Urs of Shah-i-Hamadan (RA): A Spiritual Reminder of Divine Witness and Accountability
Today, Kashmir commemorates the 660th annual Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) — also revered as Shah-i-Hamadan, Ali-e-Saani, and Amir-e-Kabeer. The term Urs, meaning “wedding” in Arabic, symbolizes the saint’s spiritual union with the Divine and is observed as a sacred occasion in Sufi tradition.
Devotees gather at Khanqah-e-Moula in Srinagar and various other khanqahs, shrines and mosques to honor the life, teachings, and legacy of this great saint through prayers, zikr-o-azkar, and recitation of devotional poetry. The Urs serves as a spiritual reminder of his enduring impact on the region’s religious and cultural heritage.
Born in Hamadan, Iran, Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA) was a distinguished Persian Sufi saint, scholar, poet, and traveler associated with the Kubrawi Sufi order. He devoted his life to the propagation of Islamic teachings and spiritual enlightenment. His extensive travel across Persia, Central Asia, and ultimately to Kashmir was both physical and deeply spiritual — aimed at guiding hearts, uplifting communities, and fostering divine consciousness.
His arrival in Kashmir marked a turning point in the region’s religious history. Through his scholarship, leadership, and spiritual insight, he played a key role in the spread of Islam and the introduction of Sufi practices. His influence is felt not only in religious life but also in art, culture, and social reforms.
His contributions — both spiritual and socio-cultural — have been extensively studied and are well documented, significantly shaping the religious and cultural fabric of Kashmir. Today, we focus specifically on his invocation of Kiramun Katibeen (the noble recording angels), which was intended to cultivate in his followers a deep awareness of divine observation and moral accountability — a concept deeply rooted to Islamic belief.
This theme is reflected in one of his most celebrated works, Aurad-i-Fathiya — a revered compilation not only of prayers and invocations, but also of praises for the might and majesty of Allah, and reflections on human weakness and dependence on the Divine. Still practiced in Kashmir today, though with diminished regularity and congregation, its purpose is to foster spiritual awareness, encourage mindfulness, and nurture a deep sense of humility and closeness to Allah.
A profound moment in Aurad-i-Fathiya comes in the form of a morning invocation addressed directly to the Kiramun Katibeen. It reads:
“Marḥaban bi ṣabāḥil jadīdi, wa bil-yawmis-saʿīdi, wa bil-malakayni al-kātibayni, shāhidayni, ʿādilayn. Ḥayyākumu-llāhu taʿālā fī gurati yawmīnā hāzāuktuba fī awwali ṣaḥīfatina — Bismillāhi-r-Raḥmāni-r-Raḥīm —Wa ashhada bi-anna nashhadu an lā ilāha illallāhu, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa nashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh arsalahu bil-hudā wa dīn al-ḥaqq li-yuẓhirahu ʿala d-dīni kullihi wa lau kariha i-mushrikūn. ʿAlā hāzihi sh-shahādatih naḥyā wa ʿalayhā namūt wa ʿalayhā nubaʿath — Inshāʾ Allāhu Ta’alla.”
Translation: “Welcome to the new morning, to this blessed day, and to the two noble recording angels — the scribes, witnessing and just. May Allah the Exalted honor you at the dawn of this day of ours. Write at the beginning of our record: ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. And bear witness that we bear witness, there is no deity but Allah, alone, without partner. And we bear witness that (beloved Prophet) Muhammad (SAW) is His servant and Messenger, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all other religions, even if the polytheists dislike it. Upon this testimony we live, upon it we die, and upon it we shall be resurrected — if Allah the Exalted wills.”
This invocation reflects a deeply internalized awareness of divine oversight. The angels referred to, known in Islamic tradition as Raqib and Atid, are always present—recording every word and action of a human being. The Qur’an confirms this reality: “Indeed, over you are keepers, noble and recording. They know whatever you do.” (Surah Al-Infitar 82:10–12), and “When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and the left. Not a word does one utter but there is an observer ready.” (Surah Qaf 50:17–18).
In addressing the angels, the saint formally registers his testimony of faith in the unseen world and initiates the day with sacred accountability. It is a recognition that one is under watch—not in fear, but in consciousness, humility, and sincerity.
The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) explained the mechanics of this divine surveillance. In a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, he said, “Angels come to you in succession by night and day and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and Asr prayers. Those who have spent the night with you ascend, and Allah asks them, though He knows best: ‘In what condition did you leave My servants?’ They reply, ‘We left them while they were praying and came to them while they were praying.’” (Bukhari 555).
The time of dawn, therefore, is not merely the start of a new day—it is a spiritually significant moment when our deeds are reviewed and recorded. The choice to begin the day with conscious remembrance, witnessed by the angels, imbues that moment with profound spiritual weight.
Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) also emphasized the reality of divine observation and the record of deeds. He is reported to have said, “Beware! Allah is watching you, and the angels are recording your deeds,” and further advised, “Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account.”
These reminders are not abstract—they are moral instructions that align closely with the essence of Shah-i-Hamadan’s prayer. To live under the watch of the Kiramun Katibeen is to live with spiritual responsibility and intentionality.
The belief in these recording angels was also acknowledged by Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Shafi’i, and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (RA)—who accepted the presence and function of the Kiraman Katibeen as part of core Islamic creed. Sufi luminaries like Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) and Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) also infused their teachings with the urgency of divine awareness. In his Futuh al-Ghaib, Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) speaks about the unseen realm and the role of angels who document our spiritual states. Similarly, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) emphasized that angels are constantly present and witnessing our deeds, calling for the purification of the heart and remembrance of Allah as the essence of a spiritually mindful life.
The spiritual wisdom behind this is clear: the awareness of being observed nurtures humility, restrains sin, and promotes virtue. When one internalizes the fact that every word, glance, or intention is being recorded by these noble scribes, it creates a life lived in reverence and integrity. The angels, invisible yet ever-present, are witnesses to our journey and will present their records on the Day of Judgment. As the Qur’an affirms, the righteous will receive their book of deeds in their right hand, while the wicked will receive it in their left or behind their back (Surah Al-Haqqah 69:19–37).
The morning invocation in the Aurad-i-Fathiya, therefore, is more than a prayer—it is a spiritual orientation. It teaches that faith is not a passive belief but a lived testimony, renewed each day with the knowledge that Allah sees all, and His angels write all. As we commemorate the Urs of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (RA), we are reminded that his teachings were not abstract doctrines but practical pathways to divine proximity. His life teaches us that beginning the day by bearing witness to faith before the angels is to live a day anchored in purpose, sincerity, and remembrance. It is to submit not only in belief but in accountability.
In remembering Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamadani RA today, we are called to embody the very prayer he left us with—to welcome each day as a spiritual contract witnessed by the noble scribes and to live with a heart ever mindful of the eternal Book in which nothing is omitted. May we live upon this testimony, die upon it, and be raised upon it — Ameen.
Syed Shakeel Qalander is a social activist and an industry leader
