A Martyr’s Shrine and a City’s Soul: Dargah Hazrat Shah Jalal Continues to Inspire Generations in Patna, Bihar

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 15 September 2025 For over six centuries, Patna’s High Court Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ghulam Safdar alias Peer Murad Shah unites all faiths, its annual Urs blending prayer, Chadar offerings and soulful Qawwali into living heritage. Main Points: 1. Hazrat Syed Ghulam Safdar alias Peer Murad Shah, martyred some six centuries ago, is revered for his courage and sacrifice, with his shrine now beside the Patna High Court. 2. The Dargah’s doors have always been open to people of every faith, symbolising harmony and shared hope. 3. For 600 years the Urs has blended prayer, Chadar offerings and vibrant Mehfil nights, drawing thousands from across Bihar and neighbouring states. 4. It embodies Bihar’s Ganga–Jamuni tradition, uniting communities through music and spirituality. 5. The shrine remains a powerful, active space of solace amid Patna’s modern bustle. ---- Introduction For more than six centuries the small but resonant shrine of Hazrat Syed Shah Ghulam Safdar alias Peer Murad Shah, revered locally as Hazrat Shah Jalal Shaheed, has stood beside the present-day Patna High Court. In a place known for its judicial bustle, the gentle scent of rosewater and incense around this Dargah provides a striking counterpoint to the clang of lawyers’ briefcases. People have been coming here for generations, crossing the threshold not as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Christians but simply as seekers of solace. A Saint of Sacrifice According to the custodians of the Dargah, Hazrat Peer Murad Shah came to this region some six hundred years ago. Oral histories describe him as a charismatic Sufi who confronted the injustice of a local ruler of Maner. (Hazrat Imam Muhammad Taj Faqih Hashmi led the war against Raja Manyar of Maner in 1180, as per Aasar-e-Maner). In the ensuing battle he was martyred, and tradition holds that his head was interred at Bans Ghat while his torso found a resting place on the present site near the High Court. In time devotees began calling him Hazrat Syed Shaheed Ghulam Safdar alias Peer Murad Shah, and the shrine slowly evolved into a centre of public devotion. One Door, All Faiths The most striking aspect of the Dargah is its openness. The doors have never been closed to visitors of any community. Lawyers heading into court, women from the nearby market, government employees, rickshaw drivers, and visiting pilgrims all pause here to whisper prayers. A popular saying attached to the Dargah is that “no one leaves empty-handed”; when wishes are fulfilled, devotees offer an embroidered Chadar over the saint’s resting place as a mark of gratitude. The Urs Tradition The annual Urs, commemorating the saint’s union with the Divine, has been held continuously for 132 years. This year the programme opened with the ritual Chadar-Poshi by leading public figures, including the Chief Minister of Bihar, who prayed for peace and progress in the state. Former Chief Ministers, ministers, judges and ordinary citizens alike join the crowds during the Urs week. Maulana Muhammad Azmatullah Rahmani, Imam and Khateeb of the High Court Masjid said that we celebrate Urs every year with more joy and happiness. Beyond ritual prayers, the Urs has become a vibrant cultural gathering. Qawwali evenings under festooned shamianas draw renowned singers such as Tasneem and Sanam, whose friendly contests of melody echo late into the night. Children jostle for sweets, women distribute Sharbat, and groups of Hindus and Muslims sit shoulder to shoulder listening to Sufi verses. For many, this annual congregation symbolises the living Ganga–Jamuni culture of Bihar. A Living Heritage During my own conversations with Major Iqbal Haider Khan, President of the Dargah Hazrat Shah Jalal Shaheed Committee, he reflected on the continuity of this devotion: “For centuries this shrine has given people courage and hope. The Urs is not just a religious observance but a meeting-point for communities.” His committee, supported by local volunteers, oversees everything from crowd management to the decoration of the shrine and the hospitality extended to pilgrims. The shrine’s physical fabric also bears witness to history. Its modest dome is encircled by a low marble parapet; the walls inside are lined with votive plaques left by grateful families. Outside, amid the High Court’s architecture, stalls selling flowers and green Chadars stand like perennial sentries. Even as the city has modernised, the dargah has retained its aura of quiet generosity. More Than a Monument To describe the shrine merely as a historic site would be to miss its real significance. It is a living locus of inter-faith devotion, a place where judges and litigants, students and pensioners, travellers and street-vendors alike come to exhale a silent hope. In an age of growing polarisation, the Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ghulam Safdar alias Peer Murad Shah endures as a reminder that spirituality can transcend boundaries, that a saint martyred six centuries ago can still inspire compassion and communal harmony today. ---- Syed Amjad Hussain is an author and Independent research scholar on Sufism and Islam. He is the author of 'Bihar Aur Sufivad', a bestselling research book based on the history of Sufism in Bihar. 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