Hazrat Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar‎

Shrine of  Hazrat Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar

Name: Sheikh Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar
Titles: Qutb-e-Akbar
Silsila: Chishtiya
Predecessor: Hazrat Khawaja Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaaki ‎(رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Successor: Hazrat Sheikh Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kaliyari ‎(رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Date of Birth:
Date of Wisaal: 5th of Muharram (668 Hijri)
Date of Urs: 5th, 6th & 7th of Muharram
Resting at: Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan

Description:

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) Persian (1173-1266) or (1188 (584 Hijri) – May 7, 1280 (679 T-lijri)), commonly known as Baba Farid was a 12th century Sufi preacher and saint of Chishti Order of South Asia.

Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) is generally recognized as the first major poet of the Punjabi language and is considered one of the pivotal saints of the Punjab region. Revered by Muslims and Hindus, he is also considered one of the fifteen Sikh Bhagats within Sikhism and his works form part of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh sacred scripture.

Life and Genealogy:

Baba Fareed‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) was born in 1188 or 1173 CE (584 Hijri) at Kothewal village, 10 km from Multan in the Punjab region of Pakistan, to Jamal-ud-din Suleiman‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) and Maryam Bibi (Qarsum Bibi)‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), daughter of Sheikh Wajih-ud-din Khojendi‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ). He was a descendant of Farrukh Shah Kabuli‎, the King of Afghanistan.
He was the grandson of Shaykh Shoaib‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) who was the grandson of Farrukh Shah Kabuli, the king of Kabul and Ghazni. When Farrukh Shah Kabuli was killed by the Mongol hordes invading Kabul, Farid’s‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) grandfather Shaykh Shoaib‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) left Afghanistan and settled in the Punjab in 1125.

PATERNAL GENEOLOGY:

Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) (second Calipah )
HazratAbdulla Bin Umar (رضي الله عنه)
Hazrat Nasir‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Sulaiman‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Adham‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), King of Balkh and Bukhara
Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham aka Abou Ben Adham‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Ishaq‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Abul Fatah‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Abdulla Waiz Kubra‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Abdullah Waaiz Soghra‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Masood‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Sulaiman‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Ishaq‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Mohammad‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Naseeruddin‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Farooq Shah Kabuli‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), King of Afghanistan
Hazrat Shahabuddin Kabuli‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Mohammed‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Yousuf‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Ahmed‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Shoaib‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Jamaluddin Sulaiman‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)
Hazrat Baba Farid Gunj e Shakar‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ).

Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) received his early education at Multan, which had become a centre for education; it was here that he met his master Murshid, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), a noted Sufi saint, who was passing through Multan, from Bagdad on way to Delhi. Upon completing his education,Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) left for Sistan, and Kandahar and went to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage aged 16.
Once his education was over, he shifted to Delhi, where he learned the doctrine of his Master, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ). He later moved to Hansi, Haryana. When Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) died in 1235,Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) left Hansi, and assumed the role of spiritual successor of his Master, though he settled not in Delhi but in Ajodhan (the present Pakpattan, Pakistan). On his way to Ajodhan and passing through Faridkot, he met the 20-year old, Nizamuddin Auliya‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), who went on to become his disciple, and later his successor (khalifa).
Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) married Hazabara‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), daughter of Sultan Nasiruddin‎ Mahmud‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ). He died on 5th of Muharram, Tuesday, 7 May 1266 CE (679 Hijri) during Namaz. His darbar is in Dera Pindi, and his name is Khawaja Shaikh Muhammad Paak Ghareeb Nawaz‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ). His epitpah reads, “There is only one Fareed, though many spring forth from the bud of the flower”.
His descendants, also known as Fareedi, Fareedies and Faridy, mostly carry the name Farooqi, can be found in India, Pakistan and the Diaspora.

Poetry:

Fareed, this world is beautiful, but there is a thorny garden within it.
Fareed, do not turn around and strike those who strike you with their fists.
Fareed, when there is greed, what love can there be? When there is greed, love is false.
” Farid Kaaley maindey kaprey, kaala mainda wais,
Gunahan Bharehan main pheraan, Lok kahain dervish “
TRANSLATION: Laden with my load of misdeeds, I move about in the garb of black garments. And the people see me and call me a dervish.
” Galian chikkar door ghar, naal payarey neouney,
Challaan tey bhijjay kambli, rahan ta jaaey neouney “
TRANSLATION: My promise with my love, a long way to go and a muddy lane ahead If I move I spoil my cloak; if I stay I break my word.

