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After the matrydom of Hz Shah e Khudmir Siddiq e Vilayat ^RZ, Hz. Khalifa e Groh ^Rz, who desired martyrdom , survived the war and raised  the orphan children. Once this task was done , the wound from the battle of Badr e Vilayat on his forehead ripped opened and he was martryed from the same battle wound. Hz Mahdi e Maud ^AS has sent his waist wrap (kamar band) to Hz Khalifa -e- Groh as sign (bisharat) of the daunting task he is supposed to perform after Shah e Khundmir ^Rz martyrdom. Concise Biography of Hz. Bandagi Miyan Malik Illahdad “Khalifa Groh” ^RZ: Hz Bandagi Miyan Malik Illahdad ‘Khalifa Groh’ ^RZ belonged to the famous tribe of Bariwals, the maternal side of Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ. The progenitor of the Bariwals family was Malik Yaqub, who was among the descendants of Hz Abu Bakr Siddiq ^RZ, the first Caliph of Islam, through Hz Abdur Rahman ^RZ son of Hz Abu Bakr ^RZ. Their descendants arrived [in India] and settled in Bari village, near Bayana. Hence, they came to be known as the Bariwals. Here Malik Yaqub Bariwal is the proginator of the Bariwals. Malik Yaqub Bariwal the proginator of the Bariwals had seven sons: 1- Malik Maudood (he is Maternal Grandfather ‘Nana’ of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ) 2- Malik Ahmad (father of Hz Malik Barkhurdar ^RA urf ‘Malik Bakhan ^RA’, Hz Malik Illahdad “Khalifa Giroh ^RZ and Hz Malik Hammad ^RA) 3- Malik Muhammad 4- Malik Nasiruddin (alias Mubariz-ul-Mulk); 5- Malik Yusuf 6- Malik Esa 7- and Malik Waziruddin Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS gave many glad tidings ‘Bisharat’ in their favour. Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS has said in favor of the Bariwals, they are Ambrit Bel. Ambrit means the Elixir of Life. Bel means descendants. The other specialty of this tribe is that all its members, big and small, were very popular as people of no other tribe. They were also greatly obedient. Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS has given great glad tidings to the members of this tribe as to the people of no other tribe. It is said that first Hz Malik Barkhurdar ^RA alias Malik Bakhan ^RA then followed by the brothers Bandagi Malik Illahdad ^RZ and Hz Bandagi Malik Hammad ^RZ, sons of Malik Ahmad ^RA the Grandsons of Malik Yaqub Bariwal, met Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS at Piran Patan and performed the tasdiq of Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS and earned their glad tidings from him. It was this Malik Bakhan ^RA who later took his nephew Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ in the audience of Imamuna ^AS. Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ was an eminent Noble in the court of the king of Gujrath. In Mehdavia, he was accorded with the title of “Khalifa Groh ^RZ” for his receiving the faiz from all the 5 Khalifa’s ^RZ of Imamuna ^AS. In respect and honour of his services to the Groh-e-Mehdavia in many aspects, more than his original name he is famous with his title of “Hz Khalifa Guroh ^RZ”. His importance can be cited by this single example. After the demise of Imamuna ^AS, and after migrating back to India, the famous Ijma (Mehdavia religious congregation) was conducted near the (Mazar) grave of “Hz Bandagi Miyan Abdul Majeed Noor Nosh ^RZ” in Nainpura in Ahmedabad, on a point everybody failed to come on a consensus at that moment Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ asked the attendants (Non-Migrants and Kasib’s) to leave except the migrating companions of Imamuna ^AS. Hz Khalifa Giroh ^RZ stood to leave at that moment Hz Sani-e-Mehdi ^RZ caught hold of his waist cloth (Kamar Bandh) and said Bhai Dadoo (considering his elder age all the khulafas ^RZ use to address him with this title as a mark of honor and respect) you need not leave because you also directly receive the faiz from that same fathomless ocean from where we receive. During his earning “kasab” days Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ use to be in seclusion and for that purpose he would make excuses like going for hunting days long etc. Once Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ had gone outside and during that time his wife Bibi Maimona ^RA delivered a boy and it happened that his children did not lived long and died in infancy. So his wife thought a vali named Imam Mehdi ^AS is here so let us ask him to supplicate for this infant’s long life, so she sent the infant along with the midwife in the feet of Imamuna ^AS. Imamuna Mehdi ^AS said, “Yes, He for whom we supplicate perishes”. After hearing this the entire household started weeping on the joyous occasion, in the meantime HZ Khalifa Giroh ^RZ who was away arrived on the moment and was apprised by the saying of the Imam AS, after hearing those words spoken by Imamuna ^AS he was overjoyed and said that ‘perishing’ is the indication of perishing in Haq and long life, and it happened that his son Hz.Bandagi Miyan Peer Mohammed ^RZ Sahabi-e-Imamuna ^AS lived for almost 70 years and passed on 12^th Ramzan in 975H. He