1. Title

According to Yasin Qasvari, a scholar of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, Hazrat Ishaan is an honorific title used by The Khan of Bokhara Abdullah Khan bin Iskander and Moghul Emperor Akbar to address Khwaja Khawand Mahmud (1563-1642), the contemporary supreme leader of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. Qasvari and David William Damrel, Professor of Religious studies in South Carolina and Pluralism Project Affiliate at Harvard University furthermore mention that both monarchs were spiritual followers of Hazrat Ishaan, as it is believed that he saved Abdullah Khan II during an accident while hunting and prayed for Akbar to get a son.^[1]

Hazrat is a common Pakistani, Iranian, and honorific Arabic title used to honour a person. It literally denotes and translates to "presence, appearance.

Scholars attending a programm about Hazrat Ishaan I at 92 News mention that "Ishaan" is derived from the persian term "Shaan" meaning exalted, holy or blessed by God.^[2]

Thus Hazrat Ishaan is to be translated as "One with the exalted Presence". One reason why their followers called Khawand Mahmud in this manner 400 years ago is in reliance to his ancestor Abdul Qadir Gillani´s teaching of the eternal pre-existence of Muhammad´s light as the ultimate mediator between God and creation in his book Sirr ul Asrar.^[3] They thus claim that everywhere the Hazrat Ishaan is, Muhammad´s light is most "concentrated". Thus also the current surname Dakik (Persian: concentrated).^[4]

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  Shrine of the 11th Imam Hasan al Askari, ancestor of the Hazrat Ishaans, 23 generations to Sayyid Khawand Mahmud. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1549641

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  Shrine of Sayyid Ali Akbar ibn Hasan al Askari, grandpatriarch of the Hazrat Ishaans, 22 generations to The Hazrat Ishaan Muazzama. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1432477

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  shrine of Sayyid Abdul Qadir Gillani, ancestor in the 13th generation to Sayyid Khawand Mahmud. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1914215

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  shrine of Sayyid Bahauddin Naqshband, grandpatriarch with 7 generations to The Hazrat Ishaan Muazzama. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1903442

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  Ziyarat Hazrat Ishaan in Srinagar

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  Ziyarat Hazrat Ishaan in Lahore. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1437706

2. History

When Hazrat Ishaan I migrated to Kashmir, he was welcomed as their spiritual patron saint, supported by the Moghul emperors. Until today his descendants are highly esteemed in the Ziyarat Naqshband Saheb. After a Shiite rebellion against Hazrat Ishaan, he was evacuated by Shah Jahan to migrate to Lahore. There Shah Jahan has constructed a palace for him, which is his present Mausoleum in Begumpura.^[5]

As Mughal Royals, the Hazrat Ishaans to whom especially Abdussamad Khan and his son Zakariyya Khan Bahadur belonged were the viceroys of Lahore.^[6]

In regards to his popularity in the Moghul court, Khwaja Khawand Mahmud Hazrat Ishaan´s I son Sayyid Moinuddin Hadi Naqshband married the daughter of Emperor Jahangir, bestowing royalty on him. Sayyid Moinuddin´s grandson in turn also married the daughter of Aurangzeb. Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Mir Muhammad Jan then married a Pashtun princess, descending from Shah Ashraf Hotak, whose daughter Sayyida Rahima married the Pathan Musahiban Prince Abdul Khalek Khan, who was a pioneer of Natural Science of the Pashtun people, becoming the permanent Ambassador of the Kingdom of Afghanistan to the United Nation, cousin and right hand person of Prince Muhammad Daoud Khan, both descending from the Afghan King Sultan Muhammad Khan. The Pashtun Musahiban royal family was known for their loyality to Sayyid Mir Jan. Members of the former royal Pashtun royal family are buried in the Mausoleum of Hazrat Ishaan in Begumpura.^[7]

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  H.I.M. Emperor Jahangir of the Mughal Empire was a dedicated follower of his grandmaster the Hazrat Ishaan Muazzama. He believed that he was born through the prayers of Hazrat Ishaan Muazzama and gave his daughter in marriage to his son Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Moinuddin Hadi Naqshband. Thus he is also an ancestor of the next Hazrat Ishaans after him. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1730514

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  H.M. Emperor Aurangzeb of the Mughal Empire, Follower and ancestor of the current Hazrat Ishaans. Aurangzeb gave his daughter in marriage to Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Nizamuddin. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1464900

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  The Hazrat Ishaans were traditional viceroys of Lahore. H.I.H. Abd al-Samad Khan, Hazrat Ishaan and viceroy of Lahore, received by his relative Jahandar Shah. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1874509

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  H.I.M. Shah Ashraf Hotak, Emperor of Persia Follower and ancestor of the Hazrat Ishaans. Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Mir Muhammad Jan married a Pashtun tribal princess descending from Shah Ashraf Hotaki. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1549828