Legacy:

One of Baba Farid’s‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) most important contributions to Punjabi literature is his development of the language for literary purposes. Whereas Sanskrit, Arabic, Turkish and Persian had historically been considered the languages of the learning, the elite and in monastic centers, Punjabi was generally considered a lesser refined folk language. Although earlier poets had written in a primitive Punjabi, there was little beyond Punjabi literature besides the range of traditional and anonymous ballads. By using Punjabi as the language of poetry,Baba Farid (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) laid the basis for a vernacular Punjabi literature that would be developed later.
Amongst, famous people who visited his shrine over the centuries, are famous scholar-explorer, Ibn Battuta, who visited in 1334, and Founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, who met then head of the shrine, Sheikh Ibrahim, twice, and his meeting lead to the incorporation of 122 verses, and four poems of Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), in Sikh Holy Book, Guru Granth Sahib, by the fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev in 1604.
The city of Faridkot bears his namesake. According to legend, Farid‎ stopped by the city, then named ‘Mokhalpur’, and did penance for 40 days, near the fort of King ‘Mokhal’. The king was said to be so impressed by his presence that he named the city, after Baba Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ), which today is known as ‘Tilla Baba Farid’. The festival ‘Baba Sheikh Farid Aagman Purb Mela’ is celebrated in September, each year, commemorating his arrival in the city. Ajodhan was also renamed as Farid’s‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) ‘Pak Pattan’, meaning Pure City, which in time became its present name, though some sources suggest, it comes from its another meaning, ‘Holy Ferry’.
‘Faridia Islamic University’, at Sahiwal, Pakistan is named after him, and in July 1998, the Punjab Government in India, established the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences at Faridkot, the city which itself was named after him.
According to a legend, it was his mother, who inspired young Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) towards prayer, by placing Shakar (sugar) under his prayer mat, and when she didn’t, Farid‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ)found the sugar nevertheless, this episode gave him an unmistakable spiritual fervour and later the name, Ganj-i-Shakar, meaning ‘Treasure of Sweetness’ (Shakar). Shaikh Shoaib‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) was nephew of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi.

His Shrine:

His mazar (shrine) is located in Pakpattan. Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia‎ (رحمتہ اللہ علیہ) constructed his tomb. The mazar has two doors, namely Noori darwaza and Bahishti darwaza. Bahishti darwaza opens once a year and during the fair, thousands of people pass through this doorway. The door itself is made of silver, and floral designs are laid in gold sheet. Thousands of devotees come to visit the shrine daily from within the country and from abroad. His urs (death anniversary) is celebrated every year on the 5th, 6th and 7th of Muharram.

Travels

For about 18 years, from 593 to 611AH, Baba Fariduddin remained on this prolonged tour, meeting many great dervishes and saints and thus gaining immense benefit and knowledge from their experiences in Sufism. He has mentioned these travels in his publication, Rahat-ul-Quloob.

Meeting with Hazrat Shahabuddin Suhrawardi Hazrat Baba Farid says that Hazrat Shahabuddin Umar Suhrawardi (b. 539 d. 632 A.H.) was one of the greatest Sufi saints of his time. Regarding his meeting with Hazrat Shahabuddin Suhrawardi, Hazrat Baba Farid says;

Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin had an ever lasting impression of and a very high regard for Hazrat Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi’s angelic personality, his vast religious knowledge and his unfathomable spiritual insight.

Meeting with a descendant of Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi

Meeting with Imam Hadadi

Meeting with Sheikh Abdul Waahid Badakhshani

Visit to Mecca and Medina

According to ‘Gulzar-e-Faridi’, when Hazrat Baba Fariduddin went to Medina, after paying his respects at Mecca he was spiritually commanded by the Holy Prophet ﷺ to proceed to Baghdad and meet Hazrat Abdul Wahaab, son of Hazrat Ghausul-Azam Abdul Qadir Jilani Mahboob Subhani, and receive some ‘Tabarrukaat'(sacred relics) from him. Accordingly when Hazrat Baba Farid reached Baghdad, he received a box from Hazrat Abdul Wahaab which contained the following holy relics:-

1. Two ‘Alums’ (flag poles) which were used by the Holy Prophet ﷺ in some of the battles fought by him in the defence of Islam.
2. One pair of scissors.
3. One turban which was used by the Holy Prophet ﷺ.

It is reported that Hazrat Abdul Wahaab put the sacred turban on the head of Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin and thus permitted him to take ‘mureeds’ in the name of Qadria silsila and to the Chishtia silsila to which Baba Farid belonged.

It is also reported that Hazrat Baba Farid visited Jerusalem where he swept the floors of that holy shrine for some time before returning to India, and there exists still a “Zaavia” of Hazrat Baba Farid where the visitors live for free according to Hazrat Naami of Lahore.^[3]

Initiation

After a period of nearly 18 years spent travelling. Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin started his journey back to India. During this journey, he met many other renowned dervishes.

Baba Fariduddin reached Multan which had become the cradle of Sufism during his long absence due to the illumination spread by Hazrat Khwaja Bahauddin Zakariya Suhrawardi. When these two spiritual giants met, Baba Fariduddin was asked by Hazrat Bahauddin as to how he had progressed spiritually. Baba Farid replied: “If I ask the chair on which you are sitting to fly in the air, it will fly.” As he uttered these words, the chair of Hazrat Bahauddin began to rise in the air.

