Faith of the Mughal Emperor and the Nizam of Hyderabad over the Tolerant Sufi Saint at Balaapur

Abstract

The work done by the Sufi saints in Balapur is very important in history. The Khanqah, founded by Saint ItiyatollahNaqshbandi since 1649 AD, still stands as a witness to the history of Balaapur. According to Guru Gaddi, in the Naqshbandi tradition of Balpur, 10 Sufis became saints till 1960. In spite of this, the heirs of the Sufi saints reside at Balapur. During the reign of Varad, the Mughal emperor and his descendants, as well as the Nizam of Hyderabad, had the effect of teaching the Sufi saints of Balpur. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb considered InayatullahNaqshbandi a gurushanti and provided 20 acres of land and 1000 a year for his family in 1661. The descendants of Aurangzeb considered the Sufi saints of Balpur as gurushasthan and paid their due respect. The Sufi saints at Balaapur also had a special favor on the Nizam of Hyderabad. NizamAsifJawaAwal had a special devotion to Sufi saint Zahiruddin, Imamuddin and Innocent Awalia. The Nizam of Hyderabad undertook to provide sufficient financial support for the sustenance of these Sufi saints. Since the teaching of the Sufi saints of Balpur influenced the lives of the people as well as the rulers, the work of the Sufi saints of Balpur is very important in history.