Dur Wali Khan
I used to visit the Darbar of Hazrat Kaka Sahib, Nowshera. This time, I visited it with Javed Hayat Kakakhel, a famous Khowar poet and writer from Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan. Being descendants of Hazrat Kaka Sahib, we were warmly welcomed at the Darbar by Mian Imdadullah Kakakhel, and we are grateful to Mian Sahib for bestowing upon us such an honour.
The real name of Hazrat Kaka Sahib was Syed Kasteer Gul. He was also called Rahmkar for his generosity.
According to sources, he was born on the first of Ramadan 983 AH, which corresponds roughly to 1575 AD. Hazrat Kaka Sahib passed away on 24th Rajab 1064 AH, which is approximately June 1653 AD.
He belonged to a Syed family traced back to the lineage of Hazrat Imam Jafar al-Sadiq, linking him to the line of Hazrat Imam Hussain. His father was Syed Bahadur Baba, and his grandfather was Syed Nadir Shah Baba (Mast Baba).
During the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, the Syed families faced difficulties. Their forefathers decided to migrate from their homeland, but the ruling class considered these people a danger to their rule.
Therefore, the Syed families scattered and distanced themselves from the people. The public gave them names of honour and respect according to their traditions as a form of devotion, and their original names often remained hidden due to these titles.
According to sources, the ancestors of Hazrat Kaka Sahib migrated from Bukhara (in Central Asia) and settled in Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He received his religious education from his father and other Islamic scholars of the time. Importantly, he practiced all four major Sufi orders: Naqshbandi, Suhrawardi, Chishti, and Qadiri.
Teaching and Spiritual Centre
Hazrat Kaka Sahib left his home and settled in a rugged mountainous area south of Nowshera, where he began living in spiritual retreat. The Mazar Complex comprises the tomb of Hazrat Kaka Sahib, graves of his family members, disciples’ tombs, a Langar Khana, a library, and guest quarters.
The shrine of Hazrat Kaka Sahib is considered one of the most frequently visited religious heritage sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
With the passage of time, his place became a centre of religious education. He taught Tafsir-e-Quran and Hadith, and his students came from different parts of the region. Some of his prominent disciples are Khushal Khan Khattak, the famous Pashto poet, and his father Shahbaz Khan Khattak, as well as other Sufi figures such as Faqir Jamal Khan, Sheikh Abdul Latif, and Khawja Akhun Yousuf Qandahari.
Miracles and Generosity
Hazrat Kaka Sahib is widely praised for his philanthropy. He had earned the title of Rahmkar, as he used to free slaves and show mercy to orphans, the poor, and destitute families. It is said that he once released 3,000 slaves after paying their masters. He arranged langar for thousands of pilgrims and devotees regularly and extended financial assistance to needy families.
There are also traditions of spiritual healings and intercessions at his shrine, where people come for spiritual solace, healing from illnesses, or blessings.
Khushal Khan Khattak, deeply impressed by his profound spiritual insight, says:
Allah has favored the Khattak nation,
Who has blessed them with Rahmkar Baba.
Urs
His Urs is celebrated with great devotion and honour. The celebration includes traditional ceremonies such as raising of the flag, washing graves, qawwali, reciting the Holy Quran, distribution of food, and other public gatherings.
Hazrat Kaka Sahib had five sons: Hazrat Ziauddin Baba, Hazrat Abdul Haleem Baba, Hazrat Khalil Gul Baba, Hazrat Muhammad Gul Baba, and Hazrat Najmuddin. The descendants of Hazrat Kaka Sahib are called Kakakhel.
The Kakakhel tribe has produced numerous religious scholars, poets, writers, economists, lawyers, educationists, researchers, historians, engineers, doctors, army officers, and politicians.
Today, prominent Kakakhels include Syed Adnan Kakakhel, a well-known Islamic scholar; Maulana Khaliqul Zaman Kakakhel, a popular religious scholar; Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel, a politician; and Javed Hayat Kakakhel, a famous Khowar poet and writer.
The Kakakhel tribe is spread throughout Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan (Ghizer), and Chitral, and is also found in Afghanistan, India, and various other countries around the world.
A considerable number of the descendants of Hazrat Abdul Haleem Baba, Hazrat Muhammad Gul Baba, and Hazrat Khalil Gul Baba are settled across the Malakand Division, including Swat, Kalam/Matiltan, Sakhakot, Kud Manzary, as well as in Lower and Upper Chitral and the Gilgit-Baltistan region, particularly Ghizer.
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