Syed Usman Marwandi (1177 – 1274), popularly known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (Sindhi: لعل شھباز قلندر), was a Sufi saint and religious-poet of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan.He is highly regarded and respected by people of all religions because he preached religious tolerance among Muslims and Hindus.
He was called Lal (“ruby-colored”) after his usual red attire and “Shahbaz” to denote a noble and divine spirit and “Qalandar” as he was a wandering holy man.
The spiritual song “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” glorifies Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s teachings, and the song is widely used in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Originally written in the 13th century, the song has been sung by various singers since then, and is widely popular in the sub-continent.Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, son of Ibrahim Kabeeruddin,
was born in Maiwand, today’s Afghanistan.His ancestors had migrated from Baghdad, Iraq and settled in Mashhad, Iran before moving to Maiwand.
He lived when the Ghaznavid and Ghurids ruled in the Indus region (today’s Punjab, Pakistan).Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was a Sufi Muslim.
