Ali Usman Baig Blogspot (Documenting Pakistan)
Inside of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed tomb
I came to acquaintance with this tomb few years back, when one of my friend Dr. Muzamil shared picture of this tomb with me. I was amazed by the cut-brick decoration on the walls of this building. I did not see such type of architecture in Pakistan before. I thought this is the only one of its kind but I was wrong.
This tomb is supposed to be constructed in Khiljis dynasty. The Khiljis dynasty fallowed by Muslim Tughlaq, who also followed Ghorids & Slave dynasty, 1320-1413 dynasties.
The tomb of Muhammad Harun, an Arab governor of Makran in the early years of the 8th century A.D, is regarded to be the earliest Muslim tomb in Pakistan. This brick structure is square in plan and the square chamber is directly covered by a low dome. The second specimen in the series is the so-called tomb of Khalid Walid at the village of Khattichaur near Kabirwala.
The last example of the series is the tomb of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed, near village Jalaran, on the Muzaffar Garh – Jhang road. This brick tomb is square in plan and is erected on a high platform about two meters above the surrounding ground levels. The fine cut-brick decoration gives this tomb a unique place among the early funerary buildings in Pakistan and shows the impact and continuation of the Hindu-Buddhist architectural decoration, which is not found on early Muslim buildings in Pakistan. Internally the square chamber is converted into an octagon by means of corner squinches, which have a few courses of corbelled bricks.
I visited this tomb last year on first week of November; the day was Thursday. I witnessed huge numbers of gathering of followers coming with families on tractor trolleys from nearby villages to pay their gratitude and tribute. There is small mosque situated near tomb as well. People were reciting Quran and some were binding ribbons of hope at entrance of Tomb. There were few stalls as well where you could find pastil, bangles sweets and Shawls having writing of Quranic versus on them.
The location of this tomb is some 2.5 kilometers from Chenab River. There are two stories locals associated with this tomb. One is that when Sheikh Sadan Shaheed died the locals buried them on nearby sand dunes and built his tomb there. That, location was different from the current tomb site. It is said that, Sheikh Sadan Shaheed was follower of Taunsa Sahib and Sheikh Saadan and first shrine was supposed to be built at higher ground level then Taunsa Sahib Shrine. So as gratitude of follower to s murshid even after his death, his shrine slipped down from top of nearby sand dunes with passage of time.
The second myth associate with this tomb is that no roof can be constructed on top of this tomb.
I don’t know how much truth present in these myths and stories but the most amazing truth which nobody can deny about this tomb is that: It is symbolic representation of our rich civilization and heritage that our land possess. The cut brick work is one of its own kind. More efforts required from concerned to preserve this national heritage.
aliusmanbaig.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-brick-tomb-of-sheik...
Inside of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed tomb
I came to acquaintance with this tomb few years back, when one of my friend Dr. Muzamil shared picture of this tomb with me. I was amazed by the cut-brick decoration on the walls of this building. I did not see such type of architecture in Pakistan before. I thought this is the only one of its kind but I was wrong.
This tomb is supposed to be constructed in Khiljis dynasty. The Khiljis dynasty fallowed by Muslim Tughlaq, who also followed Ghorids & Slave dynasty, 1320-1413 dynasties.
The tomb of Muhammad Harun, an Arab governor of Makran in the early years of the 8th century A.D, is regarded to be the earliest Muslim tomb in Pakistan. This brick structure is square in plan and the square chamber is directly covered by a low dome. The second specimen in the series is the so-called tomb of Khalid Walid at the village of Khattichaur near Kabirwala.
The last example of the series is the tomb of Sheikh Sadan Shaheed, near village Jalaran, on the Muzaffar Garh – Jhang road. This brick tomb is square in plan and is erected on a high platform about two meters above the surrounding ground levels. The fine cut-brick decoration gives this tomb a unique place among the early funerary buildings in Pakistan and shows the impact and continuation of the Hindu-Buddhist architectural decoration, which is not found on early Muslim buildings in Pakistan. Internally the square chamber is converted into an octagon by means of corner squinches, which have a few courses of corbelled bricks.
I visited this tomb last year on first week of November; the day was Thursday. I witnessed huge numbers of gathering of followers coming with families on tractor trolleys from nearby villages to pay their gratitude and tribute. There is small mosque situated near tomb as well. People were reciting Quran and some were binding ribbons of hope at entrance of Tomb. There were few stalls as well where you could find pastil, bangles sweets and Shawls having writing of Quranic versus on them.
The location of this tomb is some 2.5 kilometers from Chenab River. There are two stories locals associated with this tomb. One is that when Sheikh Sadan Shaheed died the locals buried them on nearby sand dunes and built his tomb there. That, location was different from the current tomb site. It is said that, Sheikh Sadan Shaheed was follower of Taunsa Sahib and Sheikh Saadan and first shrine was supposed to be built at higher ground level then Taunsa Sahib Shrine. So as gratitude of follower to s murshid even after his death, his shrine slipped down from top of nearby sand dunes with passage of time.
The second myth associate with this tomb is that no roof can be constructed on top of this tomb.
I don’t know how much truth present in these myths and stories but the most amazing truth which nobody can deny about this tomb is that: It is symbolic representation of our rich civilization and heritage that our land possess. The cut brick work is one of its own kind. More efforts required from concerned to preserve this national heritage.
aliusmanbaig.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-brick-tomb-of-sheik...