Muharram, Ajmer Sharif Muharram,
Hazrat Baba Farid Chilla OPENS
Moharram Ajmer Moharram 2010, 2011, 2012, Khwaja Garib Nawaz
Just behing the Sandal Khana Mosque the Chilla (CELL or HUJRA) of Hazrat Baba Farid
Ganj-e-Shakar is situated, where Baba Farid R.A. spent some time in contemplation
and seclusion. The gate to the Chilla Sharif remains closed through out the year
except for three days, 4th Moharram Sharif to 6th Moharram Sharif every year, when
it is opened for Ziarat to all in the Chilla Sharif.
Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty and Hazrat Khwaja Kutubuddin Bakhtyar Kaki R.A.
were together in the Hujra (Cell or Chilla). Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty said
to Hazrat Khwaja Kutubuddin Bakhtyar Kaki ‘O Bakhtyar how much longer will
you burn that young man (Baba Farid) up with Spiritual Exercise? ‘You must
reward him with something.’ Hazrat Khwaja Kutubuddin Bakhtyar Kaki answered,
‘What power do I have in front of you? ‘Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty
announced, ‘This is your mureed (disciple).’
Then he stood up and suggested that they both gave him their blessings. So Hazrat
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty stood on the right and Hazrat Khwaja Kutubuddin Bakhtyar
Kaki on the left with side Baba Farid between them, and whatever blessings they
had received they bestowed on him.
THE TWO SAINTS HAVE BESTOWED THE TWO WORLDS ON YOU.
YOU HAVE RECEIVED KINGSHIP FROM THESE KINGS OF THE AGE.
THE REALMS OF BOTH THIS AND THE OTHER WORLD BELONG TO YOU.
THE ENTIRE CREATION IN FACT HAS BEEN MADE OVER TO YOU.
It is said that Hazrat Shaikh Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar is a descendent of Hazrat
Umar Farooq-e-Azam R.A.A. the second Calipah of Hazrat Muhammed S.A.W.
The father of Hazrat Shaikh Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar was Shaikh Jamaluddin Sulaiman
who had also migrated from Ghazni.
He lived and died at Patan near Gujranwala in Pakistan.
Dargah Baba Fariduddin Masood Ganjshakar, Dargah Baba Farid, Baba
Farid
HAZRAT BABA FARIDUDDIN GANJ-E-SHAKAR, R.A.
His Shrine His mazar (shrine) is the pride of Pakpattan. Khawaja 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 death anniversary is celebrated every year on the 5th of Muharram.
His Masters He was the spiritual disciple and Khalifa (spiritual successor) of Qutbuddin
Bakhtiar Kaki who was the disciple and Khalifa of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti who
was the disciple and Khalifa of Sheikh Usmaan Haruni.
His Students He was the spiritual master of Nizamuddin Auliya who was the Master
of Amir Khusro and [[Nasiruddin Chirag-e-Delhi ]
His descendants His descendants, also known as Fareedies, mostly carry the name
Farooqi. They are all over South Asia and can also be found all over the world.
However those still looking after his shrine are better known as Diwans.
His place in Sikhism His verses have been collected in Guru Granth Sahib under the
chapter Farid's Sayings by Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Hazrat Baba Faridudeen Gang Shakar was one of the most influential and pivotal figures
in the Chishtiyya silsila, and is widely renowned for his intensely rigorous mujahedas
in Allah's path. After the premature death of Khwaja Qutubuddin Kakionly a year
after the demise of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishtit he bulk of the work begun by the latter
fell upon his shoulders. It was he who, in his 37 years as head of the silsila,
ensured the propagation of Islam throughout India and the lands beyond.
Miraculous events surrounded Baba Faridudeen'sbirth.. He was born on the 29th Shabaan
in 569 AH, the son of a pious alim and a waliah (female saint). As the night was
cloudy, people did not know whether Ramadaan had begun or not. But a dervish told
them that a wali had been born who would be the Qutb (spiritual monarch) of his
time, and that they must look to the child for their answer. Sure enough, the one-day
old Baba Faridudeen did not touch his mother's milk after sehri, indicating to all
that Ramadaan had in fact begun. Baba Faridudeenwas a direct descendent of Hazrat
Umar FarooqAt the age of 7 he memorised the Qur'an and later became an alim. When
Khwaja Qutbudeen Kakivisited the city of Multan, where he was studying, he was so
impressed by the child's spiritual prowess that he immediately accepted him as a
mureed.
After his education finished, Baba Faridudeenwas ordered by his Pir-o-murshid to
begin a tour of all the Islamic countries in order to meet the leading mystics of
his time. On this journey, he came into contact with many great sufis. Whilst in
Madinah performing Hajj, he was spiritually directed by the Holy Prophetto go to
Baghdad. Doing so, he was welcomed by the son of Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani
and given khilafah in the Qadriyya silsila, as well as receiving from him various
sacred relics such as a turban and wooden food bowl of RasulallahAfter eighteen
years of travelling, he returned to Delhi and his Pir-o-murshid, and was given khilafah
by Khwaja Qutbudeen Kaki in the presence of many great sufis.
