Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar, R.A
Hazrat
Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shakar r.a. was born on the 29th Sha'ban in 569 A.H. [April 4, 1179 C.E.] in Khotwal, a
village near Lahore [Pakistan]. He was a direct descendant of
Hazrat Umar Farooq r.a., the second Caliph of
Islam.
It is narrated that a
miracle occurred before his birth proving his Saintship. One day, during the pregnancy of his
mother, she wanted to pluck some plums from her neighbour's tree without his permission, but the child in her womb (Hazrat
Baba Farid) created a severe pain in her stomach that forced her to abandon the idea of plucking. After a few years after Hazrat
Baba Farid’s r.a. birth, his
mother lovingly expressed: “My dear son, during your confinement I never ate anything which was unlawful.” Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a., however, smiled and
said, “But, my dear
mother, you wanted to pluck some plums from our neighbour's tree without his permission when I had created a severe pain in your stomach which saved you from this unlawful act.”
After he had completed his early religious education at the age of 7 in Khotwal, his
mother sent him for higher education to Multan. Here he stayed in a masjid [
mosque] where he learnt the
Holy Qur'an by
heart and studied Hadith, Fiqh, Philosophy and Logic under the tutorship of Maulana Minhajuddin.
During his studies, Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Baktiar Kaki r.a.of Delhi visited Multan where Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. became his Murid (disciple) in the Chishtiyya Silsila. Upon the instructions of his Pir-o-Murshid, he undertook a tour of Islamic countries, for about 18 years from 593 A.H. to 611 A.H. [1196 C.E. to 1214 C.E.] he travelled to Ghazni, Baghdad Sharif, Jerusalem,
Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Mecca and Medina meeting many great saints and Sufis. After the demise of Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin r.a. the mantle of spiritual leadership in the Chishtiyya Silsila fell on the shoulders of Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. when Khwaja Qutbuddin r.a.nominated him to be his Khalifa or spiritual successor.
It is narrated that when Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a.visited Medina Sharif he was spiritually commanded by the
Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. to visit Baghdad Sharif and meet Hazrat
Abdul Wahab, son of Hazrat
Ghaus-al-
Azam Sheikh
Abdul Qadir Gilani r.a. He was to receive some sacred relics from him. Accordingly, when he reached Baghdad Sharif, he received a box from Hazrat
Abdul Wahab r.a. which contained the following
holy relics: Two flag-poles which were used by the
Holy Prophet s.a.w.s. in some of the battles fought by him; one wooden bowl in which the
Prophet s.a.w.s. used to eat from; one pair of scissors and one turban which was used by the
holy Prophet s.a.w.s.
Because of political upheavals in Delhi, he was obliged to shift the centre of the Chishtiyya mission from Delhi to Ajodhan now known as "Pak Patan". The Khanqah of
Baba Farid r.a., with his patronage, became a great
university of "moral and spiritual training." Thousands of aspirants, scholars, dervishes and Sufis reaped benefit from this spiritual
university. Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. reached the pinnacle of spiritual
glory through extremely
hard Mujahidas (spiritual striving) to gain mastery over the Nafs.
Once Hazrat Khwaja Qutbuddin r.a. ordered Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. to perform the "Chilla-e-Maakoos" for 40 days. This chilla was seldom undertaken by Sufis and was one of the most
difficult tests of Hazrat Khwaja
Baba Farid's r.a. faith and courage. It was to be 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 treetop.
Once, due to utter weakness, Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. helped himself to walk with the aid of a staff. But after a few steps, the colour of his face suddenly became purple, as if he was under heavy punishment. He threw away the staff. When Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin r.a., who was escorting him, enquired the reason for this, Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. replied, “I wanted to take help of the staff, but
Allah’s Displeasure frowned upon me for depending on other’s help instead of His. I, therefore, threw away the staff and felt highly ashamed of this weakness in my faith in Rabb, the Almighty.”
It is
also narrated that once a trader was
taking a caravan of camels laden with sugar from Multan to Delhi. When he was passing through Ajodhan (now Pakistan), Hazrat
Baba Fariduddin r.a. enquired casually as to what he was carrying on his camels. The trader sarcastically replied, "It is salt." Hazrat
Baba Fariduddin r.a.
also affirmed, "Yes, it
may be salt." When the trader reached Delhi, he was awfully perturbed to
find that all his bags of sugar had turned to salt. He immediately returned to Ajodhan and apologized before Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a.. Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a.
said: "If it is sugar then it shall be sugar." The trader returned to Delhi and was pleased to
find that the salt had turned back to sugar by the
Grace of Almighty
Allah. This is how Hazrat
Baba Sahib r.a. received the title of "Ganj-e- Shakar."
One of the devotees of Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. named Mohammed Nishapuri lived in Gujerat and was going to Delhi with three other companions. On their way through the jungle,
robbers encountered them. Mohammed Nishapuri and his companions had no wepons to defend themselves. In such a helpless
state, Mohammed Nishapuri remembered his Pir, Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a., and
also offered prayers seeking
Allah's help in their predicament. Surpassingly, the
robbers threw away their weapons and offered an apology to the party and went away.
One day some poor people came from Arabia to see Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. and
said that they were
strangers to the
land and that all their money was spent before the end of the journey. Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. gave them some dried dates which were lying in front of him at the moment and
said, “Take them and go. Your journey shall be completed by the
Grace of
Allah.” Apparently, these persons were very disappointed with such a "cheap gift". After leaving the Khanqah, they wanted to throw away the dates, but just as they were about to do so, to their amazement, the dates turned into gold. Regretting their thoughts, these people left happily uttering their heartfelt gratitude and prayers for Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a.
He fasted throughout his life and maintained his nightly prayers and devotions. Fear of
Allah always dominated him. He was a staunch devotee of
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. and dedicated his entire life to the veneration of the beloved
Prophet's s.a.w.s. immortal
glory. At the mention of the
Holy Prophet's s.a.w.s. character he would often weep out of his love and
devotion. Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. avoided kings, government officials and the rich. He
also warned his Khalifas, devotees and Murids to avoid their company. He was a living picture of humility. Whatever he received was spent in the name of
Allah and his chest overwhelmed with mercy and forgiveness. Many miracles are attributed to him during his lifetime and after his passing away.
On the 5th of
Muharram, during the
Isha prayer [evening prayer] ] while in the act of Sajdah, [prostration during prayer] he uttered "Ya Hayo Ya Qayum" [O Self-Subsisting, O
Eternal -- two names of God] and with these words on his lips his
soul disappeared into the
eternal bliss of his beloved
Allah. Immediately a "
Nida" or
Divine Voice declared: "Dost ba Dost Pewast" - Friend has merged into the unity of "Friend" (
Allah). An old woman that was one of the devotees of the Saint presented a piece of cloth for the kaffan [shroud] of Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a.. She implored: “I have not spun even a single thread of this cloth without having Wudu [purification]. I had prepared it for my own coffin but if it is accepted for the kaffan of this great Saint, I feel confident,
Allah would be pleased with to pardon my sins and
grant me salvation.” Hazrat
Baba Farid’s r.a. son accepted this cloth as the Kaffan. His Mazar Sharif [
noble shrine] is in Pak Patan, Pakistan. Hazrat
Sabir Pak, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Hazrat Jamaluddin Hansi rehmatulla alaihim [
may Allah have mercy upon them]are among his favourite Murids and Khalifas. It is generally recognized that he had three
wives and many children. Hazrat
Baba Farid r.a. was indeed one of the most brilliant stars of the Chishtiyya Silsila and is held in
high esteem by one and all.