From Multan, Hazrat Baba Farid went to his home town Khotwal to kiss the feet of his dear mother after a prolonged absence. Having spent a few days in her company, he left for Delhi to present himself before his Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki.

In Delhi

Arriving in Delhi, he went straight to Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin. Hazrat Baba Farid says the following about his meeting and initiation:

After his initiation, Hazrat Baba Farid was ordered to perform certain mujahedas (spiritual practices) in order to achieve his perfection and for this purpose Hazrat Qutbuddin selected a hujra’ (cell) near Ghazni Gate in Delhi for Baba Farid. Baba Farid carried out these mujahedas with his characteristic devotion, forbearance and courage.

Visit of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti

During this period, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer arrived in Delhi to see Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin. When Khwaja Moinuddin heard of Baba Farid’s extraordinary success, he went to see him at his hujra with Khwaja Qutbuddin. As soon as Baba Farid saw both of these illustrious Murshids at the dooro f his hujra, he immediately got up to pay his respects but due to extreme weakness, as a result of his difficult ‘mujahedas’, he fell down. He was however picked up and embraced affectionately by both the great saints. At the very first glance, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti recognised what marvellous qualities Baba Farid had and then, turning to Hazrat Qutbuddin, the great saint of Ajmer said:

This prediction of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of course proved to be true. After his meeting with Baba Farid, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin bestowed a “Khil’at” (dress of honour) upon him and Hazrat Qutbuddin wrapped the “Dastar-e-Khilafat” (a turban symbolic of this recognition) upon Baba Farid’s head. When Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin prayed for his success after the ceremony, a “nida” (divine voice) declared: “Farid raa bargazidaim” — “We have accepted Farid”.

Death of his Pir

After Hazrat Baba Farid had settled down in Hansi, he had a dream where Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin had passed on. Perturbed by this dream, Baba Farid immediately left for Delhi where the death of his Pir was confirmed. On his arrival in Delhi, Qazi Hamiduddin Nagori handed over the sacred relies of his Pir to Baba Farid, according to the deceased’s will, in the presence of a majils of leading dervishes. From this day (634 AH) the burden of India’s spiritual leadership in the Chishtia Order fell upon the shoulders of Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin Ganjshakar.

During, 633-34 AH/1235 AD, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer also passed away. The political situation also changed after Sultan Shamsuddin Al-Tamish died after an exemplary rule of piety and justice. His daughter and successor, Razia Sultana was faced with fierce opposition and was eventually murdered after numerous wars.

Hazrat Baba Farid thus shifted the centre of Chistia mission from the turmoil of Delhi to the peaceful seclusion of Ajodhan (Pakpattan). After remaining in a chilla in Ajmer for 40 days, where he seeked the spiritual blessings of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin for the success of his forthcoming mission, he proceeded to Ajodhan with his family.

In Ajodhan

According to Indian history, Ajodhan (in Punjab) was first conquered by Sultan Ibrahim of Ghazni from Hindu rule in 1079 AD/473 AH. Ever since, the town continuously remained under the sovereignty of the Muslim rulers of Ghazni and Lahore and thus had a large Muslim population.

The spiritual light of Hazrat Baba Farid, however, coneverted this town into a fountainhead for Divine Knowledge and blessings. His Khanqah (monastery) became a university of Islamic teaching and spiritualism where thousands of aspirants, scholars and dervishes flocked to receive training and guidance under the patronage of the great saint. Emperor Akbar, when he visited Ajodhan during Hazrat Dewan Tajuddin Mahmood’s time, changed the name of Ajodhan into “Pakpattan” (the holy town).

One day, it is reported that Baba Farid had a vision whilst in “muraqba” (contemplation) in which his Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin instructed him to stay in Ajodhan permanently as his presence there was needed. According to another report, one day, during his devotion, he heard a ‘nida’ (divine voice) which instructed him; ”

Hazrat Baba Farid thus settled down permanently in a western corner of Ajodhan under a Karee tree commonly found in the Punjab. After he settled down, his reputation spread far and wide and thousands visited Ajodhan due to their overwhelming love for the saint.

Mother’s Tragic Death

Hazrat Baba Farid wanted to bring his mother from Khotwal to stay with him in Ajodhan, so he sent his younger brother Hazrat Najibuddin Mutawakkil to escort her. Accordingly, the Sheikh put her on the back of the horse for the journey to Ajodhan whilst he walked on foot. On the way they had to pass through a dangerous jungle full of wild animals. As they were crossing this jungle, the old lady felt thirsty and Sheikh Najibuddin, putting her under a shady tree, went in search of water. As he returned, he found that his mother was not there. He looked for her desperately but it was in vain. He then returned to Ajodhan and reported the matter to Baba Farid. A search party was dispatched to the scene of the mishap but again, the search was in vain. Baba Farid was now sadly resigned to the will of God and ordered to arrange for a ‘Fateha’ ceremony and the feeding of the poor for the peace of his dear mother’s soul.

