Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi: The Sufi Scholar Who Unified Spiritual Traditions Across South Asia
By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam
19 November 2025
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi, famously known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, stands among the most revered Sufis of the Indian subcontinent. His life represents a powerful blend of sacred scholarship, deep devotion, generous humanism, and spiritual universality that shaped Sindh’s spiritual landscape for centuries.
Main Points:
1. Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi, born in Marwand, spread timeless spiritual wisdom in Sindh.
2. A profound scholar fluent in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Pashto, Sindhi, Sanskrit languages.
3. He travelled from Iran to Baghdad, Makran, Multan, Uch, Sukher, Sehwan.
4. Authored classical works including Mizaan-e-Sarf, Kism-e-Doyum, Aqd, Zubdah.
5. He passed away in 1274 CE; his Urs is observed on 18 Shaban, attracting millions.
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Introduction
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi was a revered Sufi of the Suharwardi tradition, was born in 572 Hijri in Marwand, Iran. Descended from a noble Husaini Saadaat lineage, he combined deep scholarship with spiritual nobility. His arrival in Sindh marked a golden era of unity, learning, and devotion, linking Persian, Central Asian, and South Asian Sufi traditions. Fluent in multiple languages and devoted to service, he made Sehwan a centre of spiritual learning. His close friendship with Hazrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariya Multani, Hazrat Makhdoom Syed Jalaluddin Surkh-posh Bukhari, and Hazrat Khwaja Baba Fariduddin Ganj-shakar exemplified harmony among major Sufi silsilas. His shrine in Sehwan remains a place of solace, where the Dhamaal continues to express profound Sufi love.
Early Life and Family Background
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi was born in Shaban 1177 CE in Marwand, Iran, into a household renowned for piety, learning, and noble Husaini Saadaat lineage. His father, Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin ibn Hazrat Syed Shamsuddin, was a respected scholar whose ancestry carried the spiritual heritage of the Ahl-e-Bayt. His great-grandfather had travelled from Baghdad to Mashad and later settled in Marwand, present-day Afghanistan, continuing the tradition of scholarly families journeying across regions in pursuit of knowledge and spiritual refinement.
In this environment of devotion and learning, Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi also known as Hazrat Syed Husain Shah was raised with a strong sense of faith and discipline. His inclination towards spirituality appeared early, and by the age of seven he became a Hafiz-e-Qur’an. His sharp memory, sincere temperament, and early brilliance convinced the elders of Marwand that he was destined for an exceptional spiritual path, one that would later illuminate vast regions of the subcontinent.
Travels and Movement Across Regions
After completing his early education in Marwand, Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi began an extensive journey that took him across some of the most important centres of Islamic scholarship. His first major destination was Baghdad, which at the time stood as the intellectual heart of the Muslim world. It was a city known for its scholarship in hadith, theology, Sufi teachings, literature, and multiple sciences. In Baghdad he deepened his understanding under notable scholars and absorbed the spiritual atmosphere that shaped many leading Sufi figures of the era. From Baghdad, he travelled towards the region of Makran and spent time in the area of Panj-Kor. His stay there became spiritually significant for the local people, many of whom became his mureeds, and the region itself later came to be associated with him under the name “Dasht-e-Shahbaz.” Annual caravans from Makran still visit Sehwan during his Urs in remembrance of this connection.
Continuing his journey, he entered Sindh that would eventually become central to his mission. His path took him further to Multan in 661 Hijri (1263 AD), where the influence of the Suharwardi silsila was prominent. In Multan he met Hazrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariya Multani and formed the deep friendship for which both saints are remembered.
Bay‘ah, Silsila, and Khulafa
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi received his bay‘at from Hazrat Shaykh Bahauddin Zakariya Multani Suharwardi. Through this sacred initiation, Her became deeply rooted in the Suharwardi silsila, a tradition that carried the refined legacy of Baghdad’s scholarly and spiritual centres. His spiritual connection with Hazrat Shaykh Bahauddin Zakariya Multani strengthened the bond between the Suharwardi order and the emerging Sufi landscape of Sindh, making him one of the most vibrant and influential figures of the silsila.
From this spiritual foundation, Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi trained and nurtured disciples who carried forward his message of knowledge, inclusiveness, and divine love. Among his prominent Khulafa were Hazrat Shaykh Syed Ali Zualqi, widely known as Sachal Sarmast, and Hazrat Mahadi Raza Shah Sabzwari. Both of them absorbed his teachings deeply and became torchbearers of his spiritual approach in different regions. Their work ensured that the essence of Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi’s path centred on sincerity, scholarship, service, and universal affection continued to flourish long after his lifetime.
The Chaar Yaar: Fellowship of Four Saints
This extraordinary group of four saints, Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya, Hazrat Baba Fariduddin, Hazrat Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari, and Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar emerged as pillars of early South Asian Sufism. Their spiritual companionship symbolised the multivalence of mystical paths converging in shared dedication to Divine Truth. Their collective efforts contributed to the flourishing of Sufi spirituality, emphasizing devotion, service, and unity across diverse communities. This fellowship remains profoundly respected in the collective Islamic memory of the subcontinent.
Literary Contributions, and the Dhamaal Tradition
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi authored several significant works reflecting his profound scholarship and spiritual insight. His known writings include Mizaan-e-Sarf, Kism-e-Doyum, Aqd, and Zubdah. These texts demonstrate mastery not only in linguistics and grammar but also in structural analysis, jurisprudence, and spiritual principles. Alongside these works, he composed numerous nazms that express devotion, contemplation, and spiritual yearning, enriching Sindhi and Persian spiritual literature for generations.
Beyond his written contributions, Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi’s legacy also includes the Dhamaal, a distinctive spiritual practice performed at his shrine. This vibrant, ecstatic dance, traditionally performed in red robes reflecting Hazrat's favourite colour is accompanied by rhythmic drumming and other instruments. The Dhamaal embodies collective joy, spiritual surrender, and transcendence of worldly concerns. It has become both a devotional expression and a cultural symbol, linking centuries of Sufi practice with contemporary spiritual experience.
Death, Shrine, and Annual Urs
Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi passed away on 19 Shaban 672 Hijri (19 February 1274 AD) in Sehwan, present-day Sindh, Pakistan, at the age of 96–97. His resting place has since become one of South Asia’s most venerated spiritual sites. The shrine was initially constructed by Hazrat Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1356 CE and later expanded by Mirza Jani Beg and his son Mirza Ghazi Beg of the Tarkhan dynasty. The courtyard was completed in 1639 by Nawab Dindar Khan, who paved it with glazed tiles. Silver work on the gate, the balustrade around the tomb, and the dome’s apex were gifts from Mir Karam Ali Talpur of the Talpur dynasty. In subsequent years, Sindhi kashi-tiles, intricate mirror work, and a gold-plated door were added, the latter under the supervision of Pakistan’s late Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
The inner sanctum measures approximately 100 square yards and houses a silver-canopied grave. On one side of the marble floor, twelve-inch-high folding wooden stands hold copies of the Qur’an for devotees, while on the other, rows of oil lamps and bundles of incense are offered by visitors. Every Thursday, thousands of devotees gather to pay homage, read the Qur’an, and perform prayers. His annual Urs, observed on 19 Shaban, attracts over two million pilgrims from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and beyond. This spiritual gathering celebrates his life, teachings, and enduring legacy, blending devotion, cultural expression, and communal reverence in a tradition that continues to unite generations of followers.
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Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut.
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