Jaunpur was then a major center of Urdu and Sufi knowledge and culture. The Sharqi dynasty was known for its excellent communal relations between Muslims and Hindus, perhaps stemming from the fact that the Sharqis themselves were originally indigenous converts to Islam, as opposed to descendants of Persians or Afghans. Jaunpur’s independence came to an end in 1480, when the city was conquered by Sikander Lodhi, the Sultan of Delhi. The Sharqi kings attempted for several years to retake the city, but ultimately failed.
Although many of the Sharqi monuments were destroyed when the Lodhis took the city, several important mosques remain, most notably the Atala Masjid, Jama Masjid (now known as the Bari (big mosque) Masjid) and the Lal Darwaza Masjid. The Jaunpur mosques display a unique architectural style, combining traditional Hindu and Muslim motifs with purely original elements. The old bridge over the Gomti River in Jaunpur dates from 1564, the era of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The Jaunpur Quilla, a fortress from the Tughlaq era, also remains in ruined form.
There was a time when Jaunpur was known for its education and at that time importance was given to fundamentals teachings of Islam in every home in our community. Gradually things have changed and level of education start decreasing. In Jaunpur District, the population of shia is above 65000 and second place after Lucknow.
Majorty of sayed muslims of Jaunpur belongs to Zaidi and Abidi families.
According to Tradition of Azadari of Muharram in India, the Zaidis in India are descendant of Abu Farah Wasti who came to India in 1025 CE from Wasit in Iraq to set up the administrative structure for Mehmood Ghaznavi of Afghanistan who had conquered parts of India in the 11th century. Some members of our extended family also use the surname Wasti instead of Zaidi. Zaidis and Wastis are the descendants of Hazrat Zaid Shaheed, one of the sons of the fourth imam, Hazrat Zayn-ul- Abedin. Shias believe in twelve imams after the Prophet.
According to Tradition of Azadari of Muharram in India, the Zaidis in India are descendant of Abu Farah Wasti who came to India in 1025 CE from Wasit in Iraq to set up the administrative structure for Mehmood Ghaznavi of Afghanistan who had conquered parts of India in the 11th century. Some members of our extended family also use the surname Wasti instead of Zaidi. Zaidis and Wastis are the descendants of Hazrat Zaid Shaheed, one of the sons of the fourth imam, Hazrat Zayn-ul- Abedin. Shias believe in twelve imams after the Prophet.
Zaid Shaheed was born in 695 CE and died in 740 CE. He led a rebellion against the tyrant ruler, Hisham. Zaid Shaheed was killed in battle; his body was hung from the gate of the city for four years, and then his remains were taken down and burnt. He lived in Wasit, hence his descendant were called Zaidi-ul-Wasti (Zaidi of Wasit).
Why did Abul Farah Wasti come to India? The story goes that Wasti had dreamt that he should assist Ghaznavi to set up his administrative structure in India and at the same time Ghaznavi also had a dream that he should engage Wasti for the purpose. Abul Farah Wasti had had administrative experience as the governor of Wasit. The Wastis were the family chosen to be appointed as governors of Wasit. Abul Farah Wasti was 16th generation from the Prophet and 8th generation of governors from the Wasti family. Shias were being persecuted in Iraq at that time, which could have provided further incentive to Abul Farah Wasti to migrate to India.
With his family, he landed in Barsat, near Panipat. The second move was to Sirsi. (It is not clear whether Abdul Farah Wasti himself or one of his descendants moved to Sirsi.)
Much later on in Sirsi, Mir Jamaluddin was saying his prayers when his daughter passed in front of him to cross over to the other side. Her brother, Syed Haider, stopped her from crossing over and made her sit down next to the father - because one is not supposed to pass in front of a person offering prayers. Upon which, Mir Jamaluddin said to his son, “You have given your place to your sister, now go and find your own place and spread Islam.” Mir Jamaluddin also gave his sword to his son.
Syed Haider moved back to Barsat, but his great-grandson, Syed Mehmood, moved out of Barsat. It is not known where he moved to. What is known is that Syed Mehmood’s son, Syed Masood moved to Delhi and joined the Sufi order and became a disciple of Syed Nizamuddin Awlia. Syed Masood’s son, Syed Barey, was known as Barey Mir. Syed Barey became a follower of another Sufi, Syed Nasiruddin, who was known as Chiragh-e-Dehli. Syed Nasiruddin dreamt that the Prophet was directing him to endow Syed Barey with knowledge of the faith. The question was where to find him in Delhi. There were more than one men named Syed Barey. Syed Nasiruddin again dreamt that the person he was searching for only wore a single-layered garment (yek teh poosh in Persian, ekahra kapra in Urdu). Syed Barey (32nd generation from the Prophet) was located in Delhi and was told to go to a place called Sursonda (now Masaunda) near Zafarabad in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). Syed Barey moved there in 770 Hijri (1368 CE), and set himself up under a chhappar (shed) near a pond.