About US
Hazrat Pir Mohammed Shah Library and Research Centre (HPMSLARC) was established with is a Dargah library located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The library is a treasure of Islamic culture and heritage collection, and it is one of the oldest libraries in India . The library is located within the precincts of the tomb-shrine complex of HPMSLARC. Established by Sayyid Muhammad, son of Shah Amin, who was also known as Habibullah and widely recognized as Pir Mohammed Shah, this library carries a rich legacy. He was a highly revered Sufi figure in Gujarat, born on the 15th of Sha'ban in 1100 A.H. in Bijapur, Andhra Pradesh, previously part of the Deccan region. He was a posthumous child and faced the loss of his mother during his early years. His upbringing was overseen by his uncle, Abdul Rehman. By the age of seven, Pir Mohammed Shah had memorized the Holy Quran. Under his uncle's guidance, he delved into both esoteric and exoteric sciences. He joined the Qadri Sufi order at the age of nine and then journeyed to Hejaz to further his education in Islamic sciences. His studies continued for six years in Mecca under renowned scholars, followed by seven years in Medina, deepening his knowledge. At the age of 23, he returned to India and settled in Ahmedabad. Known for his piety and scholarly works, he was an accomplished prose writer and poet, often writing under the pen name Qudsi. Among his notable literary contributions are 18 elegies in Persian and Urdu, which poignantly describe the tragedies of the 10th of Muharram and the sufferings endured by Imam Husain (peace be upon him).
Some of his significant works
Although Pir Mohammed Shah did not appoint a successor, his followers and disciples have preserved his legacy. After his death, his burial site became a shrine for his devotees, managed by a committee that continues to oversee its affairs. To safeguard his literary heritage, a library was established adjacent to his shrine, dedicated primarily to books belonging to Pir Mohammed Shah. This library, still operational, is renowned for its excellent maintenance under the supervision of the Board of Directors of the shrine. Twelve volumes of the catalog of Arabic and Persian manuscripts housed in the library have been published in Urdu. The trustees of the shrine warmly welcomed the proposal to create microfilms of these manuscripts. The first part of this catalog includes the microfilms of manuscripts preserved in the Pir Mohammed Shah. The library building is 117 years old, but the collection contains manuscripts that are 350 to 500-year-old and rare books in Urdu, Arabic, Persian, and Gurjari languages. The library houses several cultural heritage manuscripts such as a 16th century Quran, handwritten Quran of late 19th or early 20th century, Persian translation of Mahabharata by Pandit Jivandas, collection of Ghazals’ by Humayun, stone inscriptions and wooden inscriptions. There are several copies of the Quran from the 13th to the 17th centuries with fine calligraphy, dust calligraphy, and decorated with floral motifs.