Srinagar, April 6 (KNS): On the 7th of Zilhaj, Khwaja Farooq Renzushah, Chairman of the Hazrat Bulbulshah Trust (Awqaf), addressed a prestigious spiritual congregation at the historic shrine of Hazrat Abdul Rahman Bulbulshah (RA) and officially declared it an independent, unspecified shrine—free from the control of any state or central Waqf body.
Renzushah highlighted that the shrine, built in 1320 A.D. by Sultan Sadruddin Renchenshah and Sultana Kota Rani, stands as Kashmir's first Khankah. It has symbolized Sufi Tasawuf, peace, and communal harmony for centuries. He recalled how the foundation of the current structure was laid in 2003 with dimensions of 70 and 86 feet—spiritually inspired numbers—and accompanied by the recitation of Surah Rahman and traditional rituals.
He thanked the Prime Minister of India for acknowledging Hazrat Bulbulshah, Sheikh-ul-Aalam, and Syed Ali Shah Hamdan as Kashmir’s true spiritual identity during his 2019 speech in Parliament.
Renzushah revealed that efforts were made in 2003 to bring the shrine under the “specified” Waqf Act, allegedly influenced by Zakir Naik.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHowever, strong opposition from the Trust kept the shrine independent. Unfortunately, other major shrines like Dargah Hazratbal, Makhdoom Sahib, and Charar-e-Sharief were taken over.
He also called for tracing historical treasures, such as jewels brought from Kashgar in 1937 and deposited in Srinagar’s Toshakhana, and warned against construction changes in Eidgah that undermine its spiritual legacy, especially the historic Mimber built during Shah Hamdan's era.
Offering the shrine as a safe space, Renzushah invited custodians of Hazratbal relics to temporarily house the holy Moi-e-Muqaddas at Bulbulshah Shrine if current premises face legal or management issues under new Waqf amendments.
He urged authorities to ensure any survey for new waqafs post-1990 be conducted fairly and declared that the shrine’s age and sanctity, dating back to 1320 A.D., exempts it from Waqf control under any future Act. (KNS)