According to Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia‘s version of this tragedy, when Sheikh Najibuddin returned with the search party, he brought back some human bones in a ‘kharita’ (bag). Baba Farid ordered them to be placed upon his musalla (prayer mat) but when the ‘kharita’ was opened, there was nothing in it. The disappearance of the bones from the ‘kharita’ was taken to be a divine phenomenon.

Plot to Murder Hazrat Baba Farid

The official Kazi of Ajodhan, who was also the Imam of the local mosque, could not bear the popularity of the saint. Firstly he incited government officials against Baba Farid and his sons, but when he did not succeed, he then raisd objections against ‘Sama’ (Qawwali) which was Baba Farid’s and his predecessors in the Chishtia Order were especially fond of. Baba Farid, however, took no notice the Kazi’s activities so stung by humiliation, he raised the question of Sama’s validity under Shariat and wrote a letter to the leading Ulema of Multan seeking their ‘Fatwa’ against ‘Sama’, complaining that Hazrat Baba Farid had held musical concerts.

The Ulema of Multan however, flatly refused to entertain the complaint and pass any ‘Fatwa’ against Hazrat Baba Fariduddin – a great dervish and the Qutub of his time, besides being a recognised Khalifa of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. They wrote back to the Kazi that Hazrat Baba Fariduddin himself was the highest authority on Shariat who knew its commandments far better than them and hence it was beyond their powers to raise any objection or pass a ‘Fatwa’ against such an exalted personality of Islam in India.

The Kazi did not stop there however and he offered money to a vagabond “Qalandar” to murder the saint. This man, carrying a dagger beneath his garment, reached Baba Farid’s Khanqah and found him in the act of devotional ‘sijda’. Only Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia, his beloved mureed, was in attendance at the moment. Hazrat Baba Farid, without raising his head enquired: “Is anybody present?” Hazrat Nizamuddin responded at once – “Yes, your honour, your slave Nizamuddin is present”. “Is there a Qalandar standing outside who is wearing a pair of white earrings?” asked Baba Farid whilst still in a state of sajda? Hazrat Nizamuddin replied in the affirmative. “This man has a dagger around his waist and has come here with the intention of killing me. Tell him to go away and not to ruin his ‘Aaqibut’ (end).” The Qalandar, who had been listening all the while, was so frightened that he ran away and told the Kazi that he could not perform the task entrusted to him.

The Kazi still did not give up. After the previous failure, he instigated a Patwari (a land revenue officer) to oppress Hazrat Baba Farid’s sons in their land revenue affairs. Hearing of the Patwari’s oppression, Baba Farid violently struck his ‘usa-e-mubarak’ (staff) on the floor and at that very moment, the Patwari experienced a severe pain in his stomatch. He at once understood its cause and begged his people to take him to Hazrat Baba Farid. However, as he was being carried to the Khanqah of Baba Farid, he died on the way. This spelt the end of the Kazi’s continued efforts against Baba Farid.

Spiritual Practices

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin reached the pinnacle of spiritual glory through extremely hard “Mujahedas” and persistent “Riyazaat” in order to gain complete mastery over the Nafs (apptetive soul).

It is reported that Baba Farid, under his Pir-o-Murshid’s command, performed many awe-inspiring ‘Mujahedas’ (strivings) which drained his vitality although he persevered through spiritual nourishment and determination.

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin fasted daily throughout his life and yet he regularly maintained his nightly programme of prayers and devotion. So great was his spiritual vitality that he never gave up fasting even when he was sick. During the nights of Ramadan, he used used to finish two readings of the Holy Quran. Fear of God always dominated him and very often he used to weep penitently, sometimes loudly, out of God’s fear.

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar was one of the biggest ‘Mujaheds’ of Sufism. He performed many mujahedas both before and after getting Khilafat.

Chilla-e-Makoos

Once Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin ordered Baba Farid to perform the chilla-i-makus (devotional act in a reverse position of body) for 40 days. This ‘chilla’ was one of the most difficulttests of Baba Farid’s faith, courage and endurance; perhaps the only one of its kind ever performed by him during his lifetime. It was performed in a well by hanging himself in a reverse or headlong position with his feet tied up by a rope to a sturdy branch of a tree at the top. Its conditions were equally hard and extremely difficult to obtain. The first condition was that the well should be situated in a mosque, and must have an overhanging tree from which Hazrat Baba Farid could hang himself headlong in it. The second condition of the chilla was that the ‘muazzin’ (one who gives the call to the faithful at the timings of Namaz) of the selected mosque must himself be a very honest and trustworthy dervish, who should perform the acts of lowering and taking out of Hazrat Baba Farid after the Isha (9 p.m) and before the ‘Fajr (5 a.m) prayers, i.e. when nobody else; except the ‘muazzin’ was in the mosque. The third condition was that this ‘muazzin’ must be a most trustworthy confidant of Baba Farid and should keep the secret of the chilla to himself.

