Hazrat Ajan Fakir and the Assamese Zikirs That Still Sing of Unity and Love

By Rehan Ahmed Khan, New Age Islam 20 October 2025 Hazrat Ajan Fakir, a 17th-century Sufi saint of Assam, joined Hindus and Muslims with Assamese Zikirs of peace, piety, and oneness. His philosophy of kindness and cohesion continues to motivate Assam's syncretic culture and remains an eternal message of unity against division. Main Points: 1. Hazrat Ajan Fakir, a 17th-century Sufi saint, came to Assam from Baghdad or Badaun. 2. He propagated Islam through love, Assamese Zikirs, and moral reformation. 3. Encouraged Hindu-Muslim amity and universal brotherhood. 4. Suffered persecution by Ahom monarchs but was ultimately honored. 5. His Dargah in Sivasagar remains religious and his teachings embrace Assam's time-tested spirit of harmony. ------ Introduction In the sleepy Sivasagar town, where the old Ahom palaces continue to stand tall above the verdant floodplains of the Brahmaputra, the soft whisper of devotional hymns Zikirs still wafts across centuries. These hymns, written almost four centuries ago by Hazrat Ajan Fakir, or Hazrat Shah Miran, are not mere songs; they are alive with the composite spirit of Assam, a blend of Sufi mysticism and native Assamese religiosity. A Pilgrimage from Baghdad to the Brahmaputra Hazrat Ajan Fakir, originally Hazrat Shah Miran and also referred to as Ajan Pir, Shah Milan, or Hazrat Shah Syed Moinuddin was a 17th-century Sufi saint, scholar, and poet said to have travelled from Baghdad (or, alternatively, according to certain sources, Badaun in Uttar Pradesh) to Assam during around 1630 CE. A follower of the great Chishti saint Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, Hazrat Ajan Fakir's journey to the Brahmaputra Valley was not a conquering one but a compassionate one, a quest to resurrect the spiritual and ethical strength of the Muslim people and to cultivate a bridge of harmony among Assam's people of many cultures. When he came, the Ahom kingdom ruled by King Pratap Singha (1603–1641 CE) was involved in intra-royal intrigues and healing from Mughal incursions. In the midst of this turmoil, Hazrat Ajan Fakir established himself at Soraguri Chapori close to modern-day Sivasagar, along with his brother Shah Navi. The humility and asceticism of the saint, his self-definition as a Bhikhari (beggar), captivated Muslims and Hindus alike. "Bhikhari Azan Ye Koy Aaho Porodesh," ("Beggar Azan says, O foreign land,") of one of his Zikirs The Visionary Reformer Hazrat Ajan Fakir was perturbed by the decline of Islamic values among Assam's Muslims, who had become increasingly associated with local traditions. Rather than denouncing, however, he absorbed Assamese culture studying its language, marrying an Assamese woman, and conveying his teachings through Zikir and Jari songs set to Assamese verse. This accommodating approach became the basis of his reform. He was not just a preacher but a philosopher, poet, and philanthropist. His command over the Qur'an, Hadith, and Sufi philosophy was reflected through his poetic sermons, which focused on purity, empathy, humility, and devotion. Through his songs, he propagated fundamental Islamic beliefs—faith (Kalama), prayer (Namaz), fasting (Roza), Islamic tax (Zakat), and pilgrimage (Haj), but his message went beyond dogma and reached the heart of all his listeners. "Mor monot an bhab nai O' Allah… Hindu Musalman ek Allahar farman." ("There is no feeling of difference in my mind, O Allah… Hindus and Muslims are creations of the same God." This religious inclusivism spoke strongly to Assam's Bhakti tradition, especially to the writings of Srimanta Sankardeva (1449–1569 CE), the Vaishnavite saint who espoused monotheism and social reform. Ajan Fakir's Zikirs have been compared many times by scholars to Sankardeva's Borgeets, both devotional songs extolling the divine in the name of lyric simplicity and community involvement. Hazrat Ajan Fakir's most lasting legacy is his work on Zikirs and Jaris. The Zikirs, remembering and praising Allah, were not just religious songs but also moral and spiritual teachings. The Jaris, accounts of the tragedy of Karbala, were filled with sympathy, sacrifice, and the universal conflict between good and evil. These tunes, sung with percussion claps and sometimes set to traditional Assamese music instruments, became cultural pilgrim bridges, mixing Arabic spiritual ideas with Assamese music. The Zikirs were not limited to mosques; they entered Assamese folk life and were sung at social