Hazrat Mir Munshi Imdaad Ali Sadat Alvi: The Poet‑Saint Who Died in the Grief of Imam Hussain
By Adnan Faizi, New Age Islam
6 June 2026
Hazrat Mir Munshi Imdaad Ali Sadat Alvi, the beloved khalifa of Hazrat Sardar Baig Saheb of Hyderabad, was a distinguished Sufi saint and an accomplished poet in Urdu, Hindi, and Persian. Renowned for his spiritual discipline, literary legacy, and deep devotion to the Ahl-e-Bayt.
Main Points:
· Hazrat Imdaad Ali was born 1255 Hijri after Hazrat Ghulam Murtaza’s prediction.
· He became disciple of Hazrat Sardar Baig in 1290 Hijri after five years’ service.
· He received khilafat after three and a half years of mystic endeavour.
· He left eight or nine Diwans and many Sufi books, including Hasam Ibrat.
· He died 11 Muharram at 64 in Sama, weeping for Imam Hussain’s martyrdom.
Introduction
Hazrat Mir Munshi Imdaad Ali Sadat Alvi was one of the most remarkable saint-poets of nineteenth-century Hyderabad. He received khilafat from Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Saheb, he combined rigorous Sufi discipline with extraordinary literary talent. Known by his poetic pen name Ba-Alwai, he was a master of Urdu, Hindi, and Persian poetry, composing extempore verses and leaving behind eight or nine Diwans along with several works on Sufism. Owing to his deep knowledge and teaching of Maulana Rumi’s Masnavi, he became widely known as Maulana Masnavi. Born in 1255 AH following a prediction by the majzub saint Hazrat Ghulam Murtaza of Panipat, he was regarded from birth as one of Allah’s chosen servants. In 1285 AH, his search for a spiritual guide brought him to Hyderabad, where he spent five years serving Hazrat Sardar Baig Saheb before being accepted as a disciple in 1290 AH. After three and a half years of intense spiritual striving, he was granted khilafat and instructed to live “like a dead person” if he wished to remain in his master’s company—a command he faithfully followed for the rest of his life.
His shrine is located within the dargah complex of Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Saheb in Hyderabad, where his annual Urs is observed on 11 and 12 Muharram, marking both his mourning his wisaal. Through his spirituality, literary legacy, and profound devotion to the Ahl-e-Bayt, Hazrat Imdaad Ali remains a unique and memorable figure in the Sufi history of the Deccan.
Early Life, Family Background and Spiritual Quest
Hazrat Mir Munshi Imdaad Ali Sadat Alvi, whose poetic pen name was Ba-Alwai, belonged to the distinguished family of Hazrat Shah Abdul Razzaq Jhanjanvi, a respected spiritual lineage of the Deccan. Even before his birth, Hazrat Ghulam Murtaza, foretold that a son would be born through one of his daughters. In fulfilment of this prophecy, Hazrat Imdaad Ali was born in 1255 AH. Hazrat Ghulam Murtaza personally bestowed upon him the name Imdaad Ali and regarded him as a saintly servant of Allah from birth. This was considered a sign of special divine favour, indicating that his spiritual excellence was present from the very beginning of his life. From childhood, he was deeply drawn to ma‘rifat (spiritual knowledge) and remained restless in his search for deeper spiritual realities. This longing for closeness to Allah became the defining characteristic of his early years.
Driven by an intense desire to find a spiritual guide, Hazrat Imdaad Ali travelled to Hyderabad in 1285 AH. At the time, Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Saheb was already one of Hyderabad’s most renowned Sufi saints, widely respected for his piety, spiritual authority, and large circle of disciples. Hazrat Imdaad Ali spent five years in his service, displaying remarkable patience, humility, and devotion. This period was not merely one of outward service, its profound spiritual purification, during which he learned to surrender his ego and align his will completely with that of his master. In 1290 AH, after five years of dedicated service, Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Saheb accepted him as a disciple, formally initiating him through bay‘ah into the Sufi path.