Baba Farid found a mosque called “Masjid Hajj” and a muazzin named Rashiduddin Meenayee-Hansvi which fulfilled the necessary conditions. By the grace of God, Baba Farid successfully withstood this most difficult test of his spiritual integrity and after completing the chilla, he reported the matter to his Pir-o-Murshid, who was naturally extremely pleased.

Chilla at Ajmer (Chilla Baba Farid)

After the death of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Hazrat Baba Farid visited the saint’s shrine at Ajmer where he performed a chilla in an underground cell which is still preserved today and is known by the name of “Chilla Baba Farid”. It remains closed throughout the year and is opened for visitors only for a day on the 5th of Moharrum, the date of Hazrat Baba Farid’s annual death anniversary. This underground cell lies just below the shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin at his Dargah in Ajmer.

Story of the Sparrows

It is reported that once Baba Farid was engaged in one of him ‘mujahedas’ in a jungle under the shade of a tree upon which a group of sparrows were siting and creating a great noise by their chattering. This distracted his attention from devotion. When he could not tolerate the chattering any longer, he exlaimed: “Die, O sparrows, you are disturbing me in my devotion.” Suddenly, the sparrows died and fell down in front of Baba Farid. The soft-hearted saint could not bear this and at once repented and prayed to God to restore life to the sparrows. The sparrows were then revived through the grace of God.

Character

Hazrat Baba Farid and his illustrious predecessors in Sufism are illuminating examples of true human character. They strictly followed the teachings of the Holy Quran and the traditions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, both in letter and spirit, during every step of their life.

Hazrat Baba Farid had no secrets to preserve; he was straight-forward and truthful. Whatever he thought was right, he advocated it fearlessly before the world. Hazrat Khwaja Badruddin Ishaq, who was one of Baba Farid’s beloved mureeds:

All great writers of Hazrat Baba Farid’s life story agree that he was extremely sweet in conversation as well as in his dealings with the people — a quality for which he enjoyed the divine title of “Ganjshakar”. People who had the privilege and honour of hearing him talk never got tired or bored of his sweet sermons.

Apart from common people, Baba Farid’s devotees included kings, influential courtiers and the rich aristocracy. They all used to visit him and he treated them all alike with affection and extreme humility, and never allowed anybody to think that they were superior or inferior to anybody else.

Despite having thousands of followers and devotees including many ruling monarchs, wazeers, courtiers and the rich, he and his dependants often had to go without food for several days together and, for many years, they lived on the leaves of ‘peeloo’ or ‘karar’ (wild plants mostly found in the Punjab).

Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia reports that:

Hazrat Baba Farid always slept on the floor. His dress was simple and bore conspicuous patches of repair. Once his torn shirt was beyond repair, so one of his devotees presented him with a new shirt. After wearing it,the great saint said: “That comfort and pleasure which I had in my old shirt are not felt in the new one.”

Everything, including money was immediately distributed among the poor. He used to say : “Whoever saves or makes provision for the morrow, he is deprived of the favours of God.” He was a great friend and benefactor of the poor, the widows and the orphans and he never refused a demand or disappointed any needy person at his door.

Hazrat Baba Farid had a big kitchen where food was prepared for the poor everyday. Whatever income he received, he spent it in maintaining this kitchen. If there was no provision in the house or the kitchen, then whatever Baba Farid ate was offered to the poor and guests with great humility. He also often gave away his own clothes to the poor. During his lifetime, he received thousands and thousands of rupees in ‘nazranas’ but he every single penny on the poor and left nothing, or made any provision whatever, for his family after his death.

Hazrat Baba Farid bore no grudge against anybody and his heart was free of jealousy and revenge. He loved every human soul and was quick in forgiving even those who came to murder him. He could not bear to see others in trouble and did his best to alleviate their suffering.

Once 4 dervishes came to Baba Farid’s Khanqah and hurled all sorts of abuse at the saint for no apparent reason. However, the saint continued to talk to them politely and did his best to entertain them. When they were ready to leave, Baba Farid warned them not to take a particular route which he thought would endanger them. However, they took no notice of the saint’s warning and when they had taken that route; Hazrat Baba began to weep. Later, those dervishes were found to have perished in a serious storm that raged over the route they had taken contrary to the saint’s warning.

