It became a religious centre in the region, respected across multiple ruling administrations and greatly venerated among Bengalis, with local folklore and legends developing around it.

[3][4] Described by Syed Murtaza Ali as "the patron saint of Sylhet",[5] following his death in 1347, Shah Jalal's burial place in the city became an object of veneration.

[8][note 1] The annual urs, a Sufi death anniversary festival, attracts thousands of visitors, mainly from Bangladesh and neighbouring India.

The Sultan of Lakhnauti, Shamsuddin Firuz Shah, requested the saint, as a reward, rule over the newly acquired Qasbah of Srihat (Sylhet).

[14] The original shrine was constructed by Khalis Khan during the reign of Sultan Alauddin Husain Shah of Bengal according to a 1505 CE inscription at the site,[13][15] though earlier religious buildings had previously existed there.

Among these were a large mosque from the reign of Sultan Shamsuddin Yusuf Shah built by a dastur (minister) named Majlis Alam in 1472, as well as potential buried pre-Islamic ruins, though the latter remains unexcavated.

[16][17][18] After the region came under Mughal rule, many of the governing Faujdars of Sylhet commissioned construction projects at the site, which included mosques and tombs.

Robert Lindsay, appointed to that role in 1779, gives the following account of his visit:[23][24] I was now told that it was customary for the new resident to pay his respects to the shrine of the tutelar saint, Shaw Juloll.

Being thus purified, I returned to my dwelling, and received the homage of my subjects.Prince Firuz, a son of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, visited the dargah in 1850.

Shah Jalal's burial place itself lies in the centre of the compound and is reached via a flight of stairs to the right of this section, though only men are permitted to enter.

[29][30][note 3] The saint's talwars, Quran, robes, wooden kharam, deerskin-prayer rug, copper plates and Arabic-enscribed bowls and cups are also preserved.

[33][10][34] As well as containing a madrasa and a khanqah,[4][35] on the opposite side of the plaza to the tomb is a large Langar Khana (kitchen) to serve the many poor who visit the Dargah and originally made to be a shelter for visitors.

[11][10][4][30] An extensive graveyard occupies the area behind the tomb, with it being a popular desire among Muslims to be buried near Shah Jalal's remains, though the lots are very expensive.