrat Ali (RA) fourth Caliph of Islam sailing a boat on a dry land. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), further narrates that Prophet Muhammad PBUH, called him inside the boat and asked his name from his blessed tongue. Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), replied my name is “Nund” which means beautiful and virtuous. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), further asked your name is good, worthy and beautifying they you shouldn’t do bad at all. May you and your name be blessed. Then Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) put his blessed hands on his shoulder and prayed and his four companions said ‘Amen’. Soon, after the dream when Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA) woke up. He found himself transformed, a slight of spirituality opened in his eyes, his heart filled with un-countable knowledge of hidden mysteries. For Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), no secret of this world was hidden for him. The divine love for God Almighty was ignited inside his chest which has reduced physical, emotional desires to ashes. From eating to drinking, he became highly watchful. Spending time in the remembrance of God was his utmost priority.Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), started abstaining Sleep. The condition reached at the point when people used to find Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), unconscious on the grounds mud on his head, tears in his eyes after meditation and this spiritual state continued till his death. Additionally, Sheikh Noor-U-Din (RA), besides being a Spiritual character he was also a Sufi-Religious Poet who spread Islam teachings, ‘Tawheed’, oneness of God through his poems which are called ‘Shruks’ in Kashmiri language. The Saint died at the age of 63, in 1438 AC which is 842 Hijri of Islamic Calendar at Qaimuh village of South Kashmir’s Kulgam. His body was later buried at Chari-E-Sharaf, a town situated in Central Kashmir’s Budgam. His annual day (Urs) is celebrated at Chari-E-Sharif Shrine on 22nd of October every year. The author has based this narration on records mentioned in the book ‘Tazkirah Auliya-E-Kashmir, Tareekh Hassan Ka Teesra Hissa.’
