In the Footsteps of the Qadiri Saints: Hazrat Syed Umar Khaliq and His Shrine at Falaknuma, Hyderabad

By Syed Amjad Hussain, New Age Islam 27 September 2025 Hazrat Khwaja Syed Umar Khaliq Saheb of Hyderabad, a 19th-century Sufi poet, scholar and saint, embodied humility, learning and devotion. His shrine continues inspiring faith through annual urs and remembrance. Main Points: 1. Hazrat Umar Khaliq Saheb Belonged To A Noble Prophetic Lineage And Settled In Hyderabad Through His Grandfather. 2. He Received Deep Religious, Literary And Martial Education Under Renowned Teachers. 3. A Humble Scholar-Poet, He Authored Works Like Tafseer-E-Qadiri And Faraiz-E-Qadiri. 4. He Passed Away In 1912 And Was Buried At Falaknuma’s Qadiri Chaman. 5. His Shrine Remains Alive With Annual Urs, Sama, And Gatherings Of Devotees. ---- Lineage and Early Roots Hyderabad has long been a city where devotion, learning and culture have thrived side by side. Among its many saints, Hazrat Khwaja Syed Umar Khaliq Saheb holds a special place. Born in 1865, corresponding to 1282 Hijri, he lived for only forty–nine years before leaving this world in 1912. Yet within that brief life, he became a fountain of knowledge and spirituality whose memory still blesses those who visit his shrine in Falaknuma, Hyderabad, Telangana. Hazrat traced his descent from the noble household of the Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu Ta'aala Alayhi Wassallam. His lineage stretched through generations of scholars and saints to Imam Syed Muhammad Taqi, son of Imam Syed Musa al-Raza. His grandfather, Syed Shah Mohammad Umar, had earlier migrated from Burhanpur to Hyderabad during the reign of Mir Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II. Known for his bravery, piety and scholarship, he was honoured by the Nizam with titles, grants and the privilege of a palanquin. This marked the family as both spiritually and socially distinguished within the Deccan. Childhood and Education Hazrat Umar Khaliq was born on the seventeenth of Rabi al-Thani in the year 1282 Hijri (8 September 1865) at Hyderabad. His father passed away during his childhood, and his care and upbringing were taken over by his elder brother, Syed Shah Mohammad Siddiq, affectionately remembered as Hazrat Khwaja Miyan Saheb. Under his guardianship, the young boy memorised the Qur’an Shareef and was initiated into the Sufi path through the Chishti, Qadiri and Bahishti orders. Although he received Khilafat in all three, his heart leaned strongly towards the Qadiri Silsila, and it was within this path that he later accepted disciples. His education was both vast and diverse. He studied the exegesis of the Qur’an Shareef, Hadith, literature and logic under Hazrat Shah Amir Ahmed Kohati. In the recitation of the Qur’an, his teacher was Hazrat Syed Shah Tunisi. He was also trained in martial skills and physical discipline: the art of marksmanship and club-fighting from Syed Shah Qadir Badshah, and wrestling from his younger brother. Thus, he grew to embody a balance of spiritual wisdom, intellectual rigour and physical strength. Personality and Appearance Hazrat Umar Khaliq was known not only for his knowledge but also for his striking presence. He was of medium height, with a wheatish complexion, an oblong face, a delicate nose and a broad forehead. His eyes carried a luminous intensity, framed by wide eyebrows, and his beard was thick and graceful. He dressed simply, usually in a khadi shirt with four armpits, a round Khadi cap, a Tahband wrapped at the waist and ordinary slippers on his feet. His simplicity in appearance reflected his humility in character, and despite his noble lineage he carried himself with unassuming grace. Scholarship and Writings A man of both pen and heart, Hazrat Umar Khaliq was deeply devoted to learning and literature. He was fond of poetry and wrote under the pen name Khaliq. His knowledge was not confined to theory, for he was known as one who acted upon what he taught, embodying his scholarship in his daily life. He delivered oral Tafsir of the Qur’an Shareef in the Makkah Mosque of Hyderabad, completing fifteen parts in his sermons. The remaining parts were later published serially in a monthly journal under the title Tafsir-e-Qadiri. He also published the work Taj al-‘Urus of Tajuddin Ibn Ataullah Iskandari, which he presented with the title Rahbar-e-Tariqat. On the complex subject of inheritance, he wrote a treatise in simple Urdu verse, naming it Faraiz-e-Qadiri, making legal knowledge accessible to the common reader. Through such efforts, he left behind not only a spiritual legacy but also a literary and scholarly one. Family and Personal Life In 1304 Hijri, Hazrat married Ummatul Majid Begum, the pious younger daughter of Hazrat Syed Shah Asadullah Hussaini Juneri of Pune. Their union was blessed with two sons and two daughters. His elder son, Hazrat Syed Mohammad Badshah Laiq, later became his successor, continuing his work of teaching and guidance. Though Hazrat was a man of deep learning and spirituality, he was also known for his gentle manners and refined temperament. He was courteous in his dealings, affectionate with his family and respectful towards his peers. His home life reflected the same humility and devotion that shaped his public life. Passing and Burial In the year 1330 Hijri, corresponding to 1912, Hazrat Umar Khaliq fell ill with plague and passed away in the middle of the night on the twentieth of Safar. He was only forty–nine years old. His funeral was performed in the Makkah Mosque of Hyderabad, after which his body was carried to his estate in Falaknuma. There, in a place now known as Qadiri Chaman, he was laid to rest. His passing was commemorated in the chronogram Iftikhar-ul-Auliya, meaning “Pride of the Saints.” The Shrine at Falaknuma Hazrat’s shrine in Falaknuma is both a place of remembrance and an architectural landmark. It stands upon a wide stone platform, with twenty–four arches surrounding it. At its centre lies an open Chaukhandi, shaded by a fragrant jasmine tree, where Hazrat’s grave rests. Beside it lies the grave of his wife. The grave itself is simple yet dignified, with black marble slabs marking its boundary. Attached to the shrine are the Sama Khana, where devotional gatherings are held, and the Abdar Khana, once used to store water and earthen vessels for visitors. These structures reflect the age–old hospitality extended to devotees who travelled for his urs and other gatherings. Urs and Continuing Legacy Every year, from the nineteenth to the twenty–first of Safar, Hazrat’s Urs is commemorated with recitations of the Qur’an, sandal processions, lighting and Sama. A special day is reserved for women, when a bazaar is arranged within the shrine premises. A second observance is also held in the month of Ramadan, on the ninth day, further drawing devotees from Hyderabad and beyond. More than a century has passed since Hazrat Umar Khaliq left this world, yet his memory continues to live on. His shrine at Falaknuma remains not only a place of prayer but also a reminder of Hyderabad’s enduring connection with the great Sufi saints who combined knowledge with humility, scholarship with devotion, and faith with service to humanity. ---- 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. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/qadiri-saints-hazrat-khaliq-falaknuma/d/137007 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism