Syed Muhammad Shah Jillani, known as ‘Roz-e-Dhani’ was the son of Syed Muhammad Sher Shah Zakri. Syed Muhammad Sher Shah Zakri hailed from Kashmir and settled in Sindh contemporaneous to the new wave of Sufism in the late 19th Century. He was given the title of ‘Zakri’ as he used to perform ‘Zikr’. The Tomb and Mosque at Dargah Pir Zakri were commissioned during the life time of Syed Muhammad Shah Jillani in 1935. It is said that skilled and famous masons and artisans of that time were hired to construct the magnificent structures.
The Dargah boasts a wide assortment of different architectural styles and ideologies in its identity. The Dargah is the structural Magnum Opus of Zakris of Sakrand and symbol of their irrefutable mark on the Sufi Landscape of Sindh.
The tomb is truly architecturally unique. The plan of the structure is square. The tomb can be divided in to two parts: the tomb itself and the corridor. The corridor upholds a total of 16 domes: 4 larger corner domes; 12 smaller domes, 3 on each side. The domes are meticulously constructed using only mud mortar; it is surprising that they were able to withstand the effect of weathering and age. The domes are fauxonion domes as they are semi-circular structurally but have been plastered for aesthetics. The domes and the roof have been cemented with reinforced concrete cement; this played a role in suspending the original structure by seamlessly binding it into one component slab. The shear dead load of the slab might be the reason the structure still stands. Burnt as well as sundried bricks have been used as masonry units in the structure, forming inhomogeneous composite walls. The finials used to be kashi. Currently they are cemented.
Adjacent the tomb, is the mosque of Dargah Pir Zakri. It is a beautiful structure with the façade adorned with kashi tile work and ribbed dome alluding to its Kashmiri heritage. The mosque has seen countless renovations and is in a good condition. However, dampness is evident from the outside of the structure and it requires restoration work on the rood which still has cracks
With the passage of time the cracks have appeared between the new façade and the old structure as the materials were incompatible and lost cohesion so much so that the wall may be completely freestanding. Rampant dampness can be observed in the structural walls. The weight of the roof component, along with capillary dampness in the walls, has caused the bricks at sill level (2-3 feet from the floor level) to completely spall and detach. The roof is known to leak after prolonged rainfall. Superficial cracks have appeared on the walls and the domes.
Gadenasheen of the Dargah has approached for restoration of Masjid and Tomb which are unique to the region of Sindh. The Board considered the request and agreed to provide financial assistance for the project. the project was completed in June 2023.