Hazrat Syed Shah Abu Ali (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) was among those eminent saints who held a lofty position in knowledge and forbearance, asceticism and piety, and the struggle against the self. His personality was a perfect embodiment of sincerity, worship, and steadfastness.
Blessed Birth
He was born in Gujarat, while his upbringing and development took place in Jaunpur. His noble age had exceeded one hundred years, yet despite this advanced age, no signs of weakness whatsoever appeared on his luminous face.
Worship and Spiritual Discipline
The most prominent aspect of the life of Hazrat Syed Shah Abu Ali (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) was his abundance of worship and constancy in remembrance of Allah. He remained engaged day and night in divine worship, and withdrawal from worldly engagements was part of his natural disposition. Even though his blessed age exceeded one hundred years, there was no decline of any kind in his worship. It is narrated that he used to perform a total of two hundred units of voluntary prayers (nawafil) during the day and night, which is clear evidence of his extraordinary determination, spiritual strength, and closeness to Allah. Remembrance and contemplation, spiritual struggle and discipline, and worship performed with humility and devotion were his regular practices, and it was this very sincerity in worship that granted him a lofty rank among the people of insight and spiritual perception.
Allegiance and Spiritual Order
Hazrat Syed Shah Abu Ali (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) held deep devotion to Hazrat Shah Fathullah (قدس اللہ سرہ العزیز), and he was affiliated with the Tabqatiyya Madariyya spiritual order. The demise of Hazrat Shah Fathullah (قدس اللہ سرہ العزیز) occurred in the year 1037 Hijri.
Spiritual Lineage
He maintained allegiance to Hazrat Shah Fathullah (قدس اللہ سرہ العزیز) within the Tabqatiyya Madariyya order, whose demise occurred in 1037 Hijri. His spiritual lineage connects, through four intermediaries, to Hazrat Sultan al-Tarikin, Hazrat Syed Abu Muhammad Khwaja Arghun, the sajjada-nashin Hazrat Syed al-Muwahhidin, ‘Umdat al-Athar, Hazrat Badi‘ al-Din Qutb al-Madar (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ). In this manner, his connection is established with a venerable spiritual lineage that served as a great center of guidance and spiritual growth in the Indian subcontinent.
Blessed Demise
The blessed passing of Hazrat Syed Shah Abu Ali (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) occurred on the 3rd of Sha‘ban.
According to another narration, his demise took place in 1148 Hijri, on the 7th of Shawwal al-Mukarram.
