Sultan Bahu


Alexandria by the sea


"Everyone asks for firmness in faith, but few for firmness in love.

They ask for faith and are ashamed of love, such arrogant hearts!

Faith has no idea of the place where love transports you.

I swear by my faith, Bahu, keep my love firm!"

From Death Before Dying, The Sufi Poems of Sultan Bahu. Translated and Introduced by Jamal J. Elias (University of California Press, 1998).


Who was Hazrat Sultan Bahu

Born on 1628 AD (1st Jamadi -us Sani 1102 H) in Shorkot, Pakistan from a very pious mother who, in one dream, was told her son would become a great sufi master and that at birth he would be a wali Allah, which means "friend of Allah".
Since his childhood people could perceive a special light on his face and he didn't seek education from any group because, as he used to say, he had been enlightened with the ilm al-laduni (light of inspired knowlege, or just inspired knowlege) In Sufi circles, he is called Sultanul Arifin, which means the Sultan of Gnostics.
His path in Sufism was made intuitively. Only his mother tought him some essential exercices in dhikr (The Invocation of Allah and His Names). Even though he had fatherly obligations, his love for Sufim always leaded him to wander throughout the world of Mysticism, travelling to sacred lands, and meeting people who would become his fellow friends in the world of Tasawwuf. As a seeker of truth, he spent his life travelling to remote places, unknown and difficult trips and his love for the Sufism went far beyond. He went to the Saraiki region , up to Sindh, he went to Delhi and met the Emperor Aurangzeb.

In 1961 AD he died in Shokrot, where he was buried near the river. After some floods, his body was moved to a more secure place , actually Darbar Hazrat Sultan Bahu (District Jhang, Punjab).

Mainly his literature was written in Persian. He loved composing ghazals and poems. He also wrote in Punjabi where he expresses his exalted love for the Divine. There are many "inspired writings" written in a style peculiar to him. He practiced Fikr (spiritual poverty).

This verse appears on a wall that stands adjacent to his tomb:

Oh noble Sultan Bahu! in the realm of reality, you are perfect.
Help me in all the spiritual states ____ in interiority as well
as in exteriority.

For more information regarding Sultan Bahu, please visit "Sultan Bahu"

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1 comment (s):

  1. Mo'in said...

    Dear Maryam,

    Thanks so much for this post about Hazrat Sultan Bahu.

    Kindest wishes,

    mo'in

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