Socio-Religious Contributions of Sufi Shrines of Jhang

Abstract

From the medieval age to the modern period, Sufism and its Khanqas have contributed a lot to the socio-religious, political, and economic life of the society. Sufism gave a new social order to the world and established a society based on peace, harmony, mysticism messages of love, and collaboration among all communities and groups of the society. Shrines have played an important role in transferring society from an extremist to a peaceful one. They became the center of socio-religious activities and spiritual, mental, and physical healing and activities of music and literature. People visited shrines from all communities and learned religious tolerance, harmony, the message of love, and mystical traditions. Along that shrines have also performed economic and humanitarian activities in which they provided langer and shelter to the poor. The same activities have been practiced by the Shrines of Jhang. Jhang is famous for its Sufis shrines. It is the land of Shrines. Many prominent Sufi saints were settled there. With time shrines become the center of attraction for the people of every clan, group, and community. They serve the local masses in every field of life. They transfer the lives of local masses. After such activities, their influences spread in every sphere of the society. And the people of Jhang have been attracted to them. After the dismissal of original Sufi saints, their successors have used the power and influence for their own political and economic interests. At that stage, the role of shrines has changed from humanitarian services to worldly interests. The guardians of shrines utilize the religious hereditary power for politics. This turn has changed the role of shrines. They have huge influences on the local people. They play an important role in the lives of local masses in many ways such as politically, religiously, and socially. Shrines are key characters in the electoral politics of Jhang.  Apart from that, they are performing many humanitarian activities on the land of Jhang. Although shrines have significant influences on the local masses of Jhang