Baba Shukur ud-Din Wali
Baba Shukur ud-Din Wali was a Kashmiri Sufi saint of the Rishi order. He was born in 1368 in Budgam and died in 1465. He is buried on Sharikot Hill, Watlab, Sopore.
He grew up as a devout man who loved God and the Prophet Muhammad. A turning moment came when his mother, carrying a basket of food, met two pious men. They gave her a Qur’anic verse (Bismillah) and told her to tell her son to recite it before eating, and to gradually reduce the size of the food. He began a significant spiritual journey after hearing this.
Shukur ud-Din traveled to Charari Sharief and met Sheikh Noor ud-Din Noorani (Nund Rishi), founder of the Rishi order. He was directed to Aishmuquam to study under Sakhi Zain ud-Din Wali. After many years of learning, Zain ud-Din Wali sent him to settle and meditate in a cave on a hill near Watlab, overlooking Wular Lake. He eventually meditated atop Sharikot Hill in Watlab.
According to accounts, he renounced his wealth and attracted followers, including Dariya Rishi, Regi Rishi, and Bibi Sanga. Dariya Rishi, a Brahman ascetic, was moved by Shukur ud-Din’s austere life and joined the Rishi order after a discussion about faith and harmony among religions.
His most famous disciple was Baba Payam ud Din Reshi. Sakhi Zain ud-Din instructed Payam ud-Din to learn from Shukur ud-Din. To test his perseverance, Shukur ud-Din told him to fetch water from Wular Lake daily and carry it to Sharikot Hill for two years. After training, Payam ud-Din Reshi returned to Sakhi Zain ud-Din Wali and was sent to meditate at Tangmarg, near Gulmarg.
Baba Shukur ud-Din Wali died in 1465 and was buried in a grave he had dug for himself on Sharikot Hill, overlooking Wular Lake.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:36 (CET).