Fear of God

Hazrat Baba Farid feared none but Allah. He carried a very soft and God-fearing heart. Fear of God dominated his life. If anybody ever talked of a Divine Truth, or if he himself was develivering a sermon regarding Divine Truth, he would often start weeping so much so that sometimes, due to overwhelming fear of God, he would faint for several hours. If there was a mention of the tragedy of Kerbala and the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain , if there was a mention of God’s anger ascribed to the month of ‘Safar’, if there was a mention of death of any divine personality, or, if there was a mention of the treacheries of the Nafs, Hazrat Baba Farid could not control his tender sentiments of piety and sorrow, moving the hearts of all present so much so that the audience also joined his weeping.

Love of the Holy Prophet ﷺ

Hazrat Baba Farid was a staunch devotee of the Holy Prophet ﷺ and had dedicated his whole life to the veneration of the beloved prophet ﷺ. At the mention of the prophet’s ﷺ glory, at the mention of the prophet’s ﷺholy characteristics and his noble life stories and traditions, Hazrat Baba Farid often started weeping, overwhelmed by love and devotion. He followed every tradition of the prophet ﷺ most scrupulously and preached to all Muslims to obey and follow the same strictly. Once at the mention of the demise of the holy prophet ﷺ in a majlis, Baba Farid breathed a long sorrowful sigh and said:

Title of “Ganjshakar”

Historians have recorded four different but reliable stories as to how Hazrat Baba Farid’s most popular title of Ganjshakar (meaning treasury of sweetness or sugar), came about:

Miracles

There are innumerable examples of wonderful miracles that have been performed by Hazrat Baba Farid. A few are related here:

Marriage

It is generally recognised that Hazrat Baba Farid had 3 wives. His first marriage took place in 621 A.H. with Bibi Najib-un-Nisa who was the daughter of Mohammed Azim Shah Siddiqui-ul-Qureshi of Multan and sister of one Sheikh Zakaria Shah, a pious gentleman. This marriage appears to have been arranged by Hazrat Baba Farid’s mother (after his Pir-o-Murshid’s order) at Khotwal. Hazrat Baba Farid also lived with her in Hansi for several years before going to Ajodhan. This marriage is reported to have bore the following children:

• A daughter named Khadija also known as Sharf-un-Nisa who was married to Hazrat Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari. She is reported to have died on the very first night of her marriage.
• Two daughters named Asghari and Basari, both of whom died in their childhood in Hansi.
• Four sons named Mohammed Naimuddin, Mohammed Sultanuddin and Mohammed Farid Baksh, all of them dying during their childhood in Hansi. Mohammed Azizuddin reportedly died as the result of Hazraat Allauddin Sabir’s jalal (wrath).

The second marriage of Hazrat Baba Farid was solemnised on 15th of Rajab, 634 A.H. with Bibi Hazira Khatoon or Khatoon Begam. Following are the children from this marriage:

• Hazrat Shahabuddin Ganj-e-Ilam.
• Hazrat Nizamuddin Shaheed who was killed in war at Ranthambore during the Khilji period.
• Hazrat Badruddin Suleman who succeeded as first Sajjadanashin of Hazrat Baba Farid and was supposed by some writers to be the eldest son of the saint.
• Hazrat Mohammed Yakub who went to Amroha and joined the holy company of “Abdaals”.
• Bibi Fatima (daughter) who was married to Hazrat Badruddin Ishaq, the most beloved mureed and confidant of Hazrat Baba Farid.
• Bibi Sharifa (daughter) who died at a young age.
• Sheikh Abdulla Bayabani who was killed by some enemies and is buried at Pakpattan in the graveyard known by his name.
• Bibi Mastura (daughter) was married to Sheikh Umar Sufi but died at a young age.
• Bibi Hajra and Bibi Zainab(daughter) also died at a young age.

There is a difference of opinion about the eldest son of Hazrat Baba Farid although Hazart Badruddin Suleman succeeded him as his first Sajjadanashin by unanimous consent which also had the approval of Hazrat Shahabuddin Ganj-e-Ilam.

The third marriage of Hazrat Baba Farid took place in 639 A. H. with Bibi Umme-Kulsoom who was the widow of Syed Inam-ul-Haq, a devoted mureed of Hazrat Baba Farid. He had gone to Ajodhan with the saint where he died in 639 A.H. Bibi Umme-Kulsoom was the daughter of Syed Nisar Ali and had a son Nasirullah aged 1 1/2 years at the time of her husband’s death. Hazrat Baba Farid married her out of his religious compassion and treated her child as his adopted son. All the other children born of Bibi Umme-Kulsoom died at tender ages.

All the surviving sons of Hazrat Baba Farid were very able and learned dervishes and held their father’s principles and reputation high after his death. Some of his successors from his progeny were indeed great dervishes and lived up to the reputation of Hazrat Baba Farid. Among them Hazrat Alauddin Mauj Dariya, Khwaja Ibrahim Farid Sani and Dewan Tajuddin Mahmood deserve special mention.

