HAZRAT SAYYAD ALI MIRA DATAR

Before we speak of the martyr saint, it will be relevant to give at least a

sketchy glimpse about Jinns and demonic possessions. It is not unknown that in the
Islamic world Djinns and demons and their possession are commonly accepted. The
Holy Quran has a whole chapter named after The Jinn who have been created out of
the searing fire. Some of them are Muslims and some are deviated who follow
different paths. In fact various Surahs of the Holy Qur’an have some verse or
another about the Jinn. The prophetic traditions of the Holy Prophet (s) are also
replete about the knowledge of Jinn and their kinds and about the ways to seek
protection from them. Satan or Iblis was from among the Djinns.

Ibn Taimiyah also confirmed the position of the majority scholars stating that the
existence of the jinn was an established fact according to the Qur’an and the
Sunnah and the agreement of the early scholars. The Jinn too are accountable for
their good and bad deeds before Allah. Scholars have categorised the Jinn into a
resident Jinn called Amaar, a malicious and wicked Jinn called Shaytan; the jinn
stronger than shaytan is called Ifreet, while genie is one type of Jinn; and those
antagonising young boys are called arwaah. There are various types such as those
who fly in the air with wings, those who are in the shapes of creatures such as
snakes, dogs, scorpions, lizards, etc. and those who rest in one place and then
resume their journey.

Regarding possesson of a human body by a Jinn, scholars inform us that there is a

consensus among Sunni Muslims that Jinn can dwell inside a human body. Ahmed Ibn
Hanbal has categorically stated that those who deny that a Jinn can enter into the
body of a human being are lying. Not only the human but also other objects,
things, trees can be possessed by a Jinn. Demonic possession should, however, not
be confused with medical ailments like epilepsy. However, again, all fits of
madness may not be epilepsy but simply seizures by evil earthly spirits . It is in
this state that the afflicted person may do things which are not normally done by
a normal person. The person may, for example, speak a strange language, or lift a
very heavy object, may remain motionless or may go on shaking the head, or keep
running to and fro, or hurling abuses and screaming and so on for hours on end.

If a person becomes possessed then the name of Allah is to be invoked on him and
supplications need to be made to heal that person. Some of the well-known Quranic
verses that are ordinarily used by general Muslims for protection from or
repelling of mischievous Djinns are the Ayat-al-Kursi or the Throne Verse (2:254-
255) and the last two Surahs, namely, Surah Falak and Surah Naas. There have been
recorded instances of professional exorcisms and many have just gone unrecorded.
The Holy Prophet (S) used to only say: “Get out enemy of Allah. I’m the Messenger
of Allah”.

Now, Hazrat Sayyad Ali Mira Datar (Radi Allahu anhu) was born on or about Sunday,
4th August 1426 C.E. Coming from Bokhara (Uzbekistan), the motherland of thousands
of Islamic scholars and Muslim Saints, he joined the army of Sultan Nasir al-Din
Ahmed Shah (reign 1411-1442 C.E.) who had founded the city of Ahmedabad. He died
as a martyr, defending Islam at a very young age.

The shrine of Hazrat Sayyad Ali Mira Datar’s (Radi Allahu anhu) is located in a
fort-like structure in Unava Village on the banks of River Pushpavati in Sidhpur
Taluka of Mehsana District of the Western Indian State of Gujarat. Unava is about
5km from the Unjha Railway Station of the Western Railways. It is about 70 km from
the City of Ahmedabad and it takes about three hours to reach Unava by a bus or a
cab from there.

Owing to the miraculous powers of healing, the honorific of “Mira Datar” came to
be added to the name of Hazrat Sayyad Ali. The word, “Mira” means “The Brave One,
” and “Datar” (or Daata) means “Giver” or “Bestower”. This shrine is known for
driving off evil forces and healing the ones, especially the women who are
possessed by demons and evil Djinns. The possessed ones would generally try to run
away rather than approach the shrine out of fear. It has been reported that once
the possessed woman nears the silver crypt, the clash between the saint and the
demon throws the woman into a trance. Over the centuries, the mentally affected or
"possessed" Indian women have found a sanctuary here. The fame of this Dargah is
spread far and wide and people of all religions, caste and creed visit the shrine
round the year with offerings of ‘Chaadar’ and for fulfilment of their vows.
Fragrance of roses and incense greet the visitors' nostrils. Roses, too, are
offered at the shrine. The annual ‘Urs’ is held on 29th of Muharram every year.

In the by-lanes of Mumbai’s Reay Road, there is the ‘Chilla’ (replica) of the said
Dargah and is thronged by all sort of people for various purposes, especially for
getting cured of psychiatric, socio-genic and mental diseases and for exorcising
the resident evil spirits in the bodies.

NASIR.

“Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are
living. With their Lord they have provision.” (3: 169).

“And call not those who are slain in the way of Allah ‘Dead.’ Nay, there are
living, only ye perceive not.” (2:154).

- The Holy Quran