It is said that Muhammad Ghaus played a major role in Gwalior Fort being wrested by Babur from the Afghans in 1526. Apparently, he conveyed vital information to Babur which enabled a covert night attack to be successfully mounted. As reward for this service, he received a parcel of land on which he built a #hospice that became a great cultural center of the time.

The saint also had a place of prominence in Humayun’s court. Humayun was interested in the occult sciences which he learnt from Muhammad Ghaus. However, when Sher Shah Suri defeated #Humayun in 1540, Muhammad Ghaus fled to Gujarat, fearing for his life. Once the Mughals regained the throne, he returned to Gwalior during Akbar’s reign.
Muhammad Ghaus also mentored Tansen, the well-known musician in Akbar’s court, encouraging him to incorporate Sufi elements in his music. In fact, #Tansen’s tomb lies close to Muhammad Ghaus’. Today, Muhammad Ghaus’ tomb attracts both #Hindu and #Muslim pilgrims from across #India.

Shah #Sultan Haji Hameed Mohammed Ghouse/Gwauth Gwaliori Shattari or Muhammad Ghaus, the 16th century musician and Sufi saint, belonged to an Afghan noble family and was a direct descendant of Imam Ali through the poet Attar. He was the son of Sayyid Hazir al-din Bayazid and grandson of classical #Sufi poet Fariduddin Atta. Muhammad Ghaus belonged to the Shattari Sufi order and was highly regarded by no less than three Mughal emperors: Babur, Humayun and Akbar.
His tomb lies about 2 kilometers from the city of Gwalior and was built during #Akbar’s reign, sometime after the saint’s death in 1563. A prime example of early #Mughal architecture, the tomb is a square structure, crowned by a dome embellished by blue ceramic tiles. Its outstanding feature is the exquisite, almost lace-like, pierced stone screens carved in geometric designs into the walls.

TOMB OF MOHAMMED GHAUS, GWALIOR, MADHYA PRADESH
Thought by ILF Expert Ananda Swaroop
Credit: indialostandfound