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Abstract
This paper attempts to investigate the role of female Saints in the preaching and advancement of religion of Islam. The underlying hypothesis is that mysticism2 is a phenomenon that transcends gender boundaries as it is an experience which any gender can feel through divinely ordained talent, certain practices, devotion and dedication.3 It develops in one the love for God and one goes on to teach, practice and preach His message to humanity.4 Saints have played a significant role in Islam5 and many of these saintly figures have been women including wives of the Holy Prophet, or Sahabis, or their descendants. After the death of Holy Prophet his missionary work was carried out by his immediate followers and their descendents and owing to their efforts Islamic religion spread worldwide.6 Besides male saints, many female saints have done this service for the promotion and advancement of Islam in foreign lands but their role and stories have remained marginalized. One such story is linked with the mausoleum of Bibi Pak Daman, situated in Lahore, Pakistan and attributed to Bibi Ruqayyah, daughter of Hazrat Ali (R.A), and her entourage.7 Though main objective of the paper is to throw light on the gender and Sufism yet this paper also touches upon the narratives related to Bibi Pak Daman, a small shrine in Lahore, commonly known the graves of six women from the Prophet Muhammad's (P.B.U.H) family and subject to a range of theories regarding its origins.
Pakistan's land is full of hundreds of shrines, in big cities as well as in small villages, scattered in the whole country where linkages between Sufism and the places of worship of different holy people and Sufi run deep. Many are unknown to the majority of the people, serving as sites of worshipers, while some are prominent on national level. Whereas each shrine owns its specific qualities and circle of followers, but may be none of them is as controversial as the stories relating to the shrine of Bibi Pak Daman in the city of Lahore.
Likewise, Lahore is quite remarkable regarding the arrival, preaching and practices of the Sufi saints and thereby it is known as the city of legendary saints like Hazrat Data Ganj Bukhsh,8 Hazrat Mian Mir,9 Hazrat Shah...