The
above couple let by a Persian poet describes the primordial
environment of the historic city of Multan. But that has changed
now and not only the city of Multan but the district itself
has been transformed into a green, fertile area. It is fact
becoming an industrial town. The city has its own charm, culture
and crafts. The origin of the name ‘Multan’ is obscure and
so is the period of its founding. It has been Mulosan pulu
by Hiuen Tsang and Alberuni called it Multana, which ultimately
came to be called Multan.
History
The history of Multan prior to the arrival of Arabs
in the 8th century A.D is obscure. Alexander is
said to have passed through the district in about 325-326
B.C, but his route cannot be traced. It is probable that Multan
was the city of Malli which Alexander stormed and where he
was wounded.
About
327 B.C. the Macedonians were ousted by Chandragupta and the
Maurya dynasty remained in power till the beginning of the
second century A.D. From 30 B.C to 470 A.D., the Kushan dynasty
ruled over the area, and from 470 A.D to 550 A.D., the White
Huns are believed to have held sway.
Multan
figured as the capital of an important province of the kingdom
of Sindh in the writings of the early Arab geographers. At
the time the Arabs first came to Sindh, the country was ruled
by Raja Chach, a Brahmin. Multan was conquered by Arabs under
Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 A.D . After
defeating Raja Dahir, a descendant of Chach.
Thereafter,
the town remained for the three centuries the out post of
Islam in India, under the caliph of Baghdad. It remained nominally
subject to the Lodhies, Ghaznavids and Muhammad Ghauri upto
the end of 12th century. From the beginning of
the 13th century for the next three centuries ,
the history of Multan is practically the history of
the incursions from western and central Asia.
In
1397 came the invasion by Taimur, whose troops occupied Uch
and Multan, sacked Tulamba, raided the Kohkhars of Ravi and
past across Biass to Pakpattan and Delhi. In 1528, comes the
peace full transfer of the province of Multan to the emissaries
of the Mughal Emperor Babar. Under the Mughal Emperors, Multan
enjoyed a long period of peace between 1528-1748 and was known
as Dar-ul-Aman.
In
1752 Multan became a province owing allegiance to Afghan kings.
It was then ruled by Pathan governors and Daud Putra chiefs
of Bahawlpur for some time. After 1771, Multan witnessed continued
warfare between Sikhs and the Nawabs of Multan. Between 1818
and 1845, it remained under the Sikh rule and finally came
under the British rule in 1849.
The
City
Multan city has the distinction of being the birthplace
of three distinguished man in history Muhammad Tughlaq is
said to have been born in 13th century in a hamlet
and the place, which is known as “ Kotla Toleh Khan “. Emperor
Bahlole Lodhi was born in Qazian Wala Makan near Hussain Agahi.
Ahmed Shah Abdali, the first Durrani sovereign of Afghanistan
, was also born at Multan in 1722.
The
city of Multan is bound on the north by the depression lying
between it and the front and on all other sides by a brick
wall. It has six gates i.e. Lohari gate, Pak gate, Bohar gate,
Delhi gate, Haram gate and Daulat gate.
The
old city has narrow colorful bazaars full of local handicrafts
and narrow winding lanes. There are many places of historical,
cultural and recreational interest in the city.
The
Fort
Multan Fort was built on a mound separating it room the
city by old bed of river Ravi. Its date cannot be fixed with
accuracy. When intact, its circumference was 6,600 ft. having
46 bastions, including two towers at each of the four gates
i.e., Delhi gate, Khizri gate, Sikhi gate and Rehri gate.
The fort was ravaged by the British to avenge the murder of
one Mr. Agnew in 1948. At present it is survived by some parts
of the old rampart and bastions besides the shrines of Hazrat
Bahauddin Zakaria and Shah Rukne-e-Alam, an obelisk in memory
of Agnew and a Hindu temple. The famous Qasim Bagh and a stadium
are located within the walls of the fort. A panoramic view
of Multan city can be had from the highest point in
the fort.
