Aga Syed Hussain Qummi (Rizvi) r.a.,

Aga Syed Hussain Qummi (Rizvi) r.a., commonly known as Aga-i-Qummi, was a scholar, jurist, philosopher and shia mystic, who left the Holy city of Qom and arrived in Kashmir during the reign of Budshah (1418 AD) to spread the messaged of Islam. He was supported by his followers and Ansars, who also came with him to help him in his mission. It is said that Syed left Qom after he has directed by Prophet (SAWW) in a dream to leave for Kashmir to spread the true message. Not much has been written about this great Saint but most information has passed on verbally through generations as elders used to tell stories about the Syed to their children. It is reported that he was accompanied by Mulla Alim Ansari (r.a), great grand father of Molvi Ansaris and Syed Sultan Mosavi (r.a.), great grand father of Sadaat Mosavis residing in various parts of Srinagar City and adjoining areas, who assisted the Syed Qummi in his mission.  It is noteworthy to mention here that the copy of Quran-Karim, written in hand by Hazrat Imam Moosa Alkazim (AS) in prison of Haroon Rashid was brought to Kashmir with them and is presently kept at a Shrine in Sajadabad, Chattabal, Srinagar.

On his arrival in Kashmir at Zainagair, Sopore, it is said that he saw a child clapping his hands near a paddy field to keep birds away from damaging the crops. He asked the child to bring drinking water for him. The boy showed his inability to bring water as he was handicapped and could not move on his own. He further informed the Syed that it was only because of his inability to move that his family had been seating him near the fields to drove the birds away. But Syed asked him again “get up and bring water for me”.  On hearing these words the boy immediately stood up and ran towards his home. On seeing the boy moving and running, the family members and other villagers were puzzled and surprised and asked the boy how that was possible. The boy informed them about the Syed and all the villagers went with him to the Syed and in this way were converted to Islam. The boy was handed over to Syed by his family members to serve the saint.  The descendents of said boy are till date custodians of the shrine of Syed at Zainagair, Sopore.

Another karamah attributed to the great Syed is that during a conflict between hindus and muslims a muslim/Syed girl had been disintegrated from her family. She had been brought up by a hindu family and after attaining age of maturity she was being married to hindu boy. As the wedding party had been heading towards their destination in a boat through river Jhelum, it got stuck at a place and did not move forward. It was near the place where Syed Qummi used to worship Allah. Despite arduous efforts when the boat did not move forward they realized there is something wrong with them. They came to Syed for help. Syed informed them that the boat would not move forward unless they return the girl. They asked for proof of her being a Muslim/Syed Girl. Syed told them to check that the names of Panjtan Pak (AS) had got inscribed on her shoulder. The girl was returned to Syed after finding truth in what Syed had said.

It is only because of this great faqih, scholar and mystic and his supporters/followers (forefathers of Molvi Ansaris) that the major portion of shias i.e. the shias residing in Sonawari, Baramulla and other adjoining areas including portions of Azad Kashmir, had been converted to Islam (Shiaism). Great injustice has been done towards the efforts and achievements which this great Syed had made and the influence he had on shias of the Valley. One can only imagine from the point that the Molvi Ansaris, who are revered even to this point of time in one way or the other, were supporters of this great Syed and assisted him in his mission. And unlike other Saints, where there is doubt whether they propagated shiaism or any other sects, there is no doubt that Syed Qummi preached pure shia faith, the impact of which is evident even after six hundred years of his coming to the Valley. Syed Qummi was laid to rest in Zainagair, Sopore and a shrine has been built on his grave. His sons are buried in and around the Shrine at Ahmadpora, Baramulla. Most of the Sadaat Rizvis living in the Valley are descendents of Agha-i-Qummi, who has been serving the cause of Islam since arrival of their great grandfather in Kashmir. During these six centuries, great scholars, mystics and mujtahids were produced from the descendents of Agha Syed Hussain Qummi, each one of them needs a separate mention.