Mohammad Siddique, commonly known as Hazrat Dada Sadaya or Hazrat Dada Sadruddin, was a Sufi saint belonging to the Suhrawardi silsila and was a mureed of Hazrat Sheikh Ruknuddin Abul Fath, grandson and successor of Hazrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi of Multan. He introduced Islam to scores of people in the Kutch/Sindh region in present-day India/Pakistan. The descendants of those introduced to Islam by Hazrat Dada Sadaya are known as Luhar Wadhas (blacksmiths), and today, sizeable Luhar Wadha communities exist in India, Pakistan, East Africa, the USA, Canada, and the UK.
Contents
1 Background
2 In Kutch
3 Love for his Sheikh
4 Mausoleum
4.1 Urs
5 Legacy
Background
Hazrat Dada Sadaya was an Arab Muslim missionary of the Quraysh lineage (the same tribe that the Holy Prophet ﷺ belonged to). He was also a descendant of Hazrat Thameem bin Ahmad Al-Ansari, a companion of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, who was among the 313 honorable Sahabi (companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ) who participated in the Battle of Badr. Hazrat Thameem Al-Ansari had an immense following in the kingdom of Sindh, where he moved to during the rule of Hazrat Umar, residing there for a period of 18 years. Today, there are a number of people that reside in the Sindh region of Pakistan who are descendants of the disciples of Hazrat Thameem Al-Ansari.
Hazrat Dada Sadaya lived approximately 700 years ago in a town called Walhar in Sindh. Through steadfast ibadat (worship) and muraqaba (meditation), he achieved an elevated spiritual status from a very early age. After traveling to Makka al-Mukarrama and Madina al-Munawara, he returned to the Kutch/Sindh region to preach Islam.
In Kutch
As Hazrat Dada Sadaya came to Kutch, he settled near a mountain by a village called Nara, where he carried out ibadat (worship) and muraqaba (meditation). At the time, there was no source of drinking water near the village. Hazrat Dada Sadaya thus raised his hands and prayed for a source of drinking water. Remarkably, a stream, which still flows today, emerged from the mountain, from which the residents of the village were able to benefit. This stream led to a place called Hudud, where Hazrat Dada Sadaya began his work as a blacksmith. The tools that he used, such as the anvil and hammer, still remain there today.
As he settled down in the village and established himself, he became aware that many people were uneducated and unemployed. He later established a school to benefit the local people and taught them to become skilled blacksmiths and carpenters. It is for this reason that the title of "Luhar Wadha" (blacksmith) is given to the descendants of these people. Through this school, he also introduced the townspeople to the religion of Islam and established the Hanafi Fiqh (school of thought) in the town. People of the Muru Rajani, Mandar, and Bhi tribes were among the first people to join the school.
Love for his Sheikh
Hazrat Dada Sadaya was a mureed of Hazrat Sheikh Ruknuddin Abul Fath, grandson and successor of Hazrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi of Multan. One day Hazrat Dada Sadaya wanted to see his spiritual guide, so he traveled by foot along with one of his followers to meet his beloved Sheikh.
When they reached the city of Multan, it was almost night, and they were faced with the problem of having to cross the Ravi River, which could only be traversed by boat. However, Hazrat Dada Sadaya was very eager to meet his teacher that same night. They tried to negotiate with a boatman to take them across the river, but the man declined, citing it was too risky to take them across the river at that time of night. The boatman said:
“It is too much of a risk to cross the river at night, so you must wait until the morning. In the morning, I will take you to the other side.”
Hazrat Dada Sadaya replied:
“I am not prepared to wait that long. I am so determined to meet my Sheikh that I will walk through the river. I will reach the other side and gain reward for my pilgrimage.”
The boatman expressed contempt and was dismissive of Hazrat Dada Sadaya’s claim. The boatman said, "He is nothing but a fakir and is talking nonsense," after which he walked away. Without delay, Hazrat Dada Sadaya ordered his follower to bring him a jug of water, and the follower filled the jug with water from the river. Amazingly, the river dried up, and they were thus able to cross the river.
In the morning, the townspeople saw that the river had dried up and pleaded with Hazrat Dada Sadaya to make the river flow once again. In spite of this plea, Hazrat Dada Sadaya refused and told the people that the river will never flow again. This dried-up riverbed can still be seen in Sindh today.
Mausoleum
As Hazrat Dada Sadaya got older, he appointed his assistant, who was from the Langah tribe, as Sajjada Nashin (caretaker) of his mausoleum following his death. The descendants of Hazrat Dada Sadaya's apprentice were appointed to look after his burial site for generations to come. Today there is no recognized descendant of Hazrat Dada Sadaya's first Sajjada Nashin safeguarding the mausoleum, although members of the Langah tribe take it upon themselves to look after the burial site.
Hazrat Dada Sadaya’s tomb is located in Kutch approximately 5 miles away from the famous Haji Pir Dargah. It is situated in an old cemetery near Karol Pir Dargah.
Urs
Although the date of Hazrat Dada Sadaya’s demise is unknown, his Urs (death anniversary) is commemorated by Luhar Wadhas on the last Wednesday in the Islamic month of Safar. In Mumbai in particular, a massive gathering takes place.
Legacy
Today, there are Muslim Luhar Wadha communities all across the world, with many in India, Pakistan, East Africa, the USA, Canada, and the UK. Large communities exist in Kutch, Mumbai (India), Karachi (Pakistan), Mombasa (Kenya), and several other places.