Sultan ul Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA is popular among saints, Sufi orders, spiritual chains, Sufi poets and even simple followers or readers of Tasawwuf. Although his roots belong to the Subcontinent, Sultan Bahoo RA is popular worldwide due to his inclusion in so many genres of religion, spiritual chains, poetry and even music. His Punjabi poetry has a popular appeal and earned him lasting fame. His Sufiana Kalam known as Abyat is sung in many genres of Sufi music by well known singers both folk and pop. The Punjab region became predominantly Muslim due to such missionary Sufi saints and Sultan Bahoo is perhaps another name for Sufism. He is the one who set the foundation of Sarwari Qadri Order which connects to Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani RA and hence to Hazrat Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam. He is the 25^th Shaikh of the Qadri Order now known as Sarwari Qadri Order.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Genealogy

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan-ul-Faqr V Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA belonged to the ‘Awan’ tribe and Awans’ genealogical tree goes back to Hazrat Ali Karum Allah Wajhul Kareem. Awans are Hazrat Ali’s progeny from wives other than Hazrat Fatima Razi Allah Anha. As far as Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo is concerned, he did not believe in racial pride. He had never emphasized upon the superiority of Awans being the progeny of Hazrat Ali. He writes: “Faqeeri does not depend on being  Syed or Quraishi. It is attained by Mystic and Divine Knowledge.”(Noor-ul-Huda Khurd)

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA used to write a few introductory lines about himself in the preface of all his books, just as other authors of his age did, and then shed light on the objectives of the book. Wherever, he has stated his introduction, he has always written ‘Awan’ with his name. In Noor-ul-Huda Kalan he says; “the writer of this book Sarwari Qadri Faqeer Bahoo, Fana-Fi-Hoo, son of Bazayad Mohammad, commonly known as Awan, resident of Qilla Shore (Shorekot) always says the truth.” The same lines, with the change of a few words, are written in almost all his books which prove that he belonged to Awan tribe.

Sultan Hamid Ali writes the genealogical tree of Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA in his book “Manaqib-e-Sultani” as:

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Ancestors & Parents

Ancestors of Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA lived in Anga, a village in Valley of Soon Sakesar (Tehsil Naushehra, District Khushab, Punjab Pakistan). The shrines and remains of their houses can still be found in Anga and its vicinity. The shrine of Sultan-ul-Arifeen’s grandfather Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Fateh Mohammad is in the graveyard of Anga and the shrine of his grandmother is also nearby.

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo’s father’s name was Sultan Bazayed Mohammad RA who was a soldier by profession and held a special position in the army of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. He was a pious and virtuous Hafiz-e-Quran. He spent his early life in Jihad.

Sultan-ul-Arifeen shows great devotion and love towards his mother in his books. He says “thousands of blessings of Allah upon Bibi Raasti for naming me Bahoo“. Bibi Raasti was stationed at the highest level of Faqr i.e Fana Fi Hoo (annihilation in Hoo). She was informed of Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo’s grandeur and spiritual status before his birth and his name “Bahoo” (one with Hoo) was revealed to her, so she named him Bahoo in obedience to Allah’s orders.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Birth

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA was born in Shorekot, Jhang in the reign of Shah Jahan on Thursday, Ist Jamadi-us-Sani 1039 Hijri (17th January 1630) at the time of Fajr prayer. According to”Manaqib-e-Sultani” when Bibi Raasti RA reached Shorekot from Anga, she was about to give birth to Sultan-ul-Arifeen and she was informed through spiritual revelation that this child would be the Sultan of Arifeens (King of the Knowers of Allah) and will be born in the valley of Chenab. She named this sacred child “Bahoo” according to the Divine order, as his status and name was already revealed to her. Sultan-ul-Arifeen says: Bahoo’s mother named him Bahoo because Bahoo has always remained with (Hoo).

