It is widely known that Sher Shah Suri built hundreds of serais in India for the comfort of travelers in the 16th century. However, few people are aware that Sher Shah also constructed a serai in Mecca. This information is derived from Zubdat al-Tawarikh by Shaikh Nurul Haq Delhvi, penned during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Shaikh Nurul Haq’s grandfather, Shaikh Rizqullah Mushtaqi (born in 1495 AD), witnessed the reigns of Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi, Babar, Humayun, Sher Shah Sur, Islam Shah Sur, and others, providing firsthand knowledge of Sher Shah Sur.
The author of Zubdat al-Tawarikh writes that Sher Shah Suri constructed a serai in Makkah which served as an abode for Afghan (Pashtun) faqirs (mendicants) during his era (early 17th century). It seems Sher Shah established the serai to accommodate Pashtun pilgrims. Nearly two centuries after Sher Shah’s death, Ahmad Shah Durrani also built a serai in Makkah for Pashtun pilgrims, known as Rabat al Sulaimani to the Arabs. Rabat means serai in Arabic, and Sulaimani was the term by which Pashtuns were known among Arabs. Rabat al Sulaimani was demolished by Saudis in 20th century. 1
