Sheikhul Quran Maulana Muhammad Afzal Khan.

Sheikhul Quran Maulana Muhammad Afzal Khan.
Khan Molavi Sahib of Shahpur Shangla.

The beautiful, green, scenic and charming valley of Shangla has given birth to many reknowned and great personalities in every period and in every walk of life, who became the source of enlighten remote valley.

In the 17th century, Shangla has given birth to a man of unforgettable fame, a poet of real, spiritual and religious qualities Hafiz-e-Alpuri. On the other hand, in 20th century it has given birth to a great personality like Maulana Muhammad Afzal Khan “Shaikh-ul-Quran” who was a great scholar and a friend of Allah (Waliullah).

He was born to a famous and noble family at a beautiful village Olander in District Shangla in 1926AD. His father Dost Muhammad Khan “Khan of Kana” had been at high posts in Swat State. He belongs to the famous yousafzai tribe, Clan Jinki Khel and subclan Pattan Khel. His grand father Amir Khan was the Khan of Kana region. (Duke of the region). His grand father was an intimate friend of Wali-e-Swat and an officially recognized Khan of the area by the British government. His grand father Amir Khan “Khan of Kana” pla yed a vital role in the politics of Swat State which is mentioned in history books related to Swat State. Even the king of Swat Main Gul Abdul Wadood (Badshah Saheb) admitted in his book “Tareekh-e-Riyasat-i-Swat” written by Muhammad Khan Mirza that the conquest of Shangla and Kohistan was made possible due to the services of his grand father. Similarly, a famous English historian ''Aurel Stein'' has mentioned the hospitability and influence of his grand father in the region in his book “On Alexander’s Tracks to Indus”.

His father Dost Muhammad Khan of Kana has been selected many times as the member of Advisiory Council and also as a commanding officer in Swat State.

From his childhood, his tendency was towards religious education rather than worldly education. He was a punctual. Pious, religious and angel minded person. Allah had bestowed him with ability, goodness and his face was always enlightened with the light of Allah.

He taught the lesson of fulfillment of the rights of people and observing brotherhood besides the rights of Allah. He respected his teachers, elders and loved the younger ones. Simplicity and respectfulness were the main components of his life.

He was one of the nearest pupils of Sheikh-ul-Quran Maulana Ghulamullah Tahir of Panjpeer. He got his basic education from Darul-uloom Charbagh Swat and Madrassa Haqania Saidu Sharif Swat. After completion of his religious education, he founded a religious Madrassa in his native village Shahpur. This Madrassa is known as “Jame-a-Taleem-ul-Quran Shahpur. It imparts the knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah and is playing a vital role in the spread of religious education. Thousands of pupils are served here and after completion of their education they preach the Islamic teachings throughout the country.

He had a full command over the Holy Quran. He used to teach the Holy Quran in Shahpur every year for his pupils as well as for the common masses in a very simple fashion.

Besides his district, he also used to teach the Holy Quran in Karachi, Batkhela, in each and every corner of Pakistan and also in Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia. At the time when he started to teach and preach the religious education, District Shangla, Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Battagram and other areas were darkened with shadows of ignorance non Islamic cultures and disbeliefs. But he removed these wrong beliefs through his profound religious knowledge.

He performed Haj(Pilgrimage) once and Umrah ten times. He wrote six books during his life, which includes “Afzal-ul-Tarajim Be Lughat-ul-Aajam”, “Nasru-ul-Marjan, Min Mushkelat-ul-Quran”, “Al-Menhaj-ul-Wazeh”, “Tasheel-ul-Masnavi”, “Malfofozat-e-Afzalia” and “Tasheel-ul-Bukbare”.

Afzal-ul-Tarajim Belughat-ul-Ajam is written in pushto and is a concise and comprehensive translation and explanation of the Holy Quran.

Nasrul-Marjan Min Mushkelat-ul-Quran is written on important topics such difficult problems in the Quran. It also includes some poetry related to the topic and summary of the whole Quran in last of this book.

Al-Menhaj-ul-Wazeh is actually a modified pushto translation of Abu Bakar, Al-Jareisi’s book “Menha-ul- Muslim”.

Tasheel-ul-Masnavi is the summary of the famous book of Maulana Rome which includes selected events and poetry in simplified in Pashto.

Malfozat-e-Afzalia is a perfect book but only one part of this book is published while the other part is under process of publication now.

Tasheel-ul-Bukhari is a Pashto translation of Kitab-ul-Iman of Saheh Bukhari which is under the process of publication.

He passed away on 30th of funeral prayer was offered by a famous religious scholar “Sheikh-ul-Hadees Muhammad Yar Badshah. After his death, his sons Sheikh-ul-Quran Maulana Muhammad Anwar, Qari Ubaidullah and his nephew Maulana Imdadullah followed him and kept on spreading the religious education.

