Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) (died 14 Rajab 424 AH - 1032 AD) was a Turkic warrior & the nephew of Hazrat Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. He was son of Hazrat Ghazi Salar Sahu who was descendent of Hazrat Muhammad Ibn al-Hanafiyyah, son of Hazrat Ali & Sitr-i-Mu'alla, who was sister of Hazrat Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) came along with his uncle Hazrat Salar Saifuddin & teacher Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Mashadi Bara Hazari (Salar-i-Azam of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi) in early 11th century to the South Asia for propagation of Islam. Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) was born at Ajmer on 22 January 1015 AD.
Invasion:
Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) entered India with an army of more than 100,000 men with 50,000 horses accompanied by two generals Meer Hussain Arab & Ameer Wazid Jafar attacked India in May 1031 AD. He marched on into northern India & was joined by his uncle Hazrat Salar Saifuddin, Hazrat Meer Wakhtiar, Hazrat Meer Syed Ajijuddin & Hazrat Malik Bahruddin & their armies.
After swift raids across Northern India plains & passing through Meerut, Kannauj & Malihabad he arrived in Satrikh. They marched on to Meerut & Ujjain whose local kings made friendship treaties. Later Saket was taken. Miyya Rajab & Hazrat Salar Saifuddin took Bahraich. Amir Hasan Arab took Mahona, Malik Fazal took Varanasi. Sulutanu-e-Salateen & Mir Bakhatiar went south to Kannor & there Mir Bakhtiar was killed during a fight with the local army. Syed Sahu took Karra & Manikpur. Leaving Malik Abdullah in charge of Karra & Kutb Haider at Manikpur. Syed Aziz-ud-din was sent against Hardoi, but fell in the battle at Gopamau on the banks of Gomti.
The graves of his close associates & relatives Hazrat Jalaluddin Bukhari & Hazrat Syed Ibrahim Bara Hazari are still located at Rewari.
Battle of Bahraich:
Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) proceeded to attack Ayodhya via Zaidpur, Baba Bazar, Rudauli, but on reaching Raunahi,and here a little town has been founded by Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) named Salarpur. (in the outskirts of Ayodhya) he suddenly changed his mind & marched his army towards Brahmarchi, presently Bahraich is in Uttar Pradesh. At that time, Bahraich was also a very significant place of Hindu pilgrimage, as there stood an old & magnificent temple of Sun God, named Balark Temple. It was a temple of Morning Sun, as the golden rays of the rising Sun first touched the feet of the deity. There was a bauli (which still exists, though in a very dilapidated condition) & a huge tank named Surya Kund.
Meanwhile, 17 Hindu Kshatriya rulers of Northern India forged an alliance against Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A). They were Rai Raib, Rai Saib, Rai Arjun, Rai Bheekhan, Rai Kanak, Rai Kalyan, Rai Makaru, Rai Savaru, Rai Aran, Rai Birbal, Rai Jaypal, Rai Shreepal, Rai Harpal, Rai Hakru, Rai Prabhu, Rai Deo Narayan & Rai Narsinha. Various Kshatriya clans that participated in this war include Bais Rajputs, Arkawanshi kshatriyas, Kalhans Rajputs, Raikwars & Bhar warriors. Rai Sahar Deo & Rai Hardev also joined later.The head of this confederation was Raja Suheldev, the ruler of Sravasti. In June 1033, Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) received correspondence from kshatriya confederation that the land belonged to Hindus & Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) should evacuate these lands. Masood replied that all land belongs to God & hence he would not retreat.
On 13 June, Morning, Kshatriya army of about 120,000 descended on Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) camp of Bahraich. Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi's army was completely besieged & encircled. The battle continued for hours. In the end, nearly all soldiers of Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) army were exterminated. No POW's were taken, no mercy was shown. The battle ended on 14 June with victory of Raja Suheldev & his kshatriya alliance.In the evening of Sunday 14 June 1033 Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) was killed. The location of this battle to be precise was near Chittaura Jheel, a lake about 8 KM away from modern Bahraich on Bahraich-Gonda Road
The location of this battlefield is near Chittaura Jheel, a lake about 8 Kilometers away from modern Bahraich on Bahraich-Gonda Road.
Dargah of Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (R.A) is a place for reverence for Muslims & Hindus alike. It is believed that people taking bath in the water of this Dargah become free of all skin diseases. The annual festival (Urs) at the Dargah is attended by thousands of people coming from far-off places of the country.
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