Faqir Izat Shah Warsi(Chappar Sharif)

Introduction:

Hazrat Al-Haj Faqir Izat Shah Warsi was born on 09 Nov 1925 at ancestral village of Sanghoi Jhelum. His father was an eminent pious, physician and a retired Junior Commissioned Officer Subedar Qazi Muhammad Yousaf Qadri Sarwari. Haji Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi named him as Aziz Ahmed and became his patron. His great grandfather was Hafiz Rukan Alam Chishti who was Caliph of Khawja Shamsudin Sialvi. During Hafiz Rukan Alam Chishti’s time, Sarkar Alam Panah Haji Waris Ali Shah came to Sanghoi and honoured the village by staying for three days and nights. On departing Sanghoi, Sarkar Alam Panah said “we have our share in your family and when we desire we shall get our share”. Sarkar Alam Panah got his share in the shape of Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi (Ahramposh by Sarkar Alam Panah) and Faqir Izat Shah Warsi. 



Basic Education:

Faqir Izat Shah Warsi got his worldly education from High School Sagri Rawalpindi and higher education from Punjab University.



Journey to Ajmir Sharef:

During 1938 when Faqir Izat Shah Warsi was attending matric classes, he left Sagri and reached Delhi via Kaliar Sharif. In Delhi, he met a Majzoob Dervish Yasin Sahib who ordered him to report Khawja Gharib Nawaz Ajmir sharef. He reported to Gaddi Nashin Khawja Gharib Nawaz, Khawja Hassan Imam Chishti, and Faqir Izat Shah was awarded the duty to look after the Mazar Sharef and key of Mazar Sharef was awarded for opening and closing the Mazar Sharef of Khawja Gharib Nawaz. During the stay he was taught Tafseer Quran Hakim by Hafiz Noor ul Hassan Chishti. One day Khawja Hassan Imam Chishti told Faqir Izat Shah that your duty over here is over. You will report to Deva Sharef as per orders of Khawja Gharib Nawaz. Total stay was eleven months and twenty days.



Journey to Dewa Sharif:

Faqir Izat Shah, as per order, reported to Dewa Sharef, met his uncle Hazrat Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi, who presented him to Mian Aughat Shah Warsi who got him in the Warsi family/Silsla.



Back to Home:

During 1939, Faqir Izat Shah was ordered by Mian Aughat Shah to return to Sanghoi. He resumed his studies, completed and joined education department. During youth, he was known as man of character and a class of sportsman.



Arrival at Chapper Sharef:

On 08 Mar 1948, Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi died at Chapper Sharef (Gujar Khan Distt Rawalpindi). Faqir Izat Shah was the only person from his family who reached Chapper Sharef for the burial of Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi. After the death of Hafiz Akmal Shah, Abdullah Shah Warsi stayed on at the grave of Hafiz Akmal Shah Warsi. Abdullah Shah Warsi died during 1956 and Astana was without an Ahramposh. During the annual Urs of Sarkar Alam Panah, on 08 Mar 1956, Faqir Izat Shah Warsi was awarded Ahram on orders of Sarkar Alam Panah by Faqir Hairat Shah Warsi. The construction of Mazar sharef of Hafiz Akmal Shah was started. Sarkar Alam Panah said, “This will be Deva in Pakistan”. Today it can be observed, Chapper Sharef as Deva in Pakistan. Faqir Izat Shah Warsi stayed at Chapper Sharef for forty-eight (48) years and Chapper Sharef became a central place of warsia silsla in Pakistan.



The State of Affairs after Ahramposhi:

Faqir Izat Shah Warsi was an eminent scholar, writer and as per the tradition of warsia silsla, he would travel a lot within the Subcontinent and worldwide. He performed forty-nine (49) Haj, He used to stay at Medina for months together. He had finest touch of poetry in Arabic, Urdu, Porbi, Punjabi and Siraiki.



Member Islamic Ideological Council:

Faqir Izat Shah accepted the membership of Islamic Ideological Council on the personal request of Gen Zia ul Haq, the President of Pakistan and he delivered many lectures on different subjects in the council.



Service in the Field of Education:

Faqir Izat Shah Warsi was a great educationist. He established thirteen (13) schools/seminaries where along with Dars Nizami, education is rendered up to graduation level. Boarding, lodging is provided free.



Relations with Contemporary:

Faqir Izat Shah was the most prominent Saint of his time. Almighty Allah has bestowed upon him a towering personality with knowledge, wisdom and vision. He had the complete patronage of Sarkar Alampanah all the times. Numerous Qadianies embraced Islam by his continuous preaching. He was so enriched in “Tasawaf” that even in Saudi Arabia, he had numerous followers including people from Royal family. Throughout his life he would serve the humanity and at Astana Chapper Sharef, every visitor is looked after as a guest with honour and dignity. He would preach the teachings of Sarkar Alampanah Haji Waris Ali Shah. He was a living replica of Sarkar Alampanah. 

Faqir Izat Shah Warsi died on 07 Sep 2004 at the age of seventy-nine (79) years. He was a beam light of Silsla Warsia and left thousand grieved disciples all over the world.



Trust Astana Alia Warsia:

During 1995 Faqir Izat Shah appointed a Trust with the chief executive Jamil Asghar Malik (a high class retired Govt official) and got it registered. A Board of Trustees assist him in managing the logistics of Astana. The Trust has appointed Faqir Ahmad Shah Warsi, (an Ahramposh and a close disciple of Faqir Izat Shah Warsi) to remain in Astana for spiritual/religious teachings.