His son-in-law Sheikhul Quran Maulana Abdur Rahim has written his Biography “Afzal-u-Sawaneh” which shows complete details of his life and his services for the religion, Islam.

Photo of Sultan Rome Advocate with Iftikhar Muhammad Chauhdry published in Akhbar-e-jehan

Sultan Rome Advocate in his home town Barkana, Shahpur

Mutawakil Khan Advocate President of Shangla Bar & his cabinet after oath taking ceremony wit chief guest Amanullah Salik Session Judge Shangla

Amanullah Khan Salik Mutawakil Khan Advocate & Sadar Zeb Adressin Shangla Bar

Mutawakil Khan advocate taking oath as president of Shangla Bar Association

Lawyers of Shangla addressing public meeting in Alpuri

SULTAN ROME ADVOCATE , Addressing the Seminar

SULTAN ROME ADVOCATE , with Iftekhar Muhammad Chauhdry

Mutawakil Khan Advocate with his politicle companions

One day seminar on "Liberal democracy in Pakistan"

Oath taking ceremony of Liberal Forum Shangla

Shangla Bar Association

SULTAN ROME ADVOCATE Taking oath as General Secratry of SHANGLA Bar Association

Chiefe Justice Iftekhar Muhammad Chauhdry, after his restoration, Sultan Rome Advocate of Shangla Bar Association also present, March 16,2009

My Photo with Chief Justice Iftekhar Muhammad Chauhdry after his restoration on March 16,2009

SHAHPUR, SHANGLA

Introduction
Union Council Shahpur is situated at a distance of about 27-km in Northeast from main town of Alpuri Shangla. The UC area falls in the moist Temperate Zone thus receiving summer monsoon (July, August) and winter snowfall. Normally the snowfall starts in mid-November and lasts till mid April Occasionally early snowfall is also observed. The climate in summer is moderate and pleasant and average rainfall ranges 1500-2000 mm/year. The slopes in the upper portions are steep and comparatively moderate in the lower portions. Total area is 11296 Acre Its height from sea level is 4400 feet. In the October, 8, 2005 tragedy of the earth quack 30people lost their lives, 1100 became seriously injured, 80 % dwelling houses completely damaged while others were not fit for further use and life risk was involved in it. There are two Mawaziat i-e Mauza Shahpur and Barkana. Area of Mauza Barkana is 4875 Acre and 6420 Acre of the Mauza shahpur.
LANGUAGES:- The majority of the people speaks Pushto language, the Gujars speaks Gujro and there are few families of Kohistani, who speaks Kohistani.
LITERACY RATE: - The literacy rate is 14.4%.
Tribes; - There are three major sections in the UC i.e. Pakhtoon, Miangan/ Saidan and Gujjar. These sections are spread over in different hamlets Kalay, Barkana, Shahpur Jinkikheil, Shahpur Azikhil, Amir Nagar, Naway Kalay, Kooz Hal, Bar Hal, Shalia, Kandaw, Drad, Shonial Sar, Shahpur Khwarh, Karai, Hafiz Abad, Tangwan, Damana, Barkana Jai, Gaji Khwarh, Asharh and Bilanday.
Geographic co-ordinates Let: 30˚ - 8˚ Long: 67˚ - 21˚
Total population 19904 (according to 1998 census Report)
Total village area 11296 Acre
North Boundary with Damori
East boundary with Kood Mang
South boundary with Kooz Kana
West boundary with Lilownai
Population: - According to 1998, census the population of the is as under;-
Village Population Total Household % of affected Household. Area.
Shahpur 19904 2200 80% 11296 Acre
Note; - The annual growth rate in population is 3.3%.

