Indo Islamic Heritage
Baithka-e-Makhdum Ashraf Simnani is a historic Sufi shrine complex in Kichhauchha Sharif, Ambedkar Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India, dedicated to the 14th-century Iranian Sufi saint Sultan Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Simnani (1285–1386 CE). The shrine, built on a small hill surrounded by a pond, features marble, tile, and glass decorations and serves as a key center for the Chishti-Ashrafi Sufi order. It attracts thousands of pilgrims annually for its spiritual significance, particularly during the Urs observance on the 28th of Muharram. The site includes the saint's mausoleum and associated Islamic structures, emphasizing Sufi teachings of peace and mysticism.
Baithka-e-Makhdum Ashraf Simnani, also known as the Dargah Sharif of Kichhauchha, stands as one of India's prominent historical Islamic sites, honoring Sultan Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Simnani, a revered Sufi saint and founder of the Ashrafi branch of the Chishti order. Born in 1285 CE (708 AH) in Semnan, Iran, to Sultan Syed Ibrahim Noor Bakhshi—a ruler and scholar—and Bibi Khadija Begum, a descendant of Sufi saint Khwaja Ahmad Yasawi, Simnani was a descendant of Prophet Muhammad through Imam Husayn. He ruled Semnan briefly from age 15 but abdicated at 23 to pursue Sufism, traveling to India where he became a disciple of Alaul Haq Pandavi in Bengal. Settling in Kichhauchha around 1364 CE (765 AH), he established the site as his spiritual center, spreading Islamic mysticism and peace until his death in 1386 CE (808 AH). The shrine complex, constructed shortly after Simnani's passing in 1386 CE to enshrine his tomb, is elevated on a small hillock encircled by a sacred pond known as Neer Sharif, whose waters are believed by devotees to hold healing properties for spiritual ailments. The architecture reflects Indo-Islamic influences, with the mausoleum adorned in white marble, intricate tile work, and glass embellishments, creating a serene environment for prayer and reflection. As a baithak (spiritual seat), it symbolizes Simnani's legacy of uniting Sharia (Islamic law) with Tariqat (Sufi path) and Haqiqat (spiritual reality), drawing pilgrims from across India and abroad for interfaith harmony and solace. The annual Urs, commemorating his death, features qawwali, prayers, and gatherings, underscoring its role as a living mosque-shrine for Sufi devotion.
Year of Built: Not Available
Address: CQPC+2JM, Ashrafpur Kichhauchha, Uttar Pradesh 224155
Country: India
State: Uttar Pradesh
District: Ambedkar Nagar
Pincode: 224155
Longitude: 82.65°E
Latitude: 26.45°N