Pir Hasan Kabiruddin
Hazrat Pir Hasan Kabiruddin, son of Pir Sadruddin, grandson of Pir Sahibuddin, and descendant of Pir Shamsuddin Sabzwari, was a revered spiritual leader of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslim community. He belonged to a noble lineage that traced back to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq, which made him a descendant of Imam Husayn, earning him the title al-Husayn. He was also known by various names including Sayyid Hasan Shah, Pir Hasan Shah, Makhdoom Sayyid Kabiruddin Shah, Gur Hasan Shah, Anant Jo Dhani, and Pir Hasan al-Husayn.
Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
According to one tradition, he was born in 742 A.H. in Uchh, located in present-day Pakistan. However, in his own writings, Pir Hasan notes a mystical experience from his childhood: when he was five years and five days old, his father, Pir Sadruddin, regained divine spiritual vision—referred to as Bāṭinī Deedār—after losing it for a period of six months and six days. This spiritual interruption happened because Pir Sadruddin had denied young Hasan’s request to travel with him to Iran, thinking the journey too dangerous for a small child. As soon as he turned away his disappointed son, he lost divine connection—as if an "iron curtain" had been drawn between him and the Lord. The divine connection was restored when Pir Hasan reached the exact age of five years and five days, emphasizing his spiritual significance even as a child.
This event places his birth on the 18th day of the Poss month in the Vikram year 1447, which corresponds to 1391 C.E. (792 A.H.).
Life and Legacy
According to historical sources like Gulzar-e-Shams and Noorun Mubin, Pir Hasan Kabiruddin passed away in Safar 853 A.H. (around 1449 C.E.) in Uchh, during the rule of Husein Langa, the governor of Multan.
Pir Hasan was tall, lean, and remarkably handsome. His peaceful presence and tear-filled, downward-looking eyes reflected deep spirituality. Known for his humility, patience, and kindness, he dressed simply, often in white, and sometimes in saffron. He wore wooden sandals, though he switched to leather footwear while traveling. Over time, he adopted a strict vegetarian diet and even advised against eating meat.
From a young age, Pir Hasan was drawn to prayer and contemplation. He spent hours thinking about the Creator, and he had a natural gift for poetry and debate. He traveled extensively across India, Kashmir, Iran, Iraq, Russia, and Arabia, but he primarily lived and preached in Punjab and Gujarat. To earn a living, he wrote handwritten copies of the Quran, sewed caps, and wove cloth. He was beloved by the poor and respected across all communities, with thousands embracing his teachings and faith.
Family
Pir Hasan was married seven times and had eighteen sons and one daughter, known as Bai Budhai.
The Cloth of Devotion: Anat Akhado
One of the most fascinating stories from his life is about a devotional work he created called Anat Akhado. He grew a wild plant known as aak, extracted a cotton-like fiber from its pods, spun it into thread, and wove a 500-yard long, 9-inch wide cloth by hand. The cloth was finer than muslin. On this cloth, using saffron-based ink, he wrote 500 stanzas of devotional poetry in the Khojki script—a script invented by his father. Each stanza was written in a yard of cloth. He later presented this cloth to Imam Islam Shah in Iran, who wore it as a turban.
Teachings and Warnings
Like his ancestors Pir Shamsuddin and Pir Sadruddin, he advised followers to remain vigilant in their faith. He warned that society would face moral and spiritual decline. He predicted a major, final war—called Anat Akhado—between believers (the Rikhisar) and non-believers (the Da-yeen’t), led by a figure named Kalinga. According to his prophecies, this war would be catastrophic, similar to the Armageddon mentioned in the Bible or the Fitnah of Dajjal as spoken of in Islamic tradition. It would ultimately be resolved by Imam Mahdi, the Redeemer.
He explained that the Da-yeen’t would be powerful, deceptive, and anti-God, while a milder group among them, the Da-nav, would eventually be defeated or absorbed. Kalinga, their leader, would come from this group and later reshape the global system after the war.
Literary Contributions
Pir Hasan Kabiruddin composed over a thousand Ginans (devotional hymns) and several poetic works. Some of his major works include:
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Gayantri
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Brahma Gayantri
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Hasanapuri (with a veil)
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Hasan Kabiruddin ane Kanipa no Samvad
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Anat Akhado
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Anat na Nav Chhugh
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Satgurnur na Viva
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Anant na Viva
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79 Ginans (Devotional hymns)