Baba Faridudeen was then ordered to go to Hansi and begin preaching Islam there.
But before he had even settled down, he received the sad news of Khwaja Qutbudeen
Kaki death, and rushed back to Delhi arriving, as Khwaja Qutbudeen Kaki had prophesied,
three days after his death. There he was given the khilafa-e-azam of Khwaja Qutbudeen
Kaki and decided, because of the political upheavals occuring in Dehli, to move
the Chishtiyya headquarters to Ajodhan, the city renamed Pak Pattan in honour of
him. Ajodhan was a small, isolated town surrounded by jungles and wild animals,
but with the spiritual blessings of Baba Faridudeenit soon became a bustling centre
of Islam. Scholars and sufis flocked from all over India and the lands around to
study under the great wali, who built up a veritable university of Islamic education
along with a great khanqah.
From Ajodhan
would leave many missionaries who spread out over the whole of India to propagate
Islam and Sufism. His great popularity aroused the ire and jealousy of Ajodhan's
qadhi, who out of his envy wrote a letter to the leading ulema of the time complaining
about Baba Faridudeen's love of Sama. But the ulema rebuffed him, saying, "Baba
Farid is the Qutb of our time, and the highest authority on Shariah among all of
us. If he says Sama is permissible, then it is."
The above incident bears ample testimony to the universal awe in which Hazrat Baba
Faridudeenwas held. His mujahedas were of such rigour that few in the history of
sufism have managed to surpass them. Once he was ordered by Khwaja Qutbudeen Kaki
to perform a forty night seclusion whilst suspended upside down in a well, being
pulled up only for salaah and to perform more ordinary devotions. On another occasion,
he was so exhausted by his mujahedas that he could not stand up to greet Khwaja
Moinudeen Chistiwhen he came to visit. At that, Khwaja Moinudeen Chisti remarked
to Khwaja Qutbudeen Kaki "You have captured a hawk whose nest is no lower than
the 7th heaven", and a divine voice proclaimed, "We have accepted Farid."
Baba Faridudeen kindness and forbearance were legendary. Once a soldier came with
the intention of killing him, but the great saint merely told him, "Dear brother,
I have done you no harm. Why would you kill a dervish and earn the curse of God?"
When the man relented, he immediately embraced and forgave him. He was the most
humble of men; despite all the vast knowledge he had at his disposal, he would refrain
from even correcting those who came to him arrogantly for fear of puncturing their
egos. Baba Faridudeen enjoined the strict adherence to Shari'ah and the necessity
of renouncing the pleasures of the world as pre-requisites for embarking on the
journey towards Allah. His love for the Prophetwas so intense that he would sometimes
break down and cry whilst lecturing on him, realising his own worthlessness as compared
to that of our beloved Prophet As with all the great sufis, the object of his life
was devotion to Allah and service of mankind. His miracles or karamaat are too numerous
to mention, but the greatest stretched over years before they came to fulfilment.
One of his descendants, Hazrat Ibrahim Farid Saani was visited and held in awe by
Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion.
Hazrat Baba Faridudeen left 14 khulafa behind him, principal of whom were Hazrat
Sabir Paak the founder of the Sabriyya silsila and Hazrat Nizamudeen Auliya Mehboobe
Elahifounder of the Nizamiyya order. Hazrat Nizamudeen was his principal khilafa,
and was located in Dehli. Under him, the Chishtiyya silsila achieved the zenith
of its glory and influence. He collected the gathered teachings of his master as
Baba Farid had collected those of his murshid Khwaja Qutbudeen Kaki
Death comes to all, even the greatest of saints, but the manner in which we receive
it is not the same for all. As Baba Faridudeen was born in a state of devotion,
so too he died in that state. For days before his death he maintained complete silence
within his cell, only speaking for salaat and to recite the Holy Qur'an. Eventually,
his illness grew so severe that after Isha salaat he became unconscious. Upon waking,
he decided to perform his Isha again, but once more he passed out. In sajdah on
his third Isha salaat, he breathed his last. His last words were, "Ya Hayyo
ya Qayyum." Upon his death, a divine voice was heard by those gathered to say,
"FRIEND HAS MERGED INTO THE UNITY OF FRIEND."
My restlessness has reached such a level - I spend morning and evening in your love.
Look upon me now with a merciful eye! Salutations to you, do now make my heart pleased,
O Faridudeen Gunje Shakar!
Yaa Baba Faridudeen Gang Shakar
Another Source :
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, Makkah 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.