Hallaur - History

History

Some Six centuries ago, a Noble Family of Sayyids, migrated from the Holy City of Mashhad (Iran) to India during the Mughal period. In stages, one of the descendants of Syed Meer Shah Nizam Mashhadi came and settled down to an uninhabited and undeveloped area in the Himalayan Valley near the Northern border of India. Syed Meer Shah Abdur Rasool the descendant of Syed Nizam Mashhadi later came to be known as "Meera Baba". Meera means Syed and Baba means an elderly person or a father. He was a devout Twelver Shiite. He had his lineage from the 9th Shiite Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al Jawwad. It is a notable authenticated fact that all Sayyids known as Razavi, Rizvi or Ridawi are actually Taqawi Sayyids, Rizvi Sayyids are the direct descendants of Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al Jawwad, an eighth descendant of Prophet Mohammad and ninth Twelver Shiite Imam. Imam Ali al Reza also known as Al Imam Ali al-Rida had no son other than Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al Jawwad. If at all he had other sons than Imam Muhammad al-Taqi, then their offspring should have been called Ridawi, Rizvi or Razavi Sayyids. But Since Imam Ali al Reza came to Iran and died in Tous many descendants of his son Imam Muhammad al-Taqi were also called Rizvis. Rizvis are from the children of Imamzadah Musa al Mubarraqa, the son of Imam Muhammad al-Taqi al Jawwad whose tomb is located in Chihil Akhtaran graveyard in Qom city of Iran. Shahzada Ahmad was the son of Musa al Mubarraqa, his tomb is also in Chihil Akhtaran besides his father's tomb. Direct Descendants of these personalities are Rizvi Sayyids, Sabzevar was the inhabited land of Rizvis in Iran before their migration to Indian subcontinent.

Meera Baba's tomb is in the heartland of Hallaur and old natives of Hallaur who regard him as their ancestor revere him a lot. Every year birth anniversary of Meera Baba is celebrated and attended huge number of people. Besides a huge gathering pay their homage and recite verses of Holy Quran at his tomb daily especially on every Thursday. As per historical evidences Mughal Emperor Alamgir II visited Hallaur and he was so much impressed by Meera Baba's history that he gifted seven villages to Meera Baba's descendants settled there. Shah Abdur Rasool Trust is still functional in Hallaur. The trust (trustee must be the eldest son of Meera Baba's family) is responsible for maintenance of Bada Imambargah, maintenance of tomb of Meera Baba, organising anniversaries etc. Day of Ashura procession on 10th Moharram, mourning procession of 7th Moharram and similar other processions are organised by the trust (Waqf) round the year from the grants released by Shia Central Waqf Board in favour of Waqf Shah Alamgir II.

It has been said by the local Hallauris that Meer Shah Abdur Rasool faced hard-hitting confrontation from the Magicians settled in Hallaur who were known as "Tharus". The Tharus asked Meera Baba to prove himself being a true Syed and show some miracle against their magical performances. Meera Baba once brushing his teeth with a Reetha stick sowed the same in the land within the premises of today's Jama Masjid of Hallaur. Within a fraction of few days a plant was grown from that place. That miraculous tree is still alive at the entrance of Jama Masjid. Hallauris keep the leaves of that tree as trophy. All Hallauris believe that as long as Meera Baba is in Hallaur, this a secured place. Apart from this Meera baba confronted Tharus with another miracles like asking wall to walk as he was riding it, asking a virgin cow to give milk etc. Tharus later left Hallaur and it's believed that they migrated to Bengal part of India or to the neighbouring country Nepal crossing the Rapti River where the Tharus are still in existence. This area was named Hallaur. It is a prominent place near Domariaganj in District of Siddharthnagar of Uttar Pradesh in India. Generally the natives of this area are small Landlords and Agriculturist by profession but since generations have also become highly educated and can be found in all walks of life, they have entered in other professions as well. Many educated Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers Businessmen, Teachers and Corporate Professionals can be found in Hallaur or outside Hallaur who are of Hallauri Origin. But most of the professionals are found either in big cities or in other countries. Generally they visit Hallaur on few occasions if they are married to a Hallauri Syedani . Hallaur was actively involved in first war of Indian Independence. Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh who was also Shiite, took refuge on her way towards Nepal when she was being chased by British Army. Her small contingent with the help of local people ambushed British contingent and assassinated two British officers. The memorial/tomb of those officers are near Ekgharwa village (at that time there was only one house in that village). Hallauris faced regime's hostility and were subjected to punishment for their support in war of Independence by British Army.