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  H.I.M. Sultan Abdulhamit II, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire followed his grandmaster Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha and invited him to become Grand Mufti of Constantinople. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1197683

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  HRH Prince Dr. Abdul Khaliq Khan, Prince of Afghanistan, grandson in law of Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha and grandfather of the current Hazrat Ishaans in the UN General assembly in New York City. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1328482

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  H.R.H. Prince Mohammed Daoud Khan, Prince of Afghanistan, President of Afghanistan and relative of the Hazrat Ishaans with US President Gerald Ford. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1877318

2.1. Foundation of the State of Pakistan

Sayyid Mir Jan, the contemporary head of the family of Hazrat Ishaan in the 19th century, reactivated the social influence of the Hazrat Ishaans after the collapse of the Mughal Empire. He together with his siblings was known for his humanitarian initiatives. On the occasion of the influence of his family and his disciples on the British Indian and Pashtun Royal administration he was regarded by many sources as the most powerful contemporary Sufi Saint in British India.^[8]

After the demise of Sayyid Mir Jan in year 1901, many followers of him, like Muhammad Iqbal joined and essentially influences the All-India Muslim League as senior leaders close to Muhammad Ali Jinnah and thus were central in creating the Pakistan through political and military measures.^[9] Muhammad Iqbal for instance was known for his interest in Persian language and culture, which Sayyid Mir Jan promoted in Punjab.^[10] Muhammad Iqbal´s affiliation to Hazrat Ishaan is furthermore on the occasion of his ancestors coming from Kashmir, where the Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Moinuddin Hadi Naqshband and his descendants are regarded as patron saints.^[11] Supreme Judge Javed Iqbal, the son of late Muhammad Iqbal is buried in the mausoleum of the Hazrat Ishaans in Begumpura and is next to other Sufi politicians known to be a popular follower of the Hazrat Ishaan, especially as followers of Sayyid Mir Jan.^[12]

• Allama Iqbal, Mureed (follower) of the Hazrat Ishaans, especially Sayyid Mir Jan. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1182116

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  All India Muslim League Working Committee Lahore 1940 https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1283354

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  Senior Justice of the Pakistani Supreme Court Javid Iqbal, follower of the Hazrat Ishaans, buried in Begampura. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1588074

3. Line of Prediction

The Hazrat Ishaans and their followers the Naqshbandis substantiate their leadership as rightful successors of Prophet Muhammad on the occasion of a certain line of prediction from Muhammad over leading Saints, so called Ghaus or Aqtab reaching Sayyid Mir Jan as the promised Khwaja-e-Khwajagan-Jahan, meaning "Khwaja of all Khwajas of the world".^[13]

• Muhammad predicted the coming of his descendant the Muhammad al-Baqir^[14]
• Muhammad Baqir predicted the coming of his descendant Ali, the Ridha men Ahlul bayt^[15]
• Ali al-Ridha predicted the coming of his descendant Muhammad al Mahdi, the Qaim^[16]
• Muhammad al Mahdi and his father Hasan al Askari predicted the coming of the Abdul Qadir, the Mohyuddin, "reviver of faith"^[17][18]
• Abdul Qadir Gilani predicted the coming of his descendant Bahauddin, the Naqshband^{[19][20][21][22]}
• Bahauddin predicted the coming of his descendant Khawand Mahmud, the Hazrat Ishaan; Damrel highlights that the followers believe in the resurrection of Bahauddin (Persian:"Az Qabar Bar Amadah")^[23] in year 1598, proclaiming the succession of his descendant Mahmud.^[24][25]
• Hazrat Ishaan and his family predicted the coming of Sayyid Mir Jan, the Khwaja of all Khwajas; Qasvari in a same manner describes the belief of the resurrection of Mahmud in the end of the 19th century, proclaiming Sayyid Mir Jan as successor and promised "Khwaja of all Khwajas".^[26][27][28]

3.1. Surname Dakik/Sadaat

In pride of:

• the line of prediction
• their relation to Sayyid Mir Jan
• their closest genetical lineage to Prophet Muhammad in the 32nd Generation
• The Alledged possession of Zulfiqar and the prayer chains of Abraham
• The mystical believe of Muhammad´s light being most concentrated on them

The Hazrat Ishaans today have chosen the surname Dakik(Persian: "concentrated") and Sadaat (abbreviation of "Sayyid ul Sadaat"), claiming that their bloodline is the purest to their ancestor Muhammad and that they rightfully succeed him, spiritually and socially.^[29]

4. Current Influence

4.1. Supreme Leaders of Naqshbandi Sufi Order

The Hazrat Ishaans are currently considered as heads of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order in regards to their bloodline to Sayyid Bahauddin Naqshband.^[30][31]