Before him, no one in history has ever been named Bahoo. Sultan-ul-Arifeen is the exact manifestation of Ism-e-Hoo. In his books, he frequently calls himself Faqeer Bahoo Fana Fi-Hoo and describes his status of Fana (annihilation) and Baqa (immortality) with Hoo.

Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo is the Sultan of all Sultans (Arifeens and saints) i.e. Sultan-ul-Arifeen and is stationed at the highest status of Sultan-ul-Faqr, that is why, ‘Sultan’ became a part of his name and afterwards, writers and research scholars added ‘Mohammad’ to his name due to respect. Common people also call him ‘Haq Bahoo’.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Childhood

Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA remained engrossed in Divine experiences and doubtless spiritual triumphs from an early age. Once, he was lying at some place, a group of Hindu ascetics passed by, one of them hit him by his foot and asked him to show them the way. He got up and recited the kalma (creed). This group of ascetics accepted Islam there and then just by his glance and the stroke of creed recited by his sacred tongue. All of them afterwards became saints.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Divine Truth and Oath of Allegiance

One day, engrossed in Allah’s vision, he was wandering in the suburbs of Shorekot. Suddenly an extremely honorable and dignified rider appeared who held his hand and told him affectionately that “I am Ali bin Abu Talib”. Sultan Bahoo RA was young of age but certainly not of intellect. He immediately recognized Hazrat Ali and was about to sacrifice his self for him. Hazrat Ali looked towards him and said, “Son! Today you are summoned in the court of Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam“. In a moment he found himself in the Assembly of Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam. He writes about this experience of presence in the assembly of Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam, “Whatever I saw there, it was with my physical eyes and experienced everything with my physical body“. In Risala Roohi Sharif, he says: “Hazrat Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam took my allegiance and called me his spiritual son. He has allowed and ordered me to persuade and guide people on the Divine way to Allah.” Sultan-ul-Arifeen met Shaikh Abdul Rehman Jilani on Friday, 29 Ziqa’ad 1078 Hijri (11th May 1668).  Shaikh took him in privacy. Sultan-ul-Arifeen received his eternal destiny in the form of Ism-e-Allah Zaat (personal name of Allah which contains His Essence) in only one meeting with his Murshid, he found everything he wanted and returned replete and brimful with the emotions to benefit people with this favour and benevolence.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Spiritual Title Sultan-ul-Arifeen

Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA is known by the title of “Sultan-ul-Arifeen” among all the Auliya (saints) and Arifeen (knowers of Allah). He has been granted this title because he spent all his life seeking the Knowledge of Allah, hence attained such level of the Divine Knowledge which is impossible for anyone else to achieve. He not only achieved the highest level of the Divine Knowledge himself but is also its best grantor. When Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA became known in the world by the title of ‘Sultan-ul-Arifeen’ but some false pirs and pseudo shaikhs all over the world, especially in the sub-continent and Jammu Kashmir, started using this title with their names. Followers and devotees of some saints also attached this title with that saint’s name. However, the title “Sultan-ul-Arifeen” is specific only for Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA, only he truly and factually deserves and owns this title, others are just imposters.

The title ‘Sultan-ul-Arifeen’ is used in Islamic Sufism.  ‘Sultan’ refers to the king or leader whereas Arifeen is derived from its singular Arif which means the perfect knower of Allah. Hence, Sultan-ul-Arifeen means the King of the Knowers of Allah. The title ‘Sultan-ul-Arifeen’ belongs only to Sultan Bahoo RA as testified by well-known scholars, authors and the descendants of Sultan Bahoo. No other saint has been acknowledged by this title. Sultan-ul-Arifeen was endowed to him by the court of the Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Sarwari Qadri Order

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Sultan-ul-Faqr Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA followed the ‘Sarwari Qadri way’. In almost all of his books he has declared himself ‘Qadri’ and has explained the excellence and spiritual beneficence of Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu from whom this order continues. Sultan-ul-Arifeen named Qadri order as “Sarwari Qadri” where Sarwari refers the leader- Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam and Qadri is directed to Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu. Sultan-ul-Arifeen declares Sarwari Qadri way the actual and perfect Qadri way which flourished in the Subcontinent due to his efforts. He says about the Qadri way that:

