The shrine of Shah Inayat Shaheed stands at Jhok Sharif, a small town in Mirpur Bathoro taluka of Sujawal district in lower Sindh, about 80 km south of Hyderabad by road. Shah Inayat was a Qadiri Sufi who shared out land among landless farmers under the slogan Jo kherray so khaey, "the one who tills the land should eat its crop", and was executed in Thatta on 7 January 1718 after a Mughal and Kalhora siege of Jhok. His urs, which begins on 16 Safar, is known for its quiet sama poetry sessions rather than dhamaal, and the shrine is calm and open to visitors the rest of the year.
This guide covers who Shah Inayat was, why he was killed, what the shrine and urs are like, and how to reach Jhok from Hyderabad or Thatta.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Jhok Sharif, Mirpur Bathoro taluka, Sujawal district, Sindh |
| From Hyderabad | About 80 km, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours |
| From Thatta | About 60 km, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours |
| From Mirpur Bathoro | About 12 km |
| Saint | Shah Inayatullah, c. 1655 to 1718, Qadiri order |
| Urs | Begins 16 Safar (Islamic calendar), over several days |
| Monthly gathering | 17th of each Islamic month |
Who was Shah Inayat Shaheed?
Shah Inayatullah was born around 1655 into a Sindhi Langah family at Miranpur, near Jhok, where the Thatta to Tando Muhammad Khan to Hyderabad road runs today. His father, Makhdum Fazlullah, gave him his early education. As a young man he travelled across the subcontinent in search of a spiritual guide, was initiated into the Qadiri order at Burhanpur, and became a disciple of Shah Abdul Malik in Bijapur before returning home by way of Delhi.
A story told about his departure from Bijapur sums up how he is remembered. His teacher set out four gifts: a rosary, a prayer mat, a bangle and a sword. Shah Inayat chose the sword, the symbol of martyrdom, and when asked what price he would pay for it, answered: "My head."
Back in Sindh he set up a khanqah at Miranpur and gave his land to the harees, the landless tillers, who farmed it in common. That is where the slogan Jo kherray so khaey comes from.
Why was Shah Inayat executed?
His commune drew peasants away from the big landholders, and his teaching challenged the orthodox clergy. Landlords and clerics complained to Azam Khan, the Mughal governor of Thatta, that he was plotting against the state. The matter reached the emperor Farrukhsiyar, who ordered him crushed.
From September to December 1717, forces under Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro and Mir Lutf Ali Khan, the new Mughal governor of Thatta, besieged Jhok. On 1 January 1718 Shah Inayat was invited to peace talks and seized there by deceit. He was taken to Thatta and executed on 7 January 1718, which was 17 Safar 1130 in the Islamic calendar. Many of his followers died in the fighting.
That is why he is called Shaheed, the martyr, and why he is remembered in Sindh as much as a champion of farmers as a saint. Later Sindhi Sufi poets including Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast are counted among those he influenced.
What is the shrine at Jhok Sharif like?
The dargah is a domed mausoleum set in grounds of several acres, with stone paths and lawns. Next to it is the Qasr-i-Qalandar, a large hall with its own lawn, used for gatherings. Dawn noted in 2014 that the tomb, which had no marble two decades earlier, had since been refurbished.
The shrine is looked after by the saint's descendants. The present sajjada nashin, Sufi Attaullah Sattari, took over from his father in 1974. Dawn described him sitting on straw mats in keeping with the spirit of the peasant commune his ancestor founded.
Jhok has a different feel from the larger shrines of Sindh. It is quieter, more rural, and the emphasis is on poetry, music and remembrance rather than crowds.
What happens at the urs?
The urs starts on 16 Safar, the eve of the anniversary of his death, and runs over several days. Because it follows the Islamic calendar, the date moves about 11 days earlier each year; in 2026 it fell around the end of July, and in 2027 and 2028 it will come in July. Check the Islamic date before planning.
What sets it apart, according to Dawn's 2014 account:
- It opens with sama without instruments, a session of sung poetry with a slow, elegiac tone.
- Later sessions bring in instruments, from the yaktaro (one-stringed lute) and khartal (wooden clappers) of the faqirs to harmonium, dholak and tabla. Morning sessions are held on the mausoleum veranda around 10 am.
- No dhamaal or hashish culture. The writer noted the absence of the drugs and trance dancing seen at some other shrines.
The 17th of every Islamic month is also marked at the shrine as a day of remembrance, so a visit on that date brings a smaller gathering. Our guide to Sindhi Sufi music gives background on the singing traditions you will hear.
How do you get to Jhok Sharif?
Jhok is a small place, and most visitors come by car.
From Hyderabad
Head south on the road towards Tando Muhammad Khan and on to Mirpur Bathoro; Jhok lies about 12 km before Mirpur Bathoro. By our check with OSRM route data the drive is about 80 km, so allow 1.5 to 2 hours on rural roads.
From Thatta or Karachi
From Thatta the drive east across the Indus is about 60 km. That makes Jhok a possible add-on to a day at Makli, though a long one from Karachi; our Hyderabad to Thatta guide and Makli Necropolis guide help with that side of the trip.
If you are not driving yourself, hire a car and driver in Hyderabad; local transport to Jhok itself is limited, and a rickshaw from Mirpur Bathoro is the usual last leg.
Visiting etiquette and safety
Dress modestly, cover your head inside the shrine, remove shoes where asked, and give space to people praying. Women are welcome but may have separate areas at busy times. Our guide to shrine etiquette in Pakistan covers the basics.
Lower Sindh, including Sujawal district, is not among the areas the UK government's Pakistan travel advice (updated 22 September 2026) singles out. Large gatherings at shrines carry their own risks, so keep an eye on local news around the urs, follow police instructions, and keep valuables secure in the crowd.
Is Jhok Sharif worth visiting?
Yes, if Sindh's Sufi history or its peasant politics interest you. Shah Inayat's story is unusual even among Sindhi saints, and the shrine is calm, rural and rarely crowded outside the urs. It is less suited to anyone wanting monumental architecture; for that, combine it with Thatta. If you are building a wider trip around Sindh's shrines, our overview of Sufi shrines in Sindh and the experiences page are the places to start.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Shah Inayat Shaheed's shrine?
At Jhok Sharif in Mirpur Bathoro taluka, Sujawal district, lower Sindh, about 80 km south of Hyderabad.
When was Shah Inayat Shaheed executed?
On 7 January 1718 in Thatta, after a siege of Jhok by Mughal and Kalhora forces from September to December 1717.
What does "Jo kherray so khaey" mean?
It is Sindhi for "the one who tills the land should eat its crop", the principle behind Shah Inayat's shared farming commune.
When is the urs of Shah Inayat Shaheed?
It begins on 16 Safar in the Islamic calendar and lasts several days. The Gregorian date moves about 11 days earlier each year.
Is there an entry fee?
No fee is charged to visit a shrine like this. Offerings and donations are voluntary.
