Wednesday 11 July 2012

HAZRAT KHWAJA BABA FARIDUDDIN GUNJ E SHAKAR R.A.



PATERNAL GENEOLOGY

Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab (second Calipah )
HazratAbdulla Bin Umar
Hazrat Nasir
Hazrat Sulaiman
Hazrat Adham, King of Balkh and Bukhara
Hazrat Ibrahim bin Adham aka Abou Ben Adham
Hazrat Ishaq
Hazrat Abul Fatah
Hazrat Abdulla Waiz Kubra
Hazrat Abdullah Waaiz Soghra
Hazrat Masood
Hazrat Sulaiman
Hazrat Ishaq
Hazrat Mohammad
Hazrat Naseeruddin
Hazrat Farooq Shah Kabuli, King of Afghanistan
Hazrat Shahabuddin Kabuli
Hazrat Mohammed
Hazrat Yousuf
Hazrat Ahmed
Hazrat Shoaib
Hazrat Jamaluddin Sulaiman
Hazrat Baba Farid Gunj e Shakar R.A.
He was the grandson of Shaykh Shoaib who was the grandson of Farooq Shah

Kabuli, the king of Kabul and Ghazni, who was the grandson of Saint Ibrahim

bin Adham who was the descendant of Calipah Hazrat Umar bin al-Khattab.


KHALIFA

HAZRAT SHAIKH NIZAMUDDIN AULIA
HAZRAT SHAIKH ALAUDDINA ALI AHMED SABRI
HAZRAT SHAIKH SHAMSHUDDIN TURK PANIPAT
HAZRAT SHAIKH JAMAL HANSAVI
HAZRAT SHAIKH YAQOOB
HAZRAT SHAIKH BADRUDDIN SULAIMAN
HAZRAT SHAIKH NASIRUDDIN
HAZRAT SHAIKH BADRUDDIN ISHAQ









"LIFE HISTORY"

Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj-e-Shaka R.A. was born on the 29th Shaban 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 Saint ship. One

day, during the pregnancy of his mother, she wanted to pluck some plums from

her neighbor'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 neighbor'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 traveled 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 Chishtia

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. 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. in some of the battles fought by him; one wooden bowl in which the

Prophet S.A.W. used to eat from; one pair of scissors and one turban which was

used by the holy Prophet S.A.W.

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 ALLAH, 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. and dedicated his entire life to the veneration of the beloved

Prophet's S.A.W. immortal glory. At the mention of the Holy Prophet's S.A.W.

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 Chishtia Silsila

and is held in high esteem by one and all.

Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia constructed his tomb. 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 it. It (door) 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. His

verses have been collected in GURU GRANTH SAHIB under the chapter Farid's

Sayings by GURU NANAK DEV JI.

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