Shrines
The devastation of Khorasan and Western Iran was to the
benefit of this part of Pakistan, for it led to the setting
in this city of a large Gardezi Syeds and Qureshis from Khwarizm,
amongst whom Shiekh Bahauddin Zakaria is a famous saint. About
the same time Pir Shams Sabzawari from Sabzwar and Kazi Qutubuddin
from Kashan came to Multan. Baba Farid Shakar Ganj was born
in a village of Multan , and settled in Pakpattan.
Khwaja
Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki passed through Multan to Delhi and
Syed Jalal, the spiritual leader of many families in Multan,
Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur came to Uch.
Sultan
Sikhi Sarwar’s father also emigrated form Bukhara to Sarwar
Shah Kot in Multan district. These venerable men contributed
greatly to spreading Islam in this area. The saints and shrines
of Multan have been attracting a large number of devotees
all year round.
One
of the foremost scholars of Islam, Sheikh Baha-ud-din Zakaria’s
shrine is located in the fort. He was
born in 1170 A.D., studied in Turan and Iran and received
instructions from Sheikh Shahab-ud-din Suharwardi at Baghdad.
His mausoleum was built by the saint himself. It was a unique
style of architecture of that period, a only other being at
Sonepat in India. It also houses the graves of
most of the eminent members of the Qureshi family,
including that of Nawab Muzaffar Khan.
The mausoleum of Shah Rukn-e –Alam, the grand son of Sheikh
Bahauddin Zakaria, this also located near the main gate of
the Multan fort. He was also a man of great religious and
political influence during the Tughlaq region and was in Multan
when it was visited by Ibn-e-Batuta. The Mausoleum was originally
built by emperor Ghias-ud-din Tughlaq but was given up by
his son Muhammad Tughlaq in favor of Shah Rukn-e-Alam . Besides
its religious importance, the mausoleum has a unique architectural
value. Its dome is considered to be the second largest in
the world. The mausoleum has recently being given the Agha
Khan award for the best Muslim architecture. Some of the interesting
statistics of its architecture are:
(a) Total height of the road level is 150ft
(b) Total height of building is 100ft
(c) Octagonal upper structure diameter is 26ft
(d) Octagonal lower structure diameter is 52ft
(e) The dome on top has a diameter of 58ft
The
mausoleum has very rich geometric pattern, calligraphy and
colorful floral, mosaic and glaze tile work. The shrine is
visited by devotees all year around.
The
shrine of Hazrat Shams Sabzwari is located near Aam-khas garden.
A descended of Imam Jaffar, he was born in 1165 A.D., the
saint died in 1276 A.D., and is shrine was built by his grand
son in 1330 A.D.
Other
Shrines
Other shrines in Multan include those of Mohammad Yousaf
Gardezi near Bohar Gate, Musa Pak Shaheed inside the Pak Gate,
Totla Mai Haram Gate, Shah Ali Akbar, a descendant of Shah
Shams Sabzwari, in Suraj Miani and Baba Safra near Eidgah.
Mosques
of Multan
The famous mosques of Multan are Wali Mohammad Mosque
in Chowk Bazar built by Ali Mohammad Khakwani in 1758 A.D.,
Mosque Phulhatt in Chowk Bazar built by Emperor Farrukh Siyar,
Baqarabadi Mosque built by Baqar Khan in 1720 A.D. and the
beautiful Eidgah Mosque built by Nawab Abdul Samad Khan in
1735 A.D.
Other
Places
Multan has some beautiful modern buildings such
as Nishtar Medical College, University Campus, Arts Council
building with and auditorium, Multan Railway Station building
the famous Clock Tower building of the Multan Municipal Corporation
and State Bank of Pakistan etc.
There
are places of recreation in Multan such as the Stadium, the
Lake Chaman zar-e-Askari and Company Bagh in the Multan Fort,
Lange Khan Garden, Aam-Khas Garden and the parks at Bohar
Gate, Chowk Shaheedan, Tabbi Sher Khan and the Nawan Shaher
in and around Multan.
Festivals,
Fairs and Meals
Religious festivals in Multan are a peculiar mixture
of devotion and recreation. Multan is famous for its shrines.
Annual Urs is held on every shrine. Well known are the Urs
of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Bahauddin Zakaria, Shah Shams Sabzwari,
Shah Jamal, Sher Shah and Mela Ludden Pir, etc.
