Sheikh Muḥammad Ḥaider Qadiri (RA)

Name and Titles

Sheikh Muḥammad Ḥaider Qadiri (RA), also known as Ḥaider Ṣaḥab

Dates and Places

Born 1210 AH / 1796 CE in Pulwama district; died 1280 AH / 1863 CE; buried at Pulwama, Kashmir

Order and Lineage

A major figure of the Qādiriyya order in south Kashmir; spiritual successor within the line descending from Mir Sayyid Raḥman Qadiri (RA)

Biography

Sheikh Muḥammad Ḥaider (RA) was born into a family known for ethical integrity and modest learning. He pursued education in Quranic sciences, Hadith, Persian poetry, and the principles of Sufism. His early inclination toward solitude and meditation led him to join the Qadiriyya order, where he completed his training under a successor of the Anantnag Qadiri line.

His ascetic lifestyle and gentle temperament made him a trusted spiritual advisor across Pulwama and neighbouring villages.

Teachings and Themes

Remembrance of God through zikr-i jahr and spiritual discipline
Ethical conduct rooted in humility and inner purity
Avoidance of conflict and cultivation of patience (ṣabr)
Emphasis on traditional hospitality and compassion

Institutions and Influence

He established a zawiya in Pulwama, which became an important centre for Qadiri teachings. His disciples later carried his methods of devotion to Shopian, Litter, and adjacent areas.

Legacy and Shrine

His shrine in Pulwama continues to host study circles, devotional recitations, and the Qadiri wird during his annual Urs.

Legends and Oral Tradition

Local narratives recall that rain returned to Pulwama in a year of drought after his prayers – a symbolic depiction of divine mercy common in Kashmiri Sufi memory.