Hazrat Shah Mohsen Aulia was a noble and celebrated Islamic scholar and Sufi saint who dedicated his life to the propagation of Islam. Born in Yemen into a distinguished Muslim family in the year 1466 (886 Hijri / 72 Bengali calendar), he received a formal Islamic education before embarking on his mission to spread the faith across distant lands. His journey initially led him from Yemen to the region of Gaur in India. According to popular tradition, he eventually traveled alongside another famous Sufi saint, Hazrat Badar Shah (also known as Badar Aulia), to reach Bengal. Through tireless efforts in preaching Islam, he offered shelter and peace to oppressed communities and helped establish the faith in the region.
A central legend associated with Hazrat Shah Mohsen Aulia is his miraculous journey across the sea to Chittagong. It is believed that he crossed the oceanic waters using a large black stone as a vessel, floating upon it from distant lands until reaching the shores of Bengal. This legendary black stone has been preserved and rests within the sanctuary of his shrine complex. He is recognized as one of the prominent figures among the Twelve Saints (Baro Aulia) of Bengal, often regarded as a leader among them whose spiritual presence helped enlighten and establish human settlement in Chittagong alongside figures like Peer Badar Aulia, Hazrat Amanat Shah, and Bayazid Bostami.
The holy shrine (dargah) of Hazrat Shah Mohsen Aulia is situated approximately 25 kilometers from Chittagong city, located in the Rustamhat area of Bartali Union, surrounded by the Deang Hills in Anwara Upazila. The shrine complex functions under a managing committee that strictly prohibits practices such as bowing down in prostration (sijdah) or playing music, encouraging visitors instead to recite the Quran and Sura Al-Fatiha. The shrine grounds house an orphan care facility and a two-story Hafizia Madrasa funded and managed directly by the shrine committee, where continuous Quranic education is provided and daily meals including Suhoor and Iftar are served during the month of Ramadan. His legacy is deeply integrated into the local region, where several educational institutions, including a primary school, a high school, and a degree college, bear his name. Pilgrims and visitors continue to visit his tomb to seek spiritual blessings, healing from physical ailments, and peace through his intercession.