Waris Ali Shah


Waris Ali Shah was a Sufi saint from Dewa, Barabanki, India, and the founder of the Warsi Sufi order. He travelled widely in the west and admitted people to his spiritual order. His shrine is situated at Dewa, India.

Life

Father

His father was Ali Shah, whose tomb is located in Dewa.
At an early age Shah showed an inclination for a religious life.

Social engagements

He went to Mecca for pilgrimage many times. During his travels in Europe, he visited the Sultan of Turkey and Otto von Bismarck in Berlin. He also travelled to England and had an audience with Queen Victoria.
He was a friend of Abdul Bari.

Death

He died on 5 April 1905.

Sufi order

Waris Ali Shah belonged to the Qadiriyya and Chishtiyya schools of Sufism.
He had a liberal view and permitted his followers to remain in their own religions.
As a boy, Shah attached himself to Khadim Ali Shah, a Dervish of Golaganj, Lucknow, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, and remained with the latter until his death in 1832-33 when Shah was 16 years old.

His disciples

He had followers from several faiths.

Shah’s death anniversary, locally known as Dewa Mela is observed in October–November and is attended by nearly a million Muslims and Hindus.
Shah reportedly started this event in memory of his own father, Qurban Ali Shah. Another annual fair is held beside Shah’s tomb on 1 Safar.