Spiritual Training, Teaching and Literary Legacy
After taking bay‘ah with Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Sahib, Hazrat Imdaad Ali spent three and a half years in rigorous spiritual discipline, meditation and complete obedience to his murshid. Upon completing this training, he was granted khilafat. When Hazrat Sardar Baig declared that he had brought him to the same spiritual station, Hazrat Imdaad Ali replied, “He was already finished himself. And I am not there,” reflecting the Sufi state of fana. His master then instructed him to live “like a dead person,” a teaching he followed throughout his life. Even after receiving khilafat, he remained in Hyderabad for another twenty-five years in the service and company of Hazrat Sardar Baig Sahib.
At his master’s school, he taught the Quran, Hadith, Tafsir, Sufism and Hazrat Ibn Arabi’s Futuhat-e-Makkiyya. He became especially famous for teaching the Masnavi of Hazrat Maulana Rumi, earning the title “Maulana Masnavi.” A gifted scholar and master of fil-badiya (extempore poetry), he composed spontaneous verses inspired by deep spiritual states. Hazrat Sardar Baig Sahib honoured him with several titles and took great pride in his achievements. He left behind eight or nine Diwans in Urdu, Hindi and Persian, along with important works such as Hasam Ibrat, Anwar Muhammad, Qam Wahadat and Masnavi Bazme Matam. Many other Masnavis, elegies and Sufi writings are also attributed to him, though some remained unpublished by his own instruction.he had foretold that his life would end in the grief of Imam Hussain.
Wisaal, Burial and Continuing Urs Tradition
Hazrat Imdaad Ali had foretold that he would leave this world in the grief of Hazrat Imam Hussain during a Sama gathering. He passed away on 11 Muharram in the evening, at the age of 64, while immersed in mourning for the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain during a Sama meeting. His passing was regarded by his followers as a final manifestation of his spiritual station, as he departed in the very state he had long foreseen.
He was buried in the shrine complex of Hazrat Mirza Sardar Baig Sahib in Hyderabad, close to his beloved murshid, preserving the spiritual companionship that had defined his life. His Urs is observed annually on 11 and 12 Muharram, bringing together mourning for Karbala with remembrance of his life and teachings. Devotees gather to recite his poetry, hold mourning assemblies, participate in Sama, remember Allah and Hazrat Imam Hussain, and seek spiritual blessings, continuing the devotional traditions that remained central to his life.
Conclusion
Hazrat Mir Munshi Imdaad Ali Sadat Alvi taught through his life as much as through his words. He combined strict adherence to Shariah with deep Tasawwuf, practised self-denial, avoided worldly pleasures, and expressed profound love for the Ahl-e-Bayt. Following Hazrat Sardar Baig Sahib’s instruction to live “like a dead person,” he embodied the Sufi ideal of fana. As a teacher, he imparted the Quran, Hadith, Tafsir, Sufism and the Masnavi of Hazrat Maulana Rumi, while his extempore poetry in Urdu, Hindi and Persian became a powerful expression of spiritual states and divine love. His Sama gatherings were known for their intense spiritual impact on listeners.
His life remains relevant today, showing that true spirituality must be rooted in Shariah, that poetry and art can serve divine purposes, and that grief—especially remembrance of Karbala—can deepen one’s closeness to Allah. Born after a prophetic prediction, named by a majzub, trained and granted khilafat by Hazrat Sardar Baig Sahib, he left behind eight or nine Diwans and several works on Tasawwuf. His legacy continues through his writings, students, spiritual lineage and the annual Urs held on 11 and 12 Muharram, while his passing at the age of 64 during a Sama gathering in the grief of Hazrat Imam Hussain remains one of the most remarkable aspects of his life.
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Adnan Faizi is a Peace and Harmony activist based in Delhi. He is an alumni of CCS University, Meerut.
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