All About Sultan Bahu (R.A)

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA), according to some sources, was born in the village of Shorkhote, in the Punjab province in the year 1039 AD, during the reign of
the great Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan.

His Lineage:
Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) is from the progeny of Hazrat Ali (RA). Traditionally according to the law of the land he is a Hashmi and belongs to
the tribe of A'wan. Historically the A'wan tribe trace their descent to Ameer Shah, son of Qutub Shah, whose family lineage is traced back to to Hazrat Ali
(RA).
His Parents:
The father of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) was Hazrat Bazid Muhammad (RA), who was from the A'wan tribe. He was the titleholder and an office bearer in
the court of the Mughals. He was a pious and devout scholar and a strict follower of the Shariat. He married Hazrat Bibi Rasti (RA), who belonged to
the same social class of the same family.
Hazrat Bibi Rasti (RA) was a devout, pious and saintly wife. Her piety had a marked effect on her husband, so much so, that the love of Allah kindled in
his heart. This fire of love forced and compelled him to give up his government service, and he passed the rest of his life in the service of Allah.
He settled in Multan.
Hazrat Bibi Rasti (RA) joined her husband in Multan. In the meantime, as recognition of his services, the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jehan, conferred on
Hazrat Bazid Muhammad (RA), an estate in the vicinity of the small town of Shorkhote in the district of Jung, Punjab Province (Pakistan). Hazrat Bazid
Muhammad (RA) and Hazrat Bibi Rasti (RA) settled and thus spent the rest of their lives in Shorkhote.

Hazrat Bibi Rasti (RA) saw in a vision that soon she would be blessed with a child with inherent spiritual qualities, whose light of Faqr will benefit many
a seeker till the end of time. She was instructed to name the child "Ba Hu", meaning, "with Allah". This name most certainly suited the holy personality,
for he was truly drowned in the Love of Allah. Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)'s name is unique and has no parallel. His very name reflects his holy spiritual
station, pure qualities and attributes.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)'s early life:

Already as a child his saintly qualities became apparent. He too, like Sheikh
Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), refused to drink his mother's milk from Sehri to
Iftaar during the month of Ramadaan. Despite showing inherent spiritual
qualities, his training responsibility fell in the lap of his mother, Ma Rasti
(RA). In his childhood and early years, she was responsible for both his
inward and outward training, colouring his personality in the Prophetic light.
In many of his writings Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) refers to his mothers piety
and spiritual station.

It is narrated that in the early years of his life, whenever Hazrat Sultan Bahu
(RA) ventured out of his house, he caused consternation and alarm because
whenever his blessed sight fell upon a non believer, the non believer would
involuntarily recite the Kalimah - Shahaadah (declaration of faith). The
townsfolk sent a delegation to the parents of the saint, requesting that a guard
or sentry be posted outside their house, so that whenever "little" Bahu would
venture outside a siren would be sounded so that the people would take
shelter from the penetrating gaze of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA). This trait in
his personality remained with him till the very end of his life.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) initiation:

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) belonged to the Qadiri school of Sufis. His
initiation into the spiritual world was both esoteric and exoteric. He spent
thirty years searching for a perfect murshid, during this period he met many
spiritual guides and spent time with many of them, serving them in every
respect and receiving spiritual light and blessings from them. Esoterically
Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) was initiated by the Prophet (peace be upon him)
himself. He received instructions and spiritual guidance from the fountain
and was accepted as a child of light in the court of Hazrat Bibi Fatima (RA),
the lady of light and her husband Hazrat Ali (RA).
Exoterically Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)'s mother directed him to seek spiritual
guidance from Hazrat Shah Habibullah Qadiri (RA). Hazrat Sultan Bahu
(RA)'s search took him to the east where he presented himself to Sheikh
Habibullah Qadiri (RA). After spending some time with Hazrat Sultan Bahu
(RA) and observing his spiritual status, Sheikh Habibullah Qadiri (RA)
exclaimed to him " what you are seeking is beyond me, go to my spiritual
master, Hazrat Pir Abdur - Rehman Delvi Qadiri (RA), he will guide you
towards the stages of higher knowledge". Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) thus
proceeded east toward Delhi. On meeting Hazrat Pir Abdur - Rehman Delvi
Qadiri (RA) his spiritual desires were fulfilled and he was initiated into the
Qaderi order.


Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)'s family:

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) had for wives and eight sons. His last son passed
away in hisinfancy. All his children were educated in institutions of learning.


Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)'s as an author- his literary works.

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) is acknowledged as one of the most prominent Sufi
poets of the Indo-Pak subcontinent. He is known to be the author of over 140
books in Persian and Arabic, dealing with a variety of religious and mystic
subjects.

The poems of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) are coloured with the consciousness of
Faqr and mystical learning. He is the leader amongst Punjabi Sufi poets.
People have been captivated by his words and his style of writing.

Miracles of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA).

Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA) displayed a great number of miracles and these
have been recorded in many books. Below are just 2 of the more famous of his
miracles.
Mi Fatima mastoin (intoxicated)
Once Sultan sahib was traveling through Dera Ghazi Khan with few dervishes
and they came to a village near a town called Fatha Khan. The dervishes
decided to have something to eat and to rest for a while. They went to a
house of a di (wetmother) and asked her to cook them some food. She replied
that "my daughter is suffering from an eye infection and she is in great pain,
as you can see she doesn't stop crying". Sultan sahib told her not to worry and
that he would look after her. In the mean time the faqeers went to fetch some
woods for fire and the lady was making the dough. The little girl was in the
cradle and Sultan sahib was sitting by her and cast his glance towards her,
when she immediately became engaged in reciting the zikr of Allah. She had
stopped crying, when the mother didn't hear her baby crying she came
running to the cradle and said "oh old man, what have you done to my baby,
you haven't strangled or killed her, have you"? Sultan sahib said "I haven't
killed her but I have given her such a new life that she wouldn't need her
cradle rocked ever again. When the mother lifted the sheet from the baby's
face she saw something strange. Her baby's face was shining and her whole
body was echoing Allah hoo and she was in state of intoxication. The mother
was shocked and felt the effect of the sight, her heart too start chanting zikr.
She begged Sultan sahib for forgiveness for the remarks she made. The news
got around the village and who ever looked at her their heart would be
livened with the zikr. She was known as Mi Fatima mastoin (intoxicated).
Her shrine is famous as a living grave (term used for the mizars from where
one gets instantaneous response and guidance of true path of
Allah).(mokhzanal israr)
Encounter with Sher Shah Sahib
Sultan sahib was on another journey and was engaged in zikr in a forest.
There were some disciples of Sher Shah sahib collecting firewood. One of
them came near Sultan sahib and greeted him with salaam, Sultan sahib
looked at him and answered him back. That person's heart started performing
the zikr, he fell on the feet of Sultan sahib and started crying with joy of
continues internal zikr. The other colleague observed him crying and went
over to investigate. He also had a glance from Sultan sahib and his heart also
start performing zikr and he too started crying at the feet of Sultan sahib. The
third disciple observed the state of his companion's, he ran back to report the
matter to Sheer Shah sahib. When Shah sahib learned the fate of his two
disciples he came to the spot where Sultan sahib was engaged in zikr. In the
mean time Sultan sahib disguised his spirituality.
Sheer Shah sahib said to Sultan sahib "I don't know who you are, a magician
or some fake, I will report you to the court of Rasool Allah (blessing and
salutation be on him). Sultan sahib replied that we will meet there and
tomorrow we shell meet again. When Sheer Shah sahib entered the court of
Rasool Allah (blessing and salutation be on him) he was observing everyone
there but he was unable to visualize Sultan sahib. While he was looking for
Sultan sahib he saw a child emerging from the sleeve of Rasool Allah's
(blessing and salutation on him). Rasool Allah's (blessing and salutation on
him) kissed the child and passed over to the ehle-bait and companions (Allah
be pleased with them all) and further along to all those present in that
meeting, eventually the child came to Sheer Shah sahib and start playing with
his beard and pulled two hairs from it. Sheer Shah sahib didn't react due to
the respect and dignity of Rasool Allah's (blessing and salutation on him).
The child went back and disappeared in the sleeve of Rasool Allah's (blessing
and salutation on him). Next day Sheer Shah sahib came up to Sultan sahib
and said; "I told you that you are some an impostor, I didn't see you at the
court of Rasool Allah's (blessing and salutation on him) last night". Sultan
sahib replied "Shah sahib how many witnesses are acceptable in the Islamic
divine law". Shah sahib said;"two". Sultan sahib presented him with the two
hair of Shah sahib's beard and said to him that here are the witnesses. Shah
sahib was embarrassed and apologized for his out burst. He further requested
Sultan sahib to take him as a disciple and elevate him to further spiritual
levels. Sultan sahib granted him his wish and further told him that there are
some high level in the court of Rasool Allah's (blessing and salutation on
him) that all friends of Allah Almighty could not see them, that was the
reason you was unable to see me.(mokhzanal israr)

The primary focus of Sultan Bahu's teachings are what he termed
"Tassawure-isme-zaat" or Visualization of the Personal Name of God. He
invites people to practice this simple five minute excercise every day, and
without having to join the order, or to renounce whatever sect or religion you
follow, you will immediately, personally, begin to see the effect this will
bring inside you in a most unmistakeable and profound manner!

Hadrat Sultan Bahu is one of the most renowned sufi saints of the later
Mughal Period in the history of Indo Pakistan subcontinent. He is often
called Sultanul Arifin ( the Sultan of gnostics) in the Sufi circles. His
ancestors belonging to the tribe of Alvids called Awan and coming from
Arabia via Hirat ( Afghanistan ) had settled in the soon Sakesar Valley of
Khushab

The demise of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)

The tomb of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)

The teachings of Hazrat Sultan Bahu (RA)