Iran envoy visits Ambedkarnagar Sufi shrine, seeks stronger India ties

Ayodhya: Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, the representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran, visited the Sufi shrine of 14th-Century Sufi saint of the Chishti order Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani in Kichhauchha of Ambedkarnagar on Sunday, reports Arshad Afzaal Khan.Speaking about the strong relations between India and Iran, Ilahi said that he prayed for the destruction of India's enemies."The relations between the two countries are ancient. The history of relations between India and Iran is more than 5,000 years old. India is a land that has been a centre of peace, and love and brotherhood have spread from here," he said.The 14th-century Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Ashraf Jahangir Semnani was born in Semnan, Iran, in 708 AH (which corresponds to 1308/1309 CE). He was a prominent saint of the Chishti order who later travelled to India and established his ‘khanqah' (spiritual centre) in the present-day Ambedkarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh."Sufi tradition conveys the message of love, tolerance and humanity to the entire world, and ‘dargahs' serve as a unifying force for society," Ilahi said.Amid tight security, his convoy arrived at the Dargah complex in the afternoon. He first visited the residence of the Dargah's chief caretaker, Syed Mohiuddin Ashraf, and met him. Later, he visited the Dargah and offered a ‘chaadar'.He also paid respect at the tomb of Hazrat Syed Makhdoom Ashraf.