lived 30 years after his father’s martyrdom. Hz Khalifa Giroh ^RZ had the honor to come in the feet of Imamuna Mehdi ^AS and he sincerely decided that until my lower self ‘nafs’ and satan should come in my presence and should say we will not astray you then only I will do ‘Tark-e-Dunya’ and mix with the companions of Imamuna ^AS and it happened. Then one day both the Self and the Satan submitted themselves in front of him, now Hz Khalifa Griroh ^RZ brought the documents and deeds of his jagir and burnt them up and both the father and Son started the migration as true seekers of Truth. The Son Hz Bandagi Miyan Peer Mohammed ^RZ went to the Daira of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ, but Bandagi Malik Ilahdad ^RZ was of an advanced age as compared to Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. As such, he thought, “How can I go with my grey beard before Bandagi Miyan ^RZ (as his disciple or murid), since the latter was much younger and had a jet black beard. There is no consonance. He thought Hz Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam ^RZ is also one of the eminent companions ^RZ of Hz Imamuna Mehdi ^AS; he is aged and has remained in the company of Hazrat Imamuna ^AS for a longer time. So I should join the company of Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam ^RZ.” On the basis of this thinking, Hz Bandagi Malik Ilahdad ^RZ joined the company of Hz Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam ^RZ when he performed the obligation of giving up the world [Tark-e-Dunya] and remained in his company for quite a few years. It is narrated that one day, Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ saw in a (Muamila) reverie that Hz Prophet Muhammad ^SAS and Hz Imamuna ^AS had come into his hujra [room] and had brought Coat of Honor. They made him put on the Coat of Honor by their own hands. Then they said, “Bhai Dadu! Go. You have been given the Khilafat of Brother Syed Khundmir ^RZ”. Hz Bandagi Malik ^RZ told the details of the reverie to Hz Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam ^RZ. The latter said it was correct. But he did not permit him to go. Hz Malik Illahdad RZ had for the first time seen that he got the information, “O Miyan Dadu! Though you remained in the company of Hz Miyan Shah Nizam ^RZ, you get your share [of faiz—bounty of Vilayat] from Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ”. On the basis of this, Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ sought permission from Hz Shah Nizam ^RZ. Then for a third time Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ went to Hz Shah Nizam ^RZ to seek his permission to go to the daira of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. This time he had decided to go and had made the necessary arrangements for the journey. It is said, this time also Hz Shah Nizam ^RZ did not give the permission. Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ then respectfully said, “Miyanji! There is a saying, ‘Naukri chor; Nivala hazir [default in serving, present to receive the compensation]. This banda is serving here and getting the (faiz) share of the Sainthood from Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. Then I must go to him.” Saying this Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ touched the feet of Hz Shah Nizam ^RZ and started his journey to the Daira of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. Hz Shah Nizam ^RZ is narrated to have not delivered the bayan of Quran till his death after Hz Malik Illahdad ^RZ left his daira. He is narrated to have said, “Miyan Dadu was the only man who listened to the bayan of Quran and he has gone to his place. For whom should I now perform the bayan?” But in Panj Fazail it is recorded that he did not delivered the bayan of Quran for a day, then he started performing, when enquired he said, I am doing this for the sake of Hz Miyan Abdur Rahman ^RZ. (Allah ^SWT knows best, He is samee and baseer, and slumber never overtakes Him). In short, when Hz Malik IIlahdad ^RZ arrived in the daira of Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ, the latter was very happy to receive him. Hz Malik IIlahdad ^RZ received the glory of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. Then Bandagi Miyan ^RZ said, “The example of Bhai Dadu going to Bhai Nizam is like a young prince going to a maktab [school]. When he gets the necessary knowledge and learns the etiquette of the royal court, he is made to sit on the throne. Similarly, Bhai Dadu was taken there, made him capable of remaining in the company of his banda and then he was brought here.” Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ has given a large number of glad tidings and favours to Hz Khalifa Giroh ^RZ. From among the many glad tidings as follows: The first one is that Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ gave the command of his Khilafat [Vice-Regency] to Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ and informed him that he would outlive him [Bandagi Miyan ^RZ]. The second glad tidings are that Bandagi Miyan Hz Syed Khundmir ^RZ said, “Since you will outlive us, you will have the occasion to meet and talk to the companions ^RZ of Hazrat Imam Mahdi AS. Hence, ask everything you want to. You may ask your questions even at the time of the bayan of Quran. The third bisharat is that Bandagi Miyan ^RZ told Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ, “The companions ^RZ of Hazrat Imamuna ^AS who have opposed this banda will come to you for repenting. The fourth bisharat is that Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ addressed Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ as ‘brother’. The fifth bisharat is that Miyan Atan ^RZ and Bandagi Malik Hammad ^RZ wanted that Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ should not ask any questions from Bandagi Miyan ^RZ at the time of bayan-e-Quran. When Bandagi Miyan ^RZ got wind of this, he called Bandagi Malik Hammad ^RZ and sent word to Bandagi Malik Ilahdad ^RZ, “Go and give Bhai Dadu our Salaam and say Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS had told me and I tell you, ‘whatever was placed here has been placed there. What has been manifested in the breast of this banda has been placed in your breast.” The sixth bisharat is that Bandagi Miyan ^RZ told Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ. The person who is your enemy is the enemy of this banda. The enemy of this banda is the enemy of the zath of Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS. He who is the enemy of Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS is the enemy of the Messenger of Allah [Prophet Muhammad ^SAS], and he who is the enemy of the Messenger of Allah is the enemy of Allah.” Similarly, there are many bisharaat Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ has given to Bandagi Malik Ilahdad “Khalifa Groh” ^RZ. Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ is counted as a martyr along with Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. Because after winning the first day Battle of Badr-e-Vilayath in the night Hz Bandagi Miyan ^Rz called him and saw that the latter was wounded and his body was also bleeding. He was told to take care of the Daira and the families and the inmates of the Daira, so in response he replied Khundkar do you want me to be deprived of Shahadath under your feet. In response Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ applied his Paskhurda of Saliva on Hz Khalifa Guroh ^RZ’s body and the wounds healed and vanished immediately then he said Bhai Dadoo when the appropriate time comes your wounds would come alive and bleed, in that state you will die and achieve the martyrdom as per your wish and desire. Hz Khalifa Guroh ^RZ took charge of the entire daira and family of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ along with other families of the fuqara of the Daira in every aspect along with the propagation of Mehdavia. After some years when the children of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^Rz were young enough to care of the Daira then he gave the charge of the Daira and inmates to his Khalifas i.e the children of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. As predicted by his Murshid Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ his wounds now once became alive at the village of Kapadwanj and in that state he passed away on 14^th Ramzan 945H. That is, after 35 years after the demise of Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS and fifteen years after the martyrdom of Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ. It may be added here, Hz Bandagi Miyan Shah Dilawar ^RZ, the fifth Caliph of Imamuna ^AS, too died in the same year. Hz Khalifa Groh ^RZ’s ‘Khilafath’ lasted for 15 years and during that time his Daira was expelled from 15 places like his Murshid Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ. He died after passing away of all the 5 Khalifas ^RZ. In his entire life one can see the services he did for the community and the young children of Syedain ^RZ (i.e Hz Sani-e-Mehdi ^RZ and Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ). He invited the 2nd son of Hz Sani-e-Mehdi ^RZ, i.e Shajarathul Murshideen Hz Bandagi Miran Syed Shah Yakoob ^RZ ‘Hasan-e-Vilayath’ father of Bara-Bani-Israil-e-vilayath and married to him Hz Bibi Raje Ruqiya ^RZ daughter of Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir Siddiq-E-Vilayat ^RZ and made one more relation among these families. It is narrated that when Hz Imam Mahdi ^AS sent Hz Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ from Nasarpur [Sindh] to Gujarat, the Imam ^AS, under the command of Allah Most High, also sent his chadar [a fabric / cloth to wrap around the body] to Hz Bandagi Malik Ilahdad “khalifa Giroh” ^RZ and his headgear to Bandagi Malik Hammad ^RZ through Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir ^RZ. This is one more bisharath that both these personlities became the trusted companions of Hz Bandagi Miyan ^RZ and tasted their Martyrdom “Shahadath”. Editors Note: Taher Md. Saheb  S/o Mohammed Saheb (Vice-President Idara Tableegh-E-Mehdavia, Musheerabad)  Dammam, K.S.A.is a regular contributor of Mahdavia.com