4.2. Lobbyism and Diplomatic Activities

They are acting as Lobbyists advising governments worldwide on the occasion of current political topics. Furthermore they are advising states in their development through international aid initiatives and diplomatic rapprochement. One such example is the contribution of the development of the renewable energy infrastructure in the GCC countries. The Hazrat Ishaans have followers worldwide and are regarded as a philanthropic and diplomatic bridge between developed and developing countries.^[32][33][34]

4.3. Supreme Leaders of the Qadiri Sufi Order

The Hazrat Ishaans also claim the leadership of the Qadiri Sufi Order, as representative descendants of Sayyid Abdul Razzaq Gilani, son of the founder of the order Sayyid Abdul Qadir Gilani. One of the most well known descendants of Sayyid Abdul Razzaq Gillani was Sayyid Bahauddin Naqshband, whose mother Sayyida Arifa descended from Abdul Razzaq in a matrilineal line. Through his mother Bahauddin was crucially influenced by his ancestor´s teachings, which is the reason why Bahauddin´s descendants today the Hazrat Ishaans claim to also lead the Qadiri Sufi Order as spiritual successors of their ancestor Abdul Razzaq through their patriarch Bahauddin. The current Hazrat Ishaans hold the point of view that all orders are part of the Qadiriyya as a mother order and since the Naqshbandiyya is regarded as the so called "peacook order" in their point of view, they also claim to lead the Qaidiri Sufi Order.^[35][36][37]

4.4. Princely Title

The title Prince is used in Sunni Islam for the Hazrat Ishaans, who are leading the Naqshbandi Sufi order as blood descendants of their grandpatriarch Sayyid Bahauddin Naqshband. The title "Shahzada", "Amir", "Mir" and "Sardar" are all translated as Prince and are until today used to address the Hazrat Ishaans in regards to their relations to the Mughal and Pashtun royal family and to pay tribute to their responsibility of leading the Naqshbandi Sufi Order. It is until today used as a strengthened custom that survived the abolishment of the Afghan monarchy on the occasion of the Soviet Invasion in Afghanistan.^[38][39]

5. List of Hazrat Ishaans

• Hazrat Ishaan I: H.M. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud (1563-1642)
• Hazrat Ishaan II: H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Moinuddin (d. 1674), son of H.H. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud
• Hazrat Ishaan III: H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Nizamuddin, grandson of H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Moinuddin
• Hazrat Ishaan IV: H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Nooruddin (1675-1743)
• Hazrat Ishaan V: H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Kamaluddin (d.1774)
• Hazrat Ishaan VI: H.I.H. Prince Sayyid Mohyuddin
• Hazrat Ishaan VII: H.H. Sayyid Hasan ibn Azimullah
• Hazrat Ishaan VIII: H.H. Shah Sayyid Mir Jan (1800-1901)
• Hazrat Ishaan IX: H.H. Prince Mir Sayyid Mahmud Agha
• Hazrat Ishaan X: H.H. Princess Amira Sayyida Siddiqa (-1914)
• Hazrat Ishaan XI: H.H. Prince Sayyid Mir Fazlullah Agha
• Hazrat Ishaan XII: H.H. Prince Sayyid Mir Muhammad Jan (1900-1955)
• Hazrat Ishaan XIII: H.H. Princess Amira Sayyida Rahima Dakik (2006)
• Hazrat Ishaan XIV: H.E. Prince Sayyid Raphael Dakik (b. 1998, grandson of Hazrat Ishaan XII)

5.1. List of Notable Princes

• H.M. Khwaja Khawand Aftab, older brother of H.M. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud
• H.I.H. Tajuddin Hussein Naqshband, 1st born son of H.M. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud
• H.I.H. Khwaja Khawand Muhammad, son of H.H. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud
• H.I.H. Khwaja Khawand Ahmad, son of H.H. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud
• H.I.H. Prince Abdus Samad Khan, Mughal Prince, Saint and viceroy of Lahore
• H.I.H. Prince Zakariyya Khan Bahadur, Viceroy of Lahore
• H.E. Prince Sayyid Mustafa Sadat (b. 1976)

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  Graves of the three Hazrat Ishaans in Lahore Sayyid Khawand Mahmud, Sayyid Mir Jan and Sayyid Mahmud Agha. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1942277

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  Grave of H.I.H. Hazrat Ishaan Prince Sayyid Moinuddin Hadi Naqshband, Prince of the Mughal Empire. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1180180

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  H.H. Hazrat Ishaan XIV Prince Sayyid Raphael Dakik, eldest son of H.H. Hazrat Ishaan Sayyid Sultan Masood Dakik. https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?curid=1427791

The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Biography:Hazrat_Ishaan_(title)