Kharota Syedan

Kharota Syedan is a village on the northern outskirts of Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan.^[1] The villages has community services such as primary and secondary education, a post office, mosques, and banks. The town has utilities including gas, electricity, water, and telephone communications.

Geography

Kharota Syedan lies on the outskirts of Sialkot township. It is about 250 km southwest of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. To the west is the Chenab river. To the east are the mountains of the Himalayas.

History

Kharota Syedan takes its name from the islamic honorific, Syed. Prior to the arrival of Islamic teachers in the 1100s AD, the holder of the village lands was Jay Ram Choudhry, a Hindu in the Lodhra family of the Jat clan. At that time, the village was called Jayrampur.

Over time, the Syed family as well as people of varied ethnic origins and religions have settled in the village. These include the Choudhry family descendants, Gujjar, Arain, the Lohar family of the Rajput clan and the Pashtun people.

The principle Islamic teacher in the Jhelum region, now revered as a saint, was a man called Salah ad-Din from Hindustan. He converted the ruler of Jhelum, Jaadha Paswal of the Gujjar clan to Islam. When Salah was called to move on to Sialkot, the Jaadha Paswal sent his son, Khair with him.

When Salah ad-Din and Khair Paswal arrived in Kharota Syedan, they lived at the site of the present village khanqah (place of religious gathering or spiritual retreat.) Salah ad-Din married Jay Ram Choudhry's daughter and took the village as dowry. Salah ad-Din's cousins came to live in the village. Khair Paswal also married and built his home, Khair da Kotha (Kharotta) in the village.

Salah ad-Din's wife died without issue and was buried in the family hujrah (mausoleum). When he was dying, Salah left his estate, including the village and surrounding fertile lands, to Khair Paswal. However, Khair Paswal refused the inheritance, saying, "Sarkar, I am not hungry for lands. My elders are still ruling Upper Jehlem. I was ordered to serve you, being the son of the Prophet Muhammad (S.W.S.) and so I did. If, at all, you want to gift me something, please allow me and my kin to be buried near your feet."

Hearing this, Salah ad-Din raised his hands in supplication and prayed for the prosperity Khair Paswal and his descendants. He made Khair paswal and his family his mutawallies and mujawars (burial caretakers). The village itself was distributed among Salah ad-Din's relatives. The surrounding lands were returned to the Lodhra family.

The first khanqah in Kharota Syedan (Darbar Chitti Khanghah) was founded by Fateh, son of Fazal, descendant of Khair Paswal. An annual festival to pay homage to Salah ad-Din takes place in May and June.

Refugees of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 settled in Kharota Syedan, contributing to the diversity of the population.

Governance

Kharota Syedan is a part of Sialkot township. The village is governed by a Union Council.

Religious rule

The spiritual rule in the village passed down to the two sons of Rasul of the Syed family, namely Miran and Fazl. The brothers were educated by Rasul's Khalifa (cleric), Miskeen Shah Panipatti. Miran became a strict observer of the Shariah laws.

Fazl was a scholar and became an eminent spiritual personality. People thronged to him from far and wide regardless of their religious or social standing, in search of solace and guidance. His langer (free kitchen) was well known in the community. Fazl never married. He died in about 1892 AD (12- Zi’qad, 1311 AH) at the age of 108 years. His mausoleum is located at a short distance northwest of Golra Sharif darbar (state) shrine. Fazl's student was Meher.

References