Alpuri, Shangla

Damages of Earthquake and People of Shangla NWFP Pakistan

Damages of Earthquake and People of Shangla NWFP Pakistan

It was morning of October 8, 2005 when a powerful and devastating earthquake struck the northern part of Pakistan causing major destruction and playing havoc with millions of lives. The affected areas were the Shangla, Mansehra, Bata gram, Kohistan, Abbotabad districts and four districts of Azad Jammu & Kashmir. More than 70,000 people lost their lives out of those 35,000 were children who were attending schools at that time. Most of the civil society infrastructure such as schools, colleges, roads, and hospitals were collapsed and destroyed.
The Thousands of Kacha & Pacca dwelling houses are completely demolished, while others are partially damaged which are not fit for further use as these are dangerous and life risk is involved in their further use.
Recent devastating earth quake badly affected almost whole population of the District in one or other shape.
The remote district of Shangla consists of scattered populations 554818 divided into tiny, mountain-top hamlets spread out across a vast area. Due the nature of this difficult terrain some areas are difficult to access by road. The number of total households is 53529 and average household size is 8 persons per family. The population density is 341 persons per square kilometer. Total area of the District is 1586 sq-Km (339614 Acres) in which 104672 Acres (31%) is cultivated and 109685 Acres (32 %) is forest. It consists of 2 Tehsils i-e Tehsil Alpuri and Puran with 44 Patwar Circles and 111 villages. The District comprises of 1 National, 2 Provincial Assembly Seats, 2 Tehsil Councils and 28 Union Councils.
Shangla is a backward and tribal society where majority of the people live below the poverty line and are illiterate. Any one can estimate living standard of its people from a report recently issued by the government in which Shangla district was on top in ratio of poverty through out NWFP.
The literacy rate is 14.7% (25.2% in male & 3.7% in female). The government has so far been a big disappointment in changing the socio-economic conditions of the people and in this advanced technological age of the 21st century we are still lacking the basic infrastructure of the basic necessities of life.
District Shangla is full of natural resources like emerald, Marble, Chromites, Soap stone etc and there is a vast scope of investment and development. Similarly the area has a variety of fauna and flora like Markhur, Brown Bear, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Wolf, Pigeons, Monkeys, Chakor, and Dove etc. In flora medicinal plants like Banafsha, Tarkha, Unab, Mushkibala, white Rose and Mint etc are found in the area which are of great importance.

The inhabitants of the Shangla are deprived of basic needs, infrastructure, education, health, road and other facilities. The main road which connects Shangla with Swat and other parts of the country is in a very bad condition and it is difficult to drive over it.
Following is a data about Shangla district.

S.No Description Details
1. Total Area 1586 Sq-Km (339614 Acres)
2. Cultivated Area 104672 Acres (31%)
3. Un-Cultivated Area 234942 Acres (69%)
4. Forest 109685 Acres (32%)
5. Irrigated Land 7599 Acres (2%)
6. Non-Irrigated land 97073 Acres (29%)
7. Soil The soil of Shangla is very deep silt-loam
8. Population 554818 (2.5% of the total population of the NWFP.
9. Average growth rate in population 3.27% per year
10. Total Household 53529 (According to 1988 census)
11. Household size 8 persons per family.
12. Population Density 341 persons per Sq-Km.
13. Total No of Villages 111
14. Patwar Circles 44
15. Union Councils 28
16. Tehsils 2 i-e Alpuri & Puran
17. Literacy Rate 14.7% (25.2% in male & 3.7% in female)
18. ratio of government employers 5.6%
19. Boundaries. East:District,Batagram & Triablearea of Kala Dhaka.

West: - District Swat.

South:-District Buneer &Triable area of Kala Dhaka.

North: - District Kohistan.


The people of Shangla are known as being proudly independent and surviving for centuries in mountains. They occupy small stretches of agricultural land and accustomed to living on its produce while many people works in coal mines of Baluchistan, Sind and Punjab. The Ratio of government employers is 5.6%. Recent devastating earth quake badly affected almost whole population of the District in one or other shape. This natural disaster took about thousands human lives, seriously injured many more persons. The climate in the region is cold with patches of moderate weather in summers. The inhabitants of Shangla district are lying under open sky in this cold severe weather on mercy of God. The worst affected areas in Shangla district are union councils Shahpur, Damori, Pirkhana, Koozkana, Maira, Shang, Dandai, Kormang, and Sarkool.

UNION COUNCIL WISE DETAILS OF DAMAGES:
The breakdown of population and estimated number of affected families in badly affected areas of district Shangla given below.

S.No Union Council Population Total Household NO of Household affected%of affected Household

1. Shahpur 20528 2566 2052 80%

2. Damori 13907 1760 1050 60%

3. Pirkhana 22325 2826 1400 50%

4. Koozkana 10368 1312 500 40%

5. Maira 12800 1622 1500 90%

6. Shang 10917 1418 1000 70%

7. Dandai 11926 1662 1500 80%

8. Sarkool 19309 2413 1700 70%

9. Kormang 9843 1278 900 70%

10. Bunerwal 14398 1800 900 50%
11. Chakisar 16974 2122 1050 50%
12. Behlool Khel 20475 2409 1450 60%
13. Kamach Nusrat Khel 17536 2063 1450 70%

IMMEDIATE MEASURES REQUIRED:-
While keeping in mind agonies of the earth quake victims their first immediate requirement is CGI sheets and cements for reconstruction of their houses.
Secondly they required health facilities i-e MCH centers/Hospitals, Free medicines.
Thirdly they need vocational training centers and professional skill for their sustainable development.
There fore I request the world community, NGOs and donor agencies that Keeping in view low standard of living of its people lack of infrastructure severe cold winter separate geography and damages of devastating earth quake the people of Shangla District Shangla donate generously for reconstruction of educational institutes, health centers, vocational centers, streets, roads and other facilities in the earthquake affected areas of Shangla district on humanitarian basis, Because it require immediate attention for its sustainable development, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Hafiz-e-Alpuri a well known Pushto poet of Shangla

Photo of Mazar of Hafiz-e-Alpuri

Photo of Mazar of Hafiz-e-Alpuri

Shangla is a land of evergreen trees, pastures, cold and sweet springs, singing birds, beautiful waterfalls, waving fields, murmuring streams, snow covered and green mountains, coloured flowers, fragrant air, brave Yousafzai phatans and historical stories which gave birth to great religious scholars, poets, politicians and famous personalities, who raised the heads of Pushtoons with pride in the whole world. Among them one of the famous name is Hafiz-e- Alpuri who as a poet served the Pushto literature a lot.

