Hazrat Syed Ameer Mah: Sufi Saint of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 14 July 2025 Hazrat Syed Ameer Mah Bahraichi, a prominent Sufi saint, influenced Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq and authored spiritual works. His shrine in Bahraich remains a pilgrimage site, with his Urs celebrated on 29 Zilqada. Main Points: 1. Born in 730 Hijri, a revered Sufi saint and scholar. 2. Lineage traced to Imam Hussain and Hazrat Ali. 3. Authored Al-Matloob fi Ishqil-Mahboob in Persian. 4. Influenced Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq spiritually. 5. Shrine in Bahraich attracts devotees; Urs is celebrated annually. ---- Hazrat Syed Ameer Mah Bahraichi was a distinguished Indian Sufi saint and scholar, known for his spiritual influence and literary contributions. Born in 730 Hijri (circa 1329 CE), his full name was Syed Afzaluddin Abu Zafar Ameer Mah Bahraichi. His lineage is traced back to Imam Hussain (RA) through Hazrat Ali (RA), a connection documented by prominent Sufi scholars of his era. Renowned figures such as Mir Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Simnani, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq, Sheikh Sarfuddin Yahya Maneri, Syed Ali Hamdani, and Garib Yamani, among others, have referenced his noble lineage and spiritual stature in their writings. According to Nuzhatul Khawater (Volume 3, Page 203), his genealogy is detailed as: “Sheikh Mohammad bin Nizamuddin bin Husamuddin bin Fakhruddin bin Yahya bin Abi Talib bin Mahmood bin Ali bin Yahya bin Fakhruddin bin Hamza bin Hasan bin Abbas bin Mohammad bin Ali bin Mohammad bin Ismail bin Jafar Husaini (Imam Jafar Sadiq).” Known by his title Abu Jafar Ameer Mah, he was a prominent Sufi master. He received spiritual training and the khirqa-e-faqiri (Sufi cloak) from Sheikh Alauddin Husaini and later adopted the spiritual path under the guidance of Jamaluddin Koili. Among his notable works is the Persian text ‘Al-Mahboob fi Ishqil-Matloob Ma’arif’, composed during the reign of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Sultan Firoz Shah met Hazrat Ameer Mah in Bahraich, where he sought and received spiritual blessings. Mir Syed Ashraf Jahangir Simnani also met him in Bahraich and acknowledged his spiritual eminence in Miratul Asrar. The text ‘Mehr-e-Jahan-Tab’ notes that Hazrat Ameer Mah passed away during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. A well-known anecdote highlights his spiritual stature. When Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq visited Bahraich to pay respects at the shrine of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi after a military victory, he first sought out Hazrat Ameer Mah. While walking together toward the shrine, the Sultan asked Hazrat Ameer Mah to narrate a miracle of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi. Hazrat Ameer Mah responded, “A king and a faqir walking side by side, what greater miracle could there be?” Impressed by this profound reply, Sultan Firoz Shah recorded in his book ‘Tarikh-e-Firoz Shahi’, “Good company yields good results.” The Sultan spent considerable time with Hazrat Ameer Mah, benefiting from his spiritual guidance. Hazrat Ameer Mah’s first wife was from Medina, and they had four sons: Syed Ali Mah, Syed Jaan Mah, Syed Alam Mah, and Syed Bade Mah. His second son, Hazrat Taj Mah, is mentioned in several historical texts. Their descendants continue to reside in Bahraich and Nagaur to this day. Among his literary works, the treatise ‘Al-Matloob fi Ishqil-Mahboob’ is particularly notable, written during Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s reign. Portions of this work, specifically the section ‘Bab Dar Bayan-e-Ishq’, were quoted by the author of ‘Miratul Asrar’ and by Hazrat Maulana Shah Naimullah Bahraichi in ‘Ma’moolat-e-Mazhariya’, where they elaborate on the stages and stations of a Sufi seeker. While ‘Miratul Asrar’ does not specify his exact date of death, several reliable sources indicate that Hazrat Ameer Mah passed away in 772 Hijri (circa 1370 CE). His long life is evident from his interactions with luminaries like Syed Nasiruddin Mahmood Roshan Chiragh Dehlavi and Mir Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Simnani. The latter, in his writings, praised the noble Syed family of Bahraich, particularly highlighting Hazrat Ameer Mah’s blessed lineage. He recounted meeting Hazrat Ameer Mah at the shrine of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, where Hazrat Ameer Mah identified himself as Syed Abu Jafar Ameer Mah, reportedly in the company of Hazrat Khizr (AS). When Sultan Firoz Shah expressed doubts about Syed Salar Masud Ghazi’s greatness, Hazrat Ameer Mah’s profound gaze left the Sultan unconscious, transforming him into a devoted follower of the saint, after which he renounced worldly attachments. Hazrat Ameer Mah’s shrine is located on the northern outskirts of Bahraich, enclosed within a fortified boundary and accompanied by a small mosque. The neighborhood is now known as “Ameer Mah Mohalla” and remains a place of pilgrimage for devotees. His annual Urs is celebrated on the 29th of Zilqada, marked by Quran recitations, Kul Sharif ceremonies, and an evening Mehfil-e-Shama. The following day, a Milad-un-Nabi gathering is held. Devotees from far and wide continue to visit his shrine, seeking his spiritual blessings. His proximity to Syed Salar Masud Ghazi underscores his exalted status. It is said that Hazrat Ameer Mah had a divine encounter with Hazrat Khizr (AS), a testament to his spiritual eminence, widely recognized by Sufi scholars. References tazkira e auliya Hind https://blog.sufinama.org/syed-ameer-mah-bahraichi/ https://www.rekhta.org/ebooks/meer-syed-ameer-maah-bahraichi-ebooks?lang=ur https://www.iattock.com/bahraich-in-the-mirror-of-history/ ----- A regular contributor to New Age Islam, Sahil Razvi is a research scholar specialising in Sufism and Islamic History. He is an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URl: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hazrat-ameer-mah-sufi-saint/d/136170 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism