Shaikh Alaul Haq (R)

Shaikh Alaul Haq a saint of pandua and a disciple of Shaikh akhi sirajuddin usman. His father, Umar bin Asad Khalidi, claimed his descent from the famous Arab general Khalid bin Walid, and was an inhabitant of Lahore. After the establishment of Muslim rule in Bengal he settled at Pandua where his son Alaul Haq was born. The boy, given proper education, grew up into a learned scholar.

Though Alaul Haq received training in the esoteric sciences, he became proud of his wealth and learning. So much so, that he took the title of Ganj-i-Naubat (the lord of wealth). Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi ordered his disciple and Khalifah (vicegerent) Shaikh Akhi Sirajuddin Usman to go to Bengal and preach Islam there. On Shaikh Akhi's arrival at Pandua, Alaul Haq became his disciple.

Alaul Haq became so submissive to his teacher that his relatives, some of whom were high government officials, were surprised. After the death of his teacher, Alaul Haq himself became a spiritual leader and maintained a khanqah at Pandua. Many students received training from him, and among his disciples two became prominent- his son Shaikh Nuruddin Nurul Haq (nur qutb alam) and Shaikh ashraf jahangir simnani of Jaunpur.

There are many stories extant about the miracles and generosity of Shaikh Alaul Haq. It is said that he used to spend a large sum of money in feeding his pupils, beggars, wayfarers and the destitute. Indeed, he spent so much on them that even the sultan could not match his generosity, and out of jealousy banished Shaikh Alaul Haq to sonargaon. After two years, he was allowed to return to his original khanqah at Pandua.

Shaikh Alaul Haq lies buried by the side of his son Shaikh Nur Qutb Alam in the Chhoti Dargah, or Shast (?) Hazari dargah (so called to distinguish it from Bari Dargah or Baish Hazari Dargah of Shaikh jalaluddin tabrizi of Pandua). His name is mentioned respectfully in several Arabic inscriptions of the sultans of Bengal.

The date of his death is not known for certain; according to the Akhbar-ul-Akhyar he died in 800 AH/ 1398 AD while according to a book kept in possession of the caretakers of the shrine, he died in 786 AH/ 1384 AD. [Abdul Karim]