Hussain Shah Wali

Hussain Shah Wali
Religion	Islam
Senior posting
Based in	Hyderabad, Kingdom of Golkonda (now in Telangana, India)

Hussain Shah Wali was a sufi saint of Golkonda, during the reign of Qutb Shahi dynasty. He is credited with building the Hussain Sagar at Hyderabad in the year 1562. The mausoleum and shrine at the Qutb Shahi Tombs called Dargah Hussain Shah Wali was built by Abdullah Qutb Shah in his honour. He is a Hussaini sayyid and descendant of Khwaja Banda Nawaz. He died in 1620.

At a very early age he had a deep longing to worship Allah in a secluded place away from the mankind. Shah Wali arrived at Golconda, Hyderabad during the rule of Sultan Ibrahim Qutb Shah. The Sultan of Golconda was a follower of Shi'ism but had a great admiration for Sunni learned persons and holy saints. The sultan arranged for Shah Wali's stay, and in his first meeting gave Shah Wali the command over 10,000 troops and also named him secretary of royal construction works. After some time Sultan Ibrahim accepted him as his son in law.

Though externally Shah Wali was rich in his appearance in the royal court of Golconda, but actually he was a fakir in his batin (innermost). As he was having qualities of fakir, people of all faiths visited him with their problems. There was free entry for all in his court to represent their problems and difficulties, and he never kept watchmen at the door of his house.

Hussain Shah wali is credited with building the Hussain Sagar lake at Hyderabad in the year 1562. Built on a tributary of the river Musi to meet the water and irrigation needs of the city. Ministers and royal officers tried hard to name the lake "Ibrahim Sagar" after the Sultan of Golconda, but due to love of the people towards Hussain Shah wali, the lake became popular as Hussain Sagar.

Hussain Shah Wali died on 12th Feb 1620. The mausoleum and shrine at the Qutb Shahi Tombs called Dargah Hussain Shah Wali was built by Abdullah Qutb Shah in his honour. Around his mausoleum there is vast street which is well known and famous as street Dargah Hussain Shah Wali. During the URS (death anniversary of a Sufi saint) several hundred thousand devotees from near and far, irrespective of religion and beliefs, gather there to seek blessings.

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