Qadri order has two off shoots, Zahidi and Sarwari Qadri. Sarwari Qadri Murshid is the possessor of all the attributes of Ism-e-Allah Zaat that is why when he blesses a seeker with the Divine guidance and persuasion of Ism-e-Allah Zaat, he grants him an equal status of his own. Thus, the seeker becomes so indifferent to all needs and completely resigned to Allah that gold and soil becomes equal for him. On the contrary, the follower of Zahidi Qadri order has to devote at least twelve years to hard mystic struggles, then Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu helps him and elevates him to the status of majzoob (ecstatic) devotee, while the status of a Sarwari Qadri devotee is that of belovedness. (Kaleed-ul-Tauheed Kalan)

Sarwari Qadri is actually the one who swears allegiance upon the hands of Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam. All the evils and immoral behaviors are removed from his self and is blessed with the taufeeq (Divine favour) to adopt the way of Shariat-e-Mohammadi. (Mehak-ul-Faqr Kalan)

The Sarwari Qadri lineage reaches Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA in the following order:

1. Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam
2. Hazrat Ali bin Abu Talib Karum Allah Wajhu
3. Hazrat Khawaja Hassan Basri Razi Allah Anhu
4. Hazrat Shaikh Habib Ajmi RA
5. Hazrat Shaikh Daud Tai RA
6. Hazrat Shaikh Maroof Karkhi RA
7. Hazrat Shaikh Sirri Saqti RA
8. Hazrat Shaikh Junaid Baghdadi RA
9. Hazrat Shaikh Jafar Abu Bakr Shibli RA
10. Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Hars Bin Asad Yemeni Tamimi RA
11. Hazrat Shaikh Abu-al-Fazal Abdul Wahid Yemeni Tamimi RA
12. Hazrat Shaikh Mohammad Yousaf Abu-al-Farrah Turtoosi RA
13. Hazrat Shaikh Abu-al-Hassan Ali Bin Mohammad Qureshi Hankari RA
14. Hazrat Abu Saeed Mubarak Makhzoomi RA
15. Ghaus-ul-Azam Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani Razi Allah Anhu
16. Hazrat Shaikh Taj-ud-Din Abu Bakr Syed Abdul Razzaq Jilani RA
17. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Jabbar RA
18. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Mohammad Sadiq Yahya RA
19. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Najm-ud-Din Burhan Puri RA
20. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Fattah RA
21. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Sattar RA
22. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Baqqa RA
23. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Jaleel RA
24. Hazrat Shaikh Syed Abdul Rehman Jilani Dehlvi RA
25. Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA

After 139 years of death of Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA, Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani RA was selected and sent by Prophet Mohammad Sall’Allahu Alayhi Wa’alihi Wasallam to whom Sultan-ul-Arifeen transferred Amanat-e-Elahiya (The Trust of Allah).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Visal/Death

Sultan-ul-Arifeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Bahoo RA died at the age of 63 on Thursday 1st Jamadi-us-Sani 1102 Hijri (1st march 1691 AD) at the time of Asr prayer. It is unanimously agreed upon by all the biographers that the age of Sultan-ul-Arifeen was exactly 63 years at the time of death according to the lunar calendar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Sacred Shrine

The present shrine is situated in a populated area. The city Garh Maharaja is at a distance of two miles from the shrine, Ahmadpur Sial is in the south, in the east there is city of Shorekot across the river Jhelum and Chenab and the Muzzaffar Garh Road passes at the distance of one and a half mile towards the west. This shrine is a source of beneficence for the whole world. Hundreds of mystics remain in seclusion in the shrine for the sake of Vision of Allah. It is acknowledged by many seekers of Divine Truth and Reality that they are never returned empty handed from here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4578″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Books Written by Sultan-ul-Arifeen

Over 140 books have been written by him. All his books are written in Persian except “Abyat-e-Bahoo” (verses) which is in Punjabi language. Sultan Bahoo’s writing style is very simple and easy to understand, even for a less educated person. His writings are so fluent and influential that they grip the reader completely.

