Sultan Bahu - A Mystic Champion

Introduction of Sultan Bahu (also known as bahoo)

Sultan Bahu was a Sufi poet and scholar as well. He was born in 1630. He was an active scholar and poet in the Mughal empire. The birthplace of Sultan Bahu is Shorkot, which is located in Punjab near Jhang city in Pakistan. He was the founder of a mystic tradition known as Sarwari Qadiri, and Sultan Bahu also belonged to Qadiri Sufi Order. He has devoted his life to poetry and Sufism. There are almost 40 books that are being attributed to him. Most of these books were written in Persian language, and these books were related to all aspects of Islam. But Apart from these, the main thing that gave him more and more fame is his legendary Punjabi Sufi poetry. Famous qawwals and Sufi artists further sang his poetry's verses, and that's how the new tradition of singing came into being.

How was he named as Sultan Bahoo?

Sultan Bahu's Mother's name was Bibi Rasti. As by Manaqib-e-Sultani, she was informed by divine inspiration that her child that was going to be born will be the Sultan (King) Mystics, and he will be born in the land of Chenab. When her child was born, Bibi Rasti named him Bahoo, which literally means "With HOO". One saying of Sultan Bahu as mentioned in one of his books as :

NAAM BAHOO MADAR BAHOO NIHAAD

ZANKA BAHOO DAIMI BAHOO NIHAAD.

These lines mean that her mother named him as Bahoo because this name is always connected with HOO. Many people and his followers name him as Sultan Bahoo or Muhammad Bahoo but always called himself as Bahoo.

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Beneficence started at an early age

When he was born, there was always a light upon his head. This Light means Nur or Noor. According to some writers, some say that his eyes glittered with divinity. This noor or light was indeed a miracle from childhood. When he was an infant, his mother didn't feed him in the month of Holy Ramadan. This can also be considered as a miracle. His eyes were so divine that whenever he sees a person, that person automatically starts reciting Kalma Tayabah, as mentioned in the books. All these miracles were at an early age.

How Hindu Brahman converted his religion to Islam?

Once upon a time, Sultan Bahoo got very ill. A Hindi physician who was brahman was requested to check upon him. That Hindu Brahman physician refused that request because he was afraid by Sultan Bahoo that he will convert his religion to Islam if he sees Sultan Bahoo. He requested to get Sultan Bahoo's urine in order to diagnose the disease. But even when he received his urine, he converted his religion to Islam.

Education of Sultan Bahoo

As per written in books, Sultan Bahoo had no academic background. He was not educated by the knowledge he had was divined from Allah. Once he said

Garcha Nist mara Ilam zahir,

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z'ilam Batini Jaan zishta zahir,

These lines are written in above simply means that he had " I didn't get any sort of formal education, but I have esoteric knowledge that has completely sanctified me." This simply means that Sultan Bahoo was not formally educated but had spiritual knowledge that was divined to him.

Following Sunna

Sultan Bahoo always followed Sunna even after having engrossment in Divinity. He always followed Prophet (Muhammad Peace be upon Him) in every manner of life. Sultan Bahoo never missed any prayer (Optional or obligatory). Once he said:

Har Miratab az shariat ya fatm,

Peshwaye khud shariat Oakham.

If we translate this, we will get to know that he says that he has got every spiritual status with the help of Shariah. He also said that he has made Shariah as his guideline.

Sultan Bahoo named as Sultan ul Afreen

Sultan Bahoo's other famous name is Sultan ul Afreen. This name was given to him by his followers. Sultan ul Afreen simply means Sultan of mystics.

When Sultan Bahoo became famous with the title of Sultan ul Afreen, some fake guides, especially from Kashmir side started using his name and called themselves Sultan ul Afreen. But now, you know the truth that only Sultan Bahoo is Sultan ul Afreen.

Family of Sultan Bahoo

If we talk about the family of Sultan Bahu, he had 4 wives. Sultan Bahu's first wife belonged to the family Makhdoom Burhanuddin Ahmad from Jhang city. The second wife of Sultan Bahu was also from Awan. He had a very down to earth type of personality. His third wife belonged to some close relative. His fourth wife, before marriage, was a Hindu lady, and later on, before getting married to Sultan Bahu, converted her religion to Islam. He had Allah's Blessings Indeed. Sultan Bahu had 8 sons and one daughter as well. Her name was Mai Rehmat Khatoon. His Family continued from three sons. Their names were Sultan Noor Mohammad, Sultan Wali Mohammad, and Sultan Latif Mohammad. As sultan Bahu belongs to a spiritual family, there are many mureeds of Sultan Bahoo.

Legacy Continues

Genealogical Tree

Sarwari Qadri's Genealogical Tree is still present in this date. Allah has blessed this order, and this has been guided to the followers, or you may say, seekers. Even at this date, Sultan Bahoo's miracle continues. Through his shrine, people get blessed divine light. His sacred assets are saved. These sacred assets are his books of poetry and sufism. If you want to get more knowlegde about his life and legacy, you can surely read the books that has been written on him.

Sultan bahoo had a Genealogical Tree that belonged to a tribe that is named Awan Tribe, and this tribe belonged to Ali ibn Abi Talib from wives other than Fatimah bint Mohammad. This shows that Sultan Bahoo is linked with a spiritual family and this family has devoted their lives towards Islam.

What is divine trust?

Allah Subhan Wa Tallah says in the Holy Quran that:

We presented Our Trust before the skies, earth, and mountains. Everyone refused to bear it, however, man (The Universal Divine Man) picked it up. No doubt, he is cruel (towards his inner self) and ignorant (of his highest rank near Allah). (Al-Ahzab:72)

Bearer of Divine Trust is the Universal Divine Man (Al-Insan al-Kamil)

When the seeker of Allah reaches the peak of Faqr, he becomes immortal with Allah after he annihilates in Him. As he acquires all the attributes of Allah. Therefore he adorns the grand status of the Universal Divine Man, Al-Insan al-Kamil.

Conclusion

Sultan Bahoo has devoted his life towards it. Allah Subhan Wa Tallah has blessed him with lots of miracles. It is a miracle indeed that an infant without getting the feed from her mother for the whole of Holy Ramadan stays alive and didn't even get sick. Another miracle includes that whenever Sultan bahoo sees a non-muslim, that person converts his religion to Islam. As mentioned in the above paragraphs, Sultan Bahoo had got something unique in his eyes that makes a non-muslim person to Muslim. Even a brahman, a pure Hindu person, converts his religion from Hinduism to Islam. SubhanAllah.

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