HASAN ABDAL; A PLACE OF MIRACLES

 HASAN ABDAL; A PLACE OF MIRACLES       

PROF WAQAR HUSSAIN

We came to Abbotabad from Islamabad via Taxila. The route was short, entertaining due to Khanpur Lake and informative due to Hattar Industrial state. But the road was in very bad condition. So, on return, we decided to try another route. We planned to go to Hasan Abdal and then M-2 for Islamabad. Hasan Abdal was about 69 km from Abbottabad on Silk Road. There road was good, curly at 

some places, having heights and deeps thus making journey a pleasant task. It was a mountainous way and there was thick plantation on each side of road. Silk Road is historically important trade route but it has lot of rush that is why I call it Shahrah-e-Rush instead of Shahrah-e-Resham. To avoid traffic jam, we left Abbottabad at 6.30 am and reached Hasan Abdal at about 8 am.

              Hasan Abdal is a historic city in Attock district. It has an elevation 1010 ft and population of about 54,200 (2007) and is 40km from Rawalpindi and about 60 km from Islamabad via Burhan Interchange through motorway.

            

It is famous for Gurdwara Panja Sahib where there is a rock containing hand print of Baba Guru Nanak underneath is the spring of water containing fish. Thousands of Sikhs pay visit all around the years and especially during Besakhi. For Sikhs, it is one of the holiest place along with the Golden Temple Amritsar and birth place of Nankana Sahib. First, we tried to see this hand print of Baba Guru Nanak but the official of Auqaf Department said, “It is not allowed for Muslim to enter the Gurdwara due to security threat and secondly it is the prayer time of the Sikh. It aroused our curiosity to see the meditation way of the Sikh. We requested him to have complete thorough scrutiny of the family and he said that at 10 am their prayer will end and we will allow you to have cursory look of the sacred rock. In the meantime you can see the meditation place of Hazarat Baba Wali Qandhari(RA). On hearing the name of Baba Wali Qandhari our heart filled with joy and reverence as my father Subedar(Rtd) Nazar Hussain was an ardent follower of Hazarat Wali Qandhari. He used to narrate many stories of Kiramat(miracles of the saints). So we went to see the holy place. It was just a few steps from the Gurdwara. There was a corridor, at the end, stairs went downward and there was a small room where Hazarat Baba Wali Qandhari RA used to meditate. Our heart, mind and soul filled with joy and respect. We found an opportunity to pray and raise demands in the Court of Almighty Allah for his benign recognition.

 From there we went to see the Garden of Cypress(Hakimon ka Maqbra and Lala Rukh Tomb). It was built by Shamsuddin Khawafi, Governor of the Punjab during Akbar reign. When two favorite Hakims (doctors of Ayuvedic medicine) died, Akbar ordered their burial here. Hakim Abdul Fateh Gulani and Hakim Hamam were competent in eastern medicine. Hakim Hamam was more favorite of the two for the emperor Akbar.

             The garden/mausoleum had many 

cypress tree, flower, etc and typical make of Mughal architecture. There was an octahedral structure of two storeys where two Hakims were buried but during Sikh regime, graves were leveled and the tomb was used as the Munshi Khana. Besides the octahedral structure, there was a small pond with fishes. Few steps away, there was a square walled structure with wooden door. Almost in the centre, there was a raised structure on the top of it, there was a grave of Lala Rukh, a princess of Mughal family, who died there while going or coming from Kashmir. 

The squared structure had four column  on each corner. It was a beautiful structure but eroding due to lack of proper care.

               From there, we went a few steps towards the nearby hill where Hazarat Baba Wali Kandhar RA used to meditate in loneliness. We reached the parking area and the guard of parking told that it would take about an hour to reach the top of the hill. In the scorching sun of early July, it was not possible for us to go up to hill with little children. So, we contended 

ourselves by just seeing the coloured flags waving on the top of mountain and prayed there and returned to Gurdwara as 10 am was approaching. On reaching Gurduwara, security guard checked us to his satisfaction and we were allowed to enter the Gurdwara.

 There we saw a stone having print of Baba Guru Nanak’s hand and a middle aged Sikh told the story which will be described in the separate article on Gurdwara Panja Sahib in detail. Below the rock, clean cool water was flowing and many fish were present in the water. From there, we saw the outer structure of Gurdwara as our allotted time was ending. Then we left the Gurdwara and started our journey towards Islamabad. After 5-10 minute we reached Tipu Sultan Choke 

where a magnanimous building of Cadet College attracted us. It is the first cadet college in Pakistan, established by the government of Punjab on the initiative of General Ayub Khan Commander in Chief at that moment. It was primarily a feeder institution for services Academics. It has a large area comprising about 100 acre. It was opened in 1954. It is imparting education of secondary level, intermediate, O-level and A-level. It’s motto indicates its objectives “Second to none”. Studying here is a great privilege and honour. It imparts quality education, grooms characters, strengthens physical abilities and sharpens brain. That is why it earns a lot of respect in the Education arena of Pakistan. One can see the long queue of its alumni to judge its level of education. I will quote a few; Khalid Shameem Wynee ex-Chairman joint Chief of Staff Committee; Abbass Khattak ex-chief of Air staff; Javed Ashraf Qazi ex-Minister of Education; Iftikhar Ali Khan ex-secretary Defence etc. From there, we moved towards Burhan Interchange to go ahead for Islamabad.

           On returning, scene, stories, surprises and miracles (kiramats) were flashing on my mind screen; the miracles of Hazarat Baba Wali Kandhari RA when he struck the rock and two springs sprouted and barren thirsty area turned to lush green and water rich place; Baba Guru Nanak miraculous initiation of spring and handprint story; the incredible competency in eastern medicine of Hakims forced Akbar to issue order to bury them in a place made by Governor of Punjab for himself; the education miracles of the Cadet College Hasan Abdal……. Suddenly the movie of Hasan Abdal ended and a flashing statement appeared on my mind.

           Hasan Abdal- a land of miracles.