Hazrath Syed Shah Afzal Biabani-I (R.A.) alias shah saheb of Rajamundry, East Godavari District, was eldest son of Hazarth Syed Shah Ameen Biabani (R.A.). After the death of his father, he came to Hyderabad, from Ambad Shareef. He studied both at Aurangabad and Hyderabad. He was a pious man and saint of miracles. He said that Israel, the Angel of death, would separate his soul from his body with his permission.

The Nawab of Rajamundry, Meer Khaleel Khan, was his devotee. He became his disciple and took him to Rajamundry from Hyderabad. He spent his remaining life at Rajamundry.

Once due to shortfall of rain the people of Rajamundry faced severe drought. The river Godavari and all the wells of that region dried up. The administrative officer of Rajamundry was an English man. He convened a meeting with all the Masha-ikhs (sufis) and said that they were rewarded with Jagirs (Lands) to pray for the peace and prosperity of the state. Now it was their duty to pray. If the drought did still prevail their Jagirs would be seized. All of them were worried. They requested Hazrath Afzal Biabani-I (R.A.) to pray and keep up their prestige. Hazrath replied that their Jagirs were more than his property, so they should pray for the relief. At last on the request of all the Masha-ikhs he went to the river Godavari and prayed for the rain and mercy of Allah. His prayers never went unanswered. By the grace of Allah, immediately clouds formed and started raining. The rain was so heavy that within no time the river became full. The people thanked Allah and lifted him from the river and they were happy.

Mostly he preferred to be alone, away from his family. Often he appeared in the form of a tiger in the afternoons.

He wrote a number of books, some of them are as follows: -

Khawayed-e-Fazila wa sharah Marat-al-Aarifeen, Risa Badan, Maadan Al-Jawahar, Risala-e-Wajudia, Sharah Nam-e-Haq, Waaqaat-e-Shahi, Thohfatul Salabeen ilal Mustaqeen and Fiqh Akbar etc. 

He never allowed any person to talk about the worldly affairs before him. Once Hasan Ali Khan, the administrator of Rajamundry along with some of his friends visited him. He started discussing worldly affairs. All of a sudden Hazrath last his temper and said that the saints residences were meant for invoking Allah and his messenger and noble’s palace would be the right place to discuss worldly affairs. From then whenever Hassan Ali visited him he spoke causiously giving due respect to Hazrath and his principles.

In the year 1193 Hijri, on 14th Ramazan, Hazrath Afzal Biabani-I (R.A.) died. His tomb was constructed on the bank of the Godavari River, where he sat for a long time and invoked, worshipped Allah, Hazrath Ghouse Gawaliari (R.A.) appeared and blessed him.

His sajjadgi is continued in his daughter’s family. Some of the family members approached hazrath Syed Shah Sarwar Biabani (R.A.) at Kazipet and under went rite of initiation as his disciples.