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by A. W. A. Azeez

The 139th Anniversary of The Masheik Feast at the Shrine of the famous Sri Lankan Moor Saint Qutubuzzaman Sheik Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) popularly known among his mureeds all over Sri Lanka as Alim Sahib Appanga started with the Annual Flag Hoisting Ceremony on the evening of 15th January 2002. The Grand Feast will be on the night of 23rd January 2002 and noon of 24th January 2002.

During these two days well over fifty thousand devotees who come from every corner of Sri Lanka are fed. This is undoubtedly the largest Muslim gathering at a Shrine in Sri Lanka to take part in a Feast. It is a Feast/Alms-giving given in the name of all the Saints of Allah.

It is appropriate now to give a brief history of the origin of this feast and history of the Shrine for the benefit of the younger generation in the Muslim Community. Unlike other feasts conducted all over, The Masheik Feast was started by the Qutubuzzaman Sheik Hassan Bin Osman (Rali) himself during his lifetime with clear instructions to continue till end of the world, and todate there has never been an interruption.

Sheikh Hassan Bin Osman Magdoomy (Rali) was born in a village called Shola (Thalapitiya) in Galle in the year of Hijra 1200 (1785 AD), His father was Osman Magdoomy Bin Fareed of Aluthgama and his mother Fathima Siddeeka, the only daughter of Katheeb Sheik Mohamed. She was a wealthy lady well versed in the Holy Quran and was well versed in various sciences including the interpretation of dreams etc. Osman taught children the Quran and one day when he made a mistake he was corrected by his wife, there upon he threw the cane on his wife, which hit her abdomen.

Immediately she fell into a state of trance (HAL) and uttered - in my womb is a son who will renounce the extensive worldly wealth he will inherit from me and will follow the Path of Allah. Nine days after his Birth I will pass away and as a fore warning of which the large tree in front of my house will wither away. A few months later Osman saw a dream where two doves alighted on his lap, one of which he caught the other flew away.

His wife interpreted this - as the one, which was caught, is your son to be born and the dove, which flew, is me who will leave you. Exactly as predicted, ninth day of Sheik Hassan's Birth his mother passed away and every other prediction too became a reality. Sheikh Hassan had his early education in Quran and religion in a Madarasa. He was the first Katheeb of Galle Fort Mosque.

Sheik Hassan after a stay of 42 years in his Birthplace - Galle he spent his later life in Hambantota, Trincomalee, Kandy, Ganetanne, Maggona, and finally in Aluthgama where he died in 1283 AH (1866AD). A part of this town is known as Dharga Town reminiscent of the fact that the Wali is enshrined there.

Sheikh Hasan's life was eventually a spiritual one and hence miracles and supernatural things form a great part of it. He received the Kalifath of Seyed Sheik Ibmi Mohammadul Jiffry (Jiffry Thangal) from Seyed Ahmed Ibmi Abdulla Bafaki (Ral).

Sheik Hassan had only one son and the child passed away at a young age. Sheik Hassan loved his two nephews with whom he spent a major part of his life. They are Mohammed Lebbe and Sheik Abdul Cader, better known as Kaliyar Fakeen Lebbe and Sheik Hasan had bestowed his full power pertaining to Khilafath on him. He attended sainthood at a very young age. He was a great scholar in Theology having studied extensively at the Al Azhar University in Cairo.

Sheik Hassan prior to his death had given detailed instructions regarding his burial to his nephew Mohammed Lebbe. He had said - My Shrine will be visited by diverse kind of persons many great Auliyas including Khilar Alai Salaam, the poor and the troubled seeking solace and numerous others who wish to pay their respects and be blessed. If you bury me in the Grand Mosque, those who visit my grave all around will trample the graves of the pious Muslims.

Bury me in an open space some distance away from your house so that those who come to perform Ziyarath can congregate make their offerings, distribute the alms and fulfil their vows.

This last will (Wasiya) is recorded in the 18th and 19th chapters in page 247 in the famous book written by Mapillai Lebbe Alim and say thus:-

After a spiritual rewarding life of over 80 years Sheik Hassan passed away in the night of Tuesday the 7th Muharrum 1283 AH (22nd May 1866 AD). The Mashaik Feast began during the lifetime of Sheik Hassan. People having known of his miracles kept vows. In fulfilment of their vows they brought goats, bulls, fowls, rice etc. as offerings.

Sheik Hassan called his nephew Mohammed Lebbe to accept all these Niyyath on his behalf, cook them, distribute them to the poor and the kindred and also further instructed Mohammed Lebbe to tell the people to desist from bringing their offerings on all days but to bring them on the fixed days in the month of Dhul Kalida and instructed that all offerings he cooked and distributed to the people by way of Kanduri (Feast) in commemoration of all Mashaiks and not to sell any offerings. Thus arose the beginning of the Mashaik Feast during the lifetime of Sheik Hassan.

It is evident that Al-Ghazzali the famous Islamic philosopher held the view that Auliyas had the power to subdue and tame wild beasts and has written that it is the mark of a Wali that he has power to tame wild creatures and beasts of prey. And the lions and other wild beasts love him and lions wag their tails for him. There is a story of how a wild Elephant on a rampage was subdued by Sheik Hassan (Rali).

There were many eulogies composed in honour of Sheikh Hassan (Rali) after his death, but the authoritative and beautiful record of his life had been made by Sheikh Mohammed of Keelakara popularly known as Mapillai Lebbe Alim an author of several books on Islam and a great scholar of South India. The Moulood of Sheik Hassan (Rali) was written by Mapillai Lebbe Alim is named as Mavahibur Rahman - Manakid Fi Sheik Hassan. The copies of this are available at most homes in the Kalutara + Galle Districts.

The surviving Great grand son of the famous Mapillai Lebbe Alim Dr. Shohaibe Alim did the thesis on the life of Sheik Hassan (Rali) at the University for the doctorate which he obtained with much Honours. The copies of this Thesis are available at the Libraries of University of Colombo and Peradeniya for reference.

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