events, festivals, and religious festivals. "Qur'an ye Puran ye ekeke koise, Bujiba mohonto log…" ("The Qur'an and the Purana say the same thing, Understand this, O wise one.") By such lines, Hazrat Ajan Fakir called forth a universalist spirituality in which divine truth lies beyond scripture and sect. His writings are still a shining example of the way art can create peace and harmony. Conflict and Redemption There was, however, suffering in the saint's life. Deceived by jealous authorities, King Gadadhar Singha (1681–1696 CE) was convinced that Ajan Fakir's increasing popularity was a challenge to royal power. The king commanded the eyes of the saint to be gouged out. In legends, it is told that the saint peacefully gave away his eyes in two cups and went on reciting God's praises. The Dikhow River miraculously turned its course around at that time, exhibiting his divine power. Astounded by the miracle, the king did penance, restored Ajan Fakir to honor, and bestowed land upon him to pursue his mission. The saint devoted the remainder of his life preaching love, peace, and devotion. His last resting place at Soraguri Chapori is now the Ajan Pir Dargah, one of the most revered shrines in Assam, where people from all religion flock to seek blessings. Each year, the Dargah celebrates the Urs festival, where Hindus and Muslims come together to chant Zikirs and commemorate the saint's timeless message of brotherhood and kindness. Syncretic Assam: The Cultural Milieu The Assam, Hazrat Ajan Fakir found was one of alive colour, of Ahom monarchs, Vaishnavite reformers, and indigenous tribes, and Muslim Sufis. Sivasagar (or Rangpur) was the cultural and political hub of the Ahom Kingdom, where temples, palaces, and shrines abounded. Within a few kilometres, one can still find the Siva Dol, Vishnu Dol, Devi Dol, and Hazrat Ajan Pir Dargah, standing together as silent symbols of Assam’s pluralistic heritage. This remarkable coexistence of faiths continues to define Assamese identity today. It is common to find Hindus visiting the Dargah or Muslims participating in Bihu celebrations—testimony to the deep-rooted harmony that saints like Hazrat Ajan Fakir nurtured. The Philosophy of Universal Oneness Hazrat Ajan Fakir's philosophy cut across religious boundaries. According to him, the ultimate goal of life was service to mankind and the achievement of the unity of all creation. His Zikirs dwelled on moral values, love, and equality, ideals that continue to be valid in today's world fragmented by discrimination and disunity. He never preached asceticism or renunciation of life. Rather, he preached righteous living, domestic life, and social duty. He made it amply clear: religion must bind, not split. His disciples, Saraguriya Dewans or Azanghoriyas, propagated his spiritual and cultural mission, preserving the concordant tone of Sufi humanism. Relevance in a Time of Division In present-day India, where increased communal tensions tend to overshadow centuries of intermingling, Hazrat Ajan Fakir's ideology is a beacon of tolerance. His dream of a plural society, grounded in empathy and spiritual equality, has the potential to heal the schisms. His songs remind us that religion is neither a boundary nor a barrier but a bridge; that divinity is not in dogma but in compassion. The sustained popularity of Zikirs throughout Assam and the respect held by men of all religion for Hazrat Ajan Fakir confirm that his lessons are not of the past that they live on as lessons of today and tomorrow. Conclusion Hazrat Ajan Fakir was not just a saint; he was a reformer, a poet, a cultural builder, and most importantly, an ambassador of unity. His life and mission represent the syncretic nature of Assam, a land where Bhakti and Sufism blended to leave a lasting legacy of peace and mutual respect. In his Zikirs, he educated generations that religion without humanity is empty, and devotion without pity is nothing. His Dargah in Sivasagar is not just a spiritual abode but also a testament to India's pluralistic culture. In a world more and more defined by division, Hazrat Ajan Fakir's ageless words whisper a truth we so desperately need to recall: "Hindu Musalman ek Allahar farman" — Hindus and Muslims are bound by the command of one God. ------ Rehan Ahmed Khan is an Independent Research scholar specialising Muslim Personalities and Communal Harmony. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/hazrat-ajan-fakir-assamese-zikirs-unity-love/d/137313 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