1. Abyat-e-Bahoo (Punjabi)

2. Risala Roohi Sharif

3. Deewan-e-Bahoo (Persian)
4. Sultan-ul-Waham (Kalan)
5. Noor ul Huda (Kalan)
6. Noor-ul Huda (Khurd)
7. Aqal-e-Beydar
8. Mehak-ul-Faqr (Kalan)
9. Mehak-ul-Faqr (Khurd)
10. Aurang Shahi
11. Jamay-ul-Asrar
12. Taufeeq-ul-Hidayat
13. Kaleed ul Tauheed (Kalan)
14. Kaleed ul Tauheed (Khurd)
15. Ain-ul-Faqr
16. Shams-ul-Arifeen
17. Asrar-e-Qadri
18. Majalisa-tul-Nabi
19. Kashf-ul-Asrar
20. Ganj-ul-Asrar
21. Fazlul-Laqa (Khurd)
22. Fazalul-Laqa (Kalan)
23. Kaleed-e-Jannat
24. Miftah-ul-Arifeen
25. Ameer-ul-Kaunain
26. Taigh-e-Barhana
27. Qurb-e-Deedar
28. Ain-ul-Arifeen
29. Mohabbat-ul-Asrar
30. Miftah-ul-Arifeen
31. Muhkam-ul-Fuqara
32. Deedar Bakhsh
33. Tarfa-tul-Ain

To Read all Above Books in English or Urdu language Kindly Click This Link [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Bibliography” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-book” color=”blue” border_width=”2″ add_icon=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

1. Manaqib-i-Sultani–hagiography written by Sultan Hamid

2. Shams-ul-Fuqara-an encyclopedia of the teachings of Sultan-ul-Arifeen written by Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman ISBN 978-969-9795-04-6

3. Sultan Bahoo-The Life and Teachings: (Shams-ul-Fuqara in English): written by Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman and Translation of by Yasmin Khurshid Malik Sarwari Qadri, Ambreen Moghees Sarwari Qadri, Neyn Tara Sarwari Qadri ISBN 978-969-9795-18-3

4. Sultan Bahu Life and Works written by Sayyid Aḥmad Saʻīd Hamdānī

5. Sufism:Heart of Islam written by Sadia Dehlvi ISBN978-93-5029-448-2

6. Mujtaba Akhir Zamani-life history of the Mashaikhs of the Sarwari Qadri Order written by Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman ISBN 978-969-9795-07-7

7. The Spiritual Guides of Sarwari Qadri Order: (Mujtaba Akhir Zamani in English): Written by Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman and Translation of by Yasmin Khurshid Malik Sarwari Qadri, Ambreen Moghees Sarwari Qadri, Neyn Tara Sarwari Qadri

8. Sarwari Qadiri Order ISBN9781158473861

9. Kalam Mashaikh Sarwari Qadri-poetry of spiritual guides of Sarwari Qadri Order written by Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Mohammad Najib-ur-Rehman ISBN 9789699795237

10. Sawane Hayat (biography) Sultan-ul-Tarikeen Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Syed Mohammad Abdullah Shah Madni Jilani(RA) ISBN 9789699795022

11. Mirat-e-Sultani written by Dr. Sultan Altaf Ali
12. Tazkira Auliya-e-Jhang’ written by: Iqbal Zuberi
13. Tazkarah-tul-Auliya written by Hazrat Farid ud Din Attar (RA)

14. Tareekh-e-Jhang written by: Iqbal Zuberi
15. Biographical Encyclopedia of Sufis by N. Hanif ISBN 9788176250870

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