According to “Tawarikh-e-Rahmat Khwani” of Roshan Khan his real name was Abdul Samad. He opened his eyes in a beautiful valley of Ghwarband, Alpuri in Shangla. He belonged to the famous Mandan Yousafzai tribe of Pushtoon. He migrated here from Utmanzi Charsadda and settled here in Shangla.

He was a great poet of Pushto as well as a great religious scholar, a pious person and Hafiz-e- Quran. He was known as Hafiz-e- Alpuri because he had learnt the holy Quran by heart and belonged to village Alpuri. He traveled to Peshawar, Mardan, Buner, Swat and other surrounding areas for getting religious education. He received his early education at Khwaza Khela which was a great centre of Islamic education at that time.

When he was born, there was un Islamic customs in Shangla, Swat, Buner, dir, and other surrounding areas. He teach the people to lead their lives according to Islam and expressed his revolutionary thoughts through his poetry to eradicate the un Islamic customs and to enlighten the life of people with Islamic ways of life.

He added a new chapter in Pushto literature by completing a collection of his poetry called Dewan-e- Hafiz-e- Alpuri. Dewan-e- Hafiz-e-Alpuri was published after his death for the first time 1927, and for the second time in 1932. His poetry is classified into five chapters on the basis of composition. Chapter one contains oneness of God and Prophet hood, second real love with God, third code and conduct of life and fifth counsels and advices.

He used Persian and Arabic words very beautifully in his poetry, He is well known poet of Pushto. Those who have aesthetic sense for poetry and literature know his verses by heart.

He was a staunch, pious and a punctual Muslim scholar. The purpose of his poetry teaches to do the right and condemn the wrong.

He loved Islam whole heartedly. His love for All mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is proved by his poetry.He was the poet of reality, though his poetry also contains verses about worldly things like beloved, wine etc. His real and spiritual poetry enlightened the mind of people and the love for All Mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) is increased.

He was an egoist, content and monotheist poet. His poetry reflects the real love for All Mighty Allah and his prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and the real code and conduct of Islamic way of life. There are a lot of stories about his saintliness and his miracles.

Hafiz-e- Alpuri passed away at the age of 67 years in 1225 Hijhra. He was buried in Alpuri on Khwaza Khela Besham road among lush green mountains near the Ghwarban River.

Some of the verses of the Hafiz-e- Alpuri are stated here.


1. “Sal zala ka oki da Ka’abe na tawafoona,”“Khar da Masiha ba da Hajiano qareen na she”
Translation; - If the donkey of hazrat Esa (PBUH) walks around Ka’aba a hundred times, He can’t reach the degrees of pilgrims.

2. “Pa daro ka da neizay zakham raghegi”“Rogh ban a she pa daro zakham da jabay”
Translation;- The wounds of spear can be treated but the wounds of tongue can’t be treated.

3. “Bia mond darweshano khwand da khawro pa kandool ki”“Hich latafat na ka da shahano jam zareen ta “
Translation;- Saints have tasted such a pleasure in the cup of mud that they never look at the golden cup of the kings.

4. “Dunia sarab da nadanan ye oba yakhey ganri”“Mahroom tre droomi tashna lab qata’a la aba”
Translation; - This world is mirage and fools mistake it for cold spring of water. But they lose hope when they leave the world with thrust and deprivation.

5. “Pa sro shondo ki wor day hoom oba de”“Dwarha zest ka pa yaw zai ke be jadala”
Translation; - Fire and water dwell at the same time in red lips without any fighting.

6. “Ta che pa Ghwarband ke shanakht qemat ghwarhi Hafiza”“Bovid a mushk ghwari da dabgaro pa dukan ke”
Translation; - O, Hafiz! You want identity and value in Ghwarband (Alpuri area). It is as if you want to buy scents in the shop of hides (skins).

SULTAN ROMEADVOCATE HIGH COURT
SHANGLA LAW CHAMBER
SHANGLA DISTRICT BAR ASSOCIATIONAT
AL PURI, DISTRICT SHANGLA,
NWFP PAKISTAN
E-mail:- sultan_shangla@yahoo.com
Ph # +92996850885 (Office)
+92996885488 (Residence)
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