Death

According to most sources, Hazrat Baba Farid breathed his last on the 5th of Moharrum, 661 A.H., at the age of 92. A few days befor his death, Shams Dabeer, one of his devoted mureeds, read out poet Nizami’s famous ‘Masnavi’ in Persian to Baba Farid. This masnavi sent Hazrat Baba Farid into the state of ‘wajd’ (ecstasy). When he regained consciousness, he bestowed his own sacred shirt to Shams Dabeer as a reward. In the following days, the great saint observed complete silence and did not talk except for when performing his Namaz and reciting the Holy Quran. When physicians were summoned for his treatment, he refused to be treated and repeated the follwing famous couplet of Amir Khusro:

On the 5th of Moharrum, his condition worsened and he became unconscious after the Isha prayer. When he regained consciousness, he enquired of those present: “Have I offered my Isha prayer?” Those present affirmed ‘Yes’, upon which he said: “Let me offer it once more lest I may not get another chance”. So he refreshed his ‘wazoo’ and offered the Isha prayer for the second time, and after prayer, he again became unconscious. On regaining consciousness, he once more refreshed his ‘wazoo’ and offered the prayer for the third time. While still in the act of ‘sajda'(prostration) he uttered “yaa Hayyo Yaa Qaiyum” (God is ever omnipresent) and with these Quranic words on his lips, relinquished his mortal body and his soul disappeared into the eternal bliss of his beloved God. Immediately a ‘nida'(Divine voice) declared:

The news of Hazrat Baba Farid’s death spread rapidly in the city of Ajodhan and its surroundings. Thousands of people beagan to gather at the Khanqah of Baba Farid to pay their last respects to the beloved saint whose favours they had enjoyed for nearly 50 Years.

An old woman, who was one of the devotees of the saint, presented a piece of cloth for the coffin of Hazrat Baba Farid. She implored: “I have not spun even a single thread of this cloth without having ‘wazoo’ (ablution). I had prepared it for my own coffin but if it is accepted for the coffin of the great saint, I feel confident, God most gracious would be pleased to pardon my sins and grant me salvation.” Hazrat Baba’s sons, in view of the old lady’s cherished wish, accepted the cloth and used it for the saint’s coffin.

At the time of Hazrat Baba Farid’s demise, his Khalifas were not present in Ajodhan. His body was thus temporarily interred until his chief disciple and Khalifa, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya arrived in Ajodhan. After his arrival from Delhi, the body was buried permanently, in the same ‘hujra’ (cell) where Hazrat Baba Farid used to remain in devotion and where in the Holy Quran had been recited thousands of times.

An impressive mausoleum was erected over the tomb of the great saint which has been attracting a multitude of people from all walks of life for ‘ziarat’, as well as during his annual Urs for the past 6 centuries.

Khalifas

Apart from Hazrat Baba Farid’s chief Khalifa, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, who succeeded him as the 4th Spiritual Succesor to Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in the Order of Chishtia silsila, the number of Hazrat Baba Farid’s Khalifas runs into four figures. After their in spiritual training, they were deputed to go to all corners of India to carry on the missionary work of the Chishtia Order.

Below is a list of some of the prominent Khalifas of Hazrat Baba Farid :

Three new silsilas have emerged from the above mentioned Khalifas:

1. “Nizamia” silsila from Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi
2. “Sabiria” silsila from Hazrat Makhdoom Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari
3. “Jamalia” silsila from Hazrat Sheikh Jamaluddin of Hansi. After some time, the Jamalia silsila merged with the Nizamia silsila.

Teachings

Who is a Sufi?

According to Hazrat Baba Farid, a Sufi must possess the following:

1. He must forget himself and the world in the love and devotion of God.
2. He must overlook the faults of others however serious.
3. He must close his eyes, ie. he must not look towards things declared haraam (forbidden) in Islam.
4. He must become deaf also so that he may not hear all things undesirable.
5. He must become dumb too so that he may not be able to speak about things which must not be spoken about.
6. He must cut off his legs i.e. he must act lame so that he may not be able to move himself to comply his Nafs-e-Ammara which tries to take him to undesirable places.

Regarding these qualities, Hazrat Baba Farid says:

“Toleration and forbearance”, the saint says” should be the salt of a dervish’s life, even if a naked sword were put upon his head, he should be forgivingly happy and should never curse the persecutor.”

“There are 3 important qualities of a dervish:

1. To know the world and then renounce it.
2. Faithful obedience to God.
3. Fear of God and His retribution.

Hazrat Baba Farid has stressed upon the maintenance of a Sufi’s character which, he says, “can only be built if he stays away from the world and refuses to eat what is forbidden in Islamic law.” Quoting Hazrat Yahya, he says:

On the dress of Sufis, Hazrat Baba Farid says:

Defining a few other important characteristics of a Sufi, Hazrat Baba Farid says:

1. A Sufi is one who has nothing corrosive around his heart which he must keep transparently clear and clean, and which must know no treacherous intrigues.
2. Sufis are those who observe strict silence and remain constantly bewildered under the influence of Divine Light.
3. Sufis, merged wholeheartedly in the devotion of God, are lost to all the rest of creation (except God).
4. It is one of the glories of Tasawwuf that Sufis transport themselves to the 7th Heaven five times daily during their Namaz.

According to Baba Farid, “Tasawwuf, is a code of man’s moral and religious life and conduct. Although a Sufi is cut off from the world, he never curses or looks down upon its affairs, i.e. he has neither love nor hatred for the world.”

Baba Farid emphasises that “a mureed must hold his Pir-o-Murshid in the highest reverence”. He says, “Seven days in the service and company of a Pir-o-Murshid are equal to 700 years of devotion.” He adds that “a Sufi dies when he gives up his devotion and ‘zikr’ and he lives when he is engrossed in them.”

He says “the more a Sufi suffers sorrow, pain and hardship, the more nearer he becomes to God. Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti always prayed to God to send more hardships and pain and sorrows upon him so that he could strengthen his faith in God.”

1. God most gracious takes away prosperity from one who does not give cnarity or zakaat.
2. God most gracious takes away health from one who does not offer ‘sacrifice’ in His name.
3. God most gracious takes away faith at the time of death if one does not offer Namaz.

Hazrat Baba Farid says, “It is necessary for the dervish not to worry about “rizq” (provision of sustenance). If he worries, he commits a sin against his “faith” in God.”

Regarding contentment, Hazrat Baba Farid says:

Sama

Hazrat Baba Farid was fond of’ Sama and fought against its antagonists. Regarding Sama and its reaction upon great Sufis, he says:

Siar-ul-Aulia

Siar-ul-Aulia, made up off 22 chapters, is an authentic record on the life of Hazrat Baba Farid. Every chapter provides his learned discourses on Tasawwuf. The book starts with a chapter on Ishq-e-Elahi or Love of God. It is quite different from the Ishq of the Ulema (the learned) and the intellectuals.

Defining Divine ‘Ishq’ Hazrat Baba Farid says:

Elaborating upon the “path of divine love”, Hazrat Baba Farid continues:

Toba (Repentance)

Hazrat Baba Farid attaches great importance to the “Toba” of man. There are six kinds of Tobu according to him:

1. Toba-e-Dil — It denies the budding desires that arise from the heart. It kills jealously and all other desires of the Nafs. It helps in raising the curtain between man and God.
2. Toba-e-Zabaan — Restraining one’s tongue from indulging in vulgarity and training it in the constant remembrance of God and the recitation of the Holy Quran. In the path of divine love, only those who can control and use their tongue judiciously in the (remembrance) of God succeed. Mere toba-e-dil would not help greatly to see the Divine Light. Ears, eyes, hands and Nafs are slaves of the tongue, hence with Toba-e-Zabaan all these elements can be controlled and used profitably in following the divine path.
3. Toba-e-Chashm — Avoiding to see all haraam (unlawful) things with the eyes and ignore the faults of others. A dervish, after Mushaheda, must never cast his eyes on anything unlawful.
4. Toba-e-Gosh — A dervish must not use his ears to listen to anything else except the zikr of God.
5. Toba-e-Paa — Restraining of one’s feet from proceeding towards evil or things ‘haraam’.
6. Toba-e-Nafs — Restraining of all desires emanating from one’s “appetitive soul” or Nafs.

In addition to the above six kinds of ‘toba’ there are three more:

1. Toba-e-Haal – repentance for sins recently committed and swearing to avoid them in future.
2. Toba-e-Maazi – repentance for the past and pleasing one’s enemies at any cost.
3. Toba-e-Mustaqbil – the sinner must pledge to God not to commit any sinful acts in the future.

Quotes & Sayings

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Mausoleum

The mazar is located in the city of Pakpattan and was first constructed under the supervision of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Auliya. The shrine is now made entirely of marble. It is open all day and night and it is visited by thousands from all walks of life. Charity food known as Langar is distributed during the day.

Baba Farid’s small tomb is made of white marble with two doors, one facing east and called the Nuri Darwaza (Gate of Light) and the second facing north called Bahishti Darwaza (Gate of Paradise). There is also a long covered corridor. Inside the tomb are two white marbled graves, one belonging to Baba Farid and the other belonging to his elder son. The graves are always covered by green sheets of cloth called Chadders and flowers that are brought by visitors.

Urs

Every year, Hazrat Baba Farid’s Urs (death anniversary) is celebrated for six days in the first Islamic month of Muharram, in Pakpattan. The Bahishti Darwaza (Gate of Paradise) is opened only once a year, on the 5th and 6th of Muharram, during the time of the Urs and is washed by rose water before the opening ceremony. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the